Hamilton - 2007 NRU Cup Champions |
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Saturday September 8, 2007 Hamilton Hornets senior men took to the field against Highland on Saturday in a bid for the final honours on offer in the Niagara Rugby Union this season. At stake was the NRU Cup and Hamilton wanted desperately to add the trophy to their A Division title won only a few weeks prior. Hamilton came out intensely and hit Highland with everything they had right from the kick-off. Within the first two minutes, some good, hard rucking by the Hornets' forwards saw Hamilton within 10 metres of the Highland try line. Due to this early pressure, Highland were forced to concede a penalty in front of the posts. Flanker and Hornets Captain, Peter Van Zyl, opened the scoring by splitting the uprights with his penalty kick at goal. Following the restart, Hamilton kept up the pressure on Highland and, in a tackle that was to set the mood for the entire game, rookie winger sensation, Shawn Hill, put in a monumental hit in on the Highland full back as he ran down his wing. This brought the crowd on the touch line and in the stands to their feet as they witnessed what may have been the tackle of the season by a man in a Hornets jersey. Before the 10 minute mark Hamilton struck again. The Hornets won their line-out on the Highland 22m line and ran the ball up to within 15 metres of the Highland try line before the tackle came in. The Hornets forwards produced quick rucked ball for scrum half, John Tavares, who got the ball out to his half back partner, Jamie Whan, who ran in under the posts. Van Zyl added the conversion to extend Hamilton's lead to 10 - 0. Full credit to Highland who put up a brave defence for near on a half hour following the restart to keep the Hornets from scoring again until nearly half time. As the clock ticked down, Highland gave away a penalty on their own 10m line and Whan placed a pin-point kick out of hand to the Highland 5m line to set up a Hornets attacking line-out from close range. The Hornets' forwards won the lineout and rucked the the ball to just in front of the posts. The ball was again dug out from the back of the ruck by Tavares who sent it on to Whan who popped a pass to a charging Travis Lee. The Hamilton lock powered over for the score between the posts and the corner flag. Half Time Score: Hamilton 15 - Highland 0. Following the restart things began to go more and more Hamilton's way as the Highland players seemed to tire faster than their opposite numbers. Seven minutes into the second period, John Tavares found a hole in the Highland defence and had only one player to beat to score the try. The Hamilton scrum half cleverly chipped the defender only to be taken out illegally after the ball was long gone. The referee awarded a penalty try and Van Zyl added the conversion for a 22 point lead. Highland again defended bravely and made some nice attacks of their own to keep Hamilton off the scoreboard for another 15 minutes. The next score came from a turned over Highland scrum just outside the opponent's 22m. Inside centre, Matt Barrett, then carved apart the Highland defence before throwing an excellent long pass over a couple defenders to find Tavares. Tavares showed his quick hands to pop the ball to a charging Dave Lawson. The outside centre ran a good hard line to exploit the overlap and score in the corner. Hamilton now appeared to have the match won with about 18 minutes to play and a 27 point lead. The next score came 6 minutes later following some sustained pressure in the Highland end of the field. Jamie Whan crossed the line from 10 metres out after selling a couple of excellent dummies to the opposition. Peter Van Zyl added the extras to put the result beyond any doubt at 34 - 0. The final score of the afternoon came just before full time when replacement fly half, Roger Pizarro, found a hole in the Highland defence and made a strong run in under the posts. Peter Van Zyl was again true with the boot to make the final score Hamilton 41 - Highland 0. JohnTavares was deservedly named man of the match by the opponents after what was another excellent performance from the young scrummie. For this observer though, some of the guys who were most influential in the result today were the players who never get the headlines. They are the guys who do the hard work at ruck and maul time and rarely get their hands on the ball but instead ensure that quick ball is available all day long for their team mates. The work rates of guys like props, Dave Morrison and Chris Lawson, lock, Jason Dobbie, and flanker, Tyler Struyk, set the platform for the quick ball needed for the Hornets to put in the high tempo game of rugby that was on display today. Congratulations to Hamilton Hornets senior men's first XV on an excellent season. Hamilton now hold both the league title and the NRU Cup. Next up for the Hornets is the Ontario Intermediate Cup for a chance to play for a spot in the Ontario Keenan division in 2007. Intermediate Cup matches begin in late September after the senior men return from their World Cup Tour to Wales. At this time the Hamilton Hornets would like to recognize and thank head coach, Keith Hopkins, for all of his hard work with the senior men this year. Players and coaches at Hamilton have learned a great deal from Keith in 2007 and it shows in the quality of play in men's rugby at Hamilton this year. Keith and his lovely wife Alexis now return to Wales for the winter and the Welsh rugby season. While Hamilton Hornets RFC would love to see the Welsh Wizard return next year, we wish coach Hopkins every success in whatever he decides to do next in his rugby career and life in general. Thanks Keith for everything. You will always be a Hornet and will always find a nice warm bottle of 50 waiting for you in Hamilton. Match Report by: The Hamilton Hornets always welcome new Junior and Senior members. Drop us an email at hornets@hamiltonrugby.com or call the club house at 905.575.3133
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