Times Advocate, 1994-05-11, Page 15• A look into spring sports - page 14
Express win opener - page 15
Junior boys' on top - page 16
Rugby is like football, but without the pads
By Fred Groves
T -A staff
EXETER - When field hockey
first started out at South Huron Dis-
trict High School, a lot of people
were scratching their heads trying
to figure out the rules.
That holds true for any new sport
and rugby is no exception.
There are scrums, lincouts, trys
and conversions - a language that
few in this area understand but by
the looks of things that could be
changing.
South Huron's rugby team is in
South Huron gets down to business with London Central at a game in Exeter on Thursday.
the infancy stages but with the help
of enthusiastic players and a deter-
mined coach Terry O'Rourke, who
knows, it could become as well rec-
ognized as an old familiar sport at
the school - football.
One of the few players on this
year's Panthers rugby team that is a
past South Huron football player is
Jeremy Hern..
"It's something 1• want to do at
school," said Hern. "There's not a
lot of school spirit in this like there
was in football."
There were a handful of specta-
tors out to the recent games and
they seemed attentive and were
asking questions which means it
won't be long before the word "rug-
by" is floating through the hall-
ways.
"All the guys who play it really
like it and there's a lot around
school who say they wished they
came out but it's too late," said
Hern.
Gerry Ward, who taught at South
Huron last year introduced the
game to the school last year when
he was an exchange teacher replac-
ing O'Rourke. Returning to the
school, O'Rourke picked up the ball
Ward left behind and the players
haven't looked back.
"I think next year they are having
a Junior and senior team. That's
why there are so many on this team
because a lot are leaving and they'
want people to sort of train the new
ones," said Jenny Robertson.
She and Sherry Regier are the
lone females on the only rugby
team in Huron County. Regier
played the tough. physical sport last
year hut for Robertson it's her first.
When asked if the two are con-
cerned about injury. Robertson
said, "you don't worry about it. The
position Sherry and I play are wide
out, the chances of getting tackled
are rare."
For onlookers, rugby is basically
football without pads. There are
ball carriers and there are tacklers.
The extreme physical aspect of the
sport has brought to the attention of
some authorities that it may not he
a sport which can be co-ed.
"There is a' new rule, coaches
have to discuss before each game
whether or not girls can play," said
Robertson. "Last year it wasn't like
that but the Canadian Rugby Asso-
ciation put it in. If the other coach
says we can't play, then we can't."
Scoring in rugby is fairly simple
and it's similar to football. Cross
the goal line with the ball and that's
called a try and it's good for five
points. Convert the try by kicking
the ball through the goal posts and
that scores two.
As in football there are field
goals and just like football, they
score three points.
Instead of a line of scrimmage,
rugby teams go into a scrum. Like a
line of scrimmage which Hern is
well familiar with, it can get a little
wild.
"It's really dirty, there's a lot of
blood and you get scratches all over
your face and body."
Scratches, blood - sounds like a
game in which trailblazers, those
with a lot of guts would enjoy.
The style of rugby South Huron
plays is 15 aside, that's why they
have the roman numeral 15 on their
jerseys. Perhaps we should be call-
ing the South Huron District High
School Panthers 1994 rugby team -
the Fearless 15.
ANNE
Legion bantams were in playoffs 15 years ago
EXETER - Every once in a while I like to dip back into the old ar-
chives of the Times -Advocate sports sections and see what I stumble
across.
Let's see, April 11, 1979, in Sports Spotlight written by Ross Haugh,
the Exeter and Area Men's Recreation Softball League was looking for
umpires and anyone interested could contact league president John
Varley. The league was in the midst of reorganizing acid the vice-
president was Al Lovell, Wayne Corbett was the secretary and Larry
Beuerman, the treasurer.
What else has Ross got to say back 15 years ago...the Exeter Hawks
were taking on St. George in the best -of -seven semi-final and un-
fortunately the locals were down a couple of games.
Names on that team which might be familiar were Brad Taylor, Ken
Varley, Fred Mommersteeg and Brian Mercer. Randy Lovie was play-
ing goal.
After the game, Exeter coach Ron Bogart voiced his somewhat dis-
pleasure with the Hawks, saying, "you can't win if you stand around
and watch."
On page 15 of the April I 1 issue, the Zurich novices ended up as 'A'
champs of their own tournament while the Exeter Waxers took home
the 'B'. Looking back it's nice to see a tradition like the Waxers keep-
ing their team name has continued.
Zurich won their opener 5-0 as Dave Stevens had two goals with sin-
gles from Jamie Suplant, Jason Turner and Scott Regier.
Cutline on page 13 read Best of the Novice - Jon O'Connor won the
most valuable player award at the fun night banquet staged by the Ex-
eter Waxers, Wednesday. The Grand Bend puckster scored 21 of the
team's 59 goals this season. Presenting the trophy is Muriel Dalrymple
one of the team's "executives" (she washed the uniforms.)
The Exeter Legion bantams took a decisive step towards the OMHA
bantam 'B' title over the weekend as they posted a tie and win in Ernes -
town to take a one -game lead in the best -of -seven final.
Coach Jack Fuller was elated with the team's showing over the
weekend.
"Everyone can be proud of them," he said, "all the boys played
well."
Among the standout performers for the bantams were Bill Glover ,
John Kernick and Dave Shaw.
Right under the story on the bantams was a headline which read Hu-
ron -Perth ball teams ready for busy schedule - this article was
about the senior men's hall league which consisted of the Dashwood
Tigers, Crediton, Clinton and Thorndale. Those teams also played
against Tillsonburg and two clubs from London.
Huron -Perth president Bob Hoffman told the T -A, "1 expect all the
teams to be stronger this year. Baseball is coming hack in this area."
The Tigers general manager was Doug Ellison and the field manager
was Joe Fulop.
Nationally that week, the London Knights were trying very hard to
find an avenue to win their bid to be awarded the Emms Division
semi-final series against Windsor.
Apparently London were tossed out of the series and even got a law-
yer to help decide things. If you want more information on this ask vet-
eran writer Dave Langford about itthe next time you see him.
From the sidelines:...Hats off this week go out to Bill Armstrong
who has been doing a great job with the rookies, junior rookies and
tykes for Exeter Minor Baseball Association. Bill has been able to con-
vince a few parents to give him a hand...Well done job also by Val
Gould who co-ordinated all the signature sheets we all signed lot Da-
vid Shaw...Last week's trivia question was who was the last team the
Chicago Black Hawks played in their old arena, answer - To-
ronto...This week's question is a little tougher - Ron Letlore, the De-
troit Tigers outfielder, what did he hit in spring training in 1979? If
anyone out there knows the answer. good luck on this one...The
Times -Advocate is sending nie up to the Wingham paper to work for a
few weeks and then I'm off on vacation, maybe do a little fishing up
north. See you when I get hack on June 15....I hope minor sporting
team coaches and golf leagues are sending in their score sheets... Just a
reminder tonight the Exeter Junior 'D' Hawks have their annual meet-
ing at the Rec Centre at 8 p.m. if you want to be part of this great or-
ganization, please attend.
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