Snappy Finish For EIRA U16s As They Sweep Ontario

Snappy Finish For EIRA U16s As They Sweep Ontario

Eagle Impact Rugby Academy U16 team's tour of Ontario yielded three straight wins this past week, and according to head coach Jeff Bonnett, it all hinged on how quickly the squad came together.

Jul 31, 2017 by Alex Goff
Snappy Finish For EIRA U16s As They Sweep Ontario
Eagle Impact Rugby Academy U16 team's tour of Ontario yielded three straight wins this past week, and according to head coach Jeff Bonnett, it all hinged on how quickly the squad came together.

It was a matter of a day for the squad to become a unit, and they needed it as all three games against the Ontario U16s were close: 27-21, 24-21, and, in the last effort on Saturday, 24-19.

Francisco Liguori kicks a conversion for EIRA U16s. Adam Smith photo.

Francisco Liguori got EIRA U16s on the board early after Ontario was penalized in its own 22. The Greenwich High School fullback tapped quickly and raced over for the opening try, which he duly converted. Lock David Boatwright scored a try in the first half and Liguori converted that one and added a penalty goal for a 17-7 halftime lead.

[tweet url="https://twitter.com/RugbyOntario/status/891347870342840320" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
In the second half, Ontario battled back, but a try from sub flyhalf Juan Molinari (with another Liguori conversion) put the game away 24-19. Liguori had a superb game, kicking goals and also pinning Ontario back in their own half with his kicking from the hand. Lock Gavin Cunningham caused the Canadians all sorts of problems in the lineout -- so much so that Ontario started to choose scrums over kicking for touch when it got a penalty. Cunningham simply stole too many lineouts for that part of the game to be reliable for Ontario.

EIRA U16 Coach Jeff Bonnett considers his options as the team huddles up. Adam Smith photo.

"I am very proud of these boys," Bonnett said. "They have bonded as a team and it was awesome to hear them raise their hands in victory and cheer 'family.' A lot of these boys are just 14 and 15 and learned to execute a system in a short time."

Coaches Jorge Molinari and ex-Canterbury Crusader Kieran McManus also worked hard to prepare a team that got a lot done in a short time.

EIRA U16s Lineup vs. Ontario U16s:

1. David Afaese
2. Mike Wilder
3. Blake Ecklund
4. Gavin Cunningham
5. David Boatwright
6. Gramoz Bici
7. Dominic Tiauqa
8. Alex Kennach
9. Damian Morley
10. Jacob Line
11. Aidan Smith
12. Matthew Zaudtke
13. Peyton Wall
14. Darius Law
15. Francisco Liguori

Reserves
16. Marco Caramanico
17. Dakota Duncan
18. Charles Martel
19. Casey Burr
20. Philip Tracey
21. Elijah Valle
22. Juan Molinari
23. Donovan Law
24. Henri Ross-Pelat
25. Jake Pretorius
26. Colin Willsey


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