GEORGIAN 14, SHERIDAN 5

OAKVILLE, Ont. - The outcome of most competitive sports is often a matter of simple arithmetics - Team A scores more than Team B and therefore are the victors - but to actually evaluate the performance, numbers can only do discern a portion of the narrative.

So even though the Sheridan Bruins men's rugby team (1-1 OCAA) suffered defeat against Georgian (14-5) in the Battle of the Bears during Sheridan Homecoming, it was their best collective team performance to date.

"We played really, really well. We played sound rugby and we did what we're supposed to do - we rucked well, we scrummaged well, we defended very well, we were thrilled with the way the guys played," Sheridan head coach Carlos Moniz said. "What I'm happiest with is the effort that the guys put forth. In the changeroom before we came out to the field, we said 'We need 100 per cent effort from 100 per cent of the guys', and we got it."

In the first half, Georgian was able to put up a lone converted try to lead 7-0 at the break.

Nearing the hour mark, the Double-Blue were able to draw close, with Lamar Williams registering the try.

Brett King kicked the ball from mid-field to near the Georgian goal line, where Williams was able to scoop it up and strike pay dirt.

King's conversion kick from near the right touchline smacked off the bars, but the Bruins had still trimmed their deficit to two.

They tried to claw their way back into a scoring position to claim the lead, but Georgian held them off and on the final play of the game scored their second try.

When the conversion kick sailed through the uprights, it also snatched a potential bonus point in the standings from the Double-Blue, as the losing margin went from seven to nine.

Through two games a few injuries - some minor, some more severe - have started to pile up for the Bruins, but in a physical sport like rugby that's to be expected and Moniz says it's certainly comforting to the coaching staff to see how much depth they really have.

"We have a lot of guys who might not otherwise be starting [if not for injuries] and they're on the field, but they haven't gotten a lot of practice time," he said. "They're at practice, but they're not getting the first team reps. So when we've put them in there, they've played great and we're thrilled."

That depth may be tested as they travel to Conestoga on a short week - with only four days between games. Moniz says that they try to take the same tactical approach to each game and that won't change this time.

"We just need to continue doing what we're doing now. We don't need to change anything," he said. "We just need to keep improving as individuals and improving as a team and if we play the game the same way we played today, we can't ask for anything more. And then if we're good enough, we'll win; if we're not, we won't. We don't need to do something vastly different, what we're doing right now is all we're looking for."

Source: Sheridan College

OAKVILLE, Ont. - The Georgian Grizzlies men's rugby team continued its winning streak Saturday afternoon when they travelled to Oakville to take on the Sheridan Bruins in Ontario Colleges Athletic Association action.

It was a tight physical affair from beginning to end, but the Grizzlies were able to come away with a 14-5 victory to improve their OCAA season record to 3-0.

Georgian had tries from second year Barrie native Conon Valyear and A.J. Luongo (Erin) to lead the scoring. OCAA points leader Paul Marshall (Barrie) scored on two converts for four points in the victory.

The Grizzlies sit in first place in the OCAA's West Division standings and will face the only other currently undefeated team in the division, the Humber Hawks on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 4 p.m. at the Barrie Community Sports Complex. The game is open to the public and fans are encouraged to come out and support the Grizzlies.

Source: Georgian College