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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-01-04, Page 13Wednesday, January 4, 2006 Exeter Times -Advocate 13 Sisters leaving mark in university rugby By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF GRAND BEND — Two local rugby players from the same family are mak- ing their mark on rugby fields across the country. Former South Huron District High School stu- dent Julie Prout was named rookie of the year playing outside centre for the University of Waterloo rugby squad. Sister Carrie was a member of the University of Guelph team that went to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Nationals in November. It was a successful sea- son for both Julie and the Waterloo squad which ended up in fourth place and lost the Ontario University Athletics bronze medal game 22-10 to Brock Nov. 1. Tryouts at the beginning of the season were tough, according to Julie lasting two and half hours every day. "Definitely way more intense than high school. They really worked you to kind of weed out people." With 11 veterans gone from last year's team, Julie said the team will be even stronger next year. "I really enjoyed the sea- son. Even though they work you hard...it felt really good to be in shape." She added although ner- vous at first to play univer- sities with strong teams such as the University of Western Ontario and the University of Guelph and against bigger and faster players than she had faced previously, she quickly adapted to it with the help of the coaching staff. "They were really sup- portive...they really took their time and taught us the basics and helped us develop." After her first few games, Julie said she was more comfortable with the players around her and the more complex univer- sity game. "It's more challenging in university because every- one knows how to play and everyone is really good so you have to be at their level. As the season pro- gressed Julie said her understanding of the game increased. "With defence...you learn how to tackle easier and where to position yourself so the other team doesn't get through." Towards the end of the season, the Warriors lost several of their starters to injuries giving many of the rookies more chance to play. Julie escaped injury for most of the season, except for an exhibition game at the beginning of the sea- son when she split her eyebrow colliding with an opponent's forehead, resulting in "blood all over the place." One of the highlights of the season for Julie was the chance to play against her sister when the Warriors took on Guelph. "It was fun to tackle her" said Julie. The Warriors defeated Guelph in exhibition play early in the season with Guelph returning the favour with a 25-0 win later in the season. Julie said she was sur- prised to learn she had been selected as rookie of the year. "I thought another girl had it, she started just as many games as I did." For sister Carrie who Grand Bend sisters Julie (left) and Carrie Prout both had successful rugby seasons this year with Julie named rookie of the year for her University of Waterloo team and Carrie making it to the CIS Nationals with the University of Guelph team where they won bronze. (photo/submitted) plays wing in her third year at Guelph it was also a successful season. The squad advanced to the nationals held in Victoria in early November where they won bronze with a 32-0 win over McGill after a 20- 5 loss against Western. "We were the only team to score against them in our league so that was good." Carrie said her game has also improved since she started playing university rugby. "Playing university is so much different than high school. It's a whole other level and a lot of the girls play around the world." While Carrie said she enjoyed playing against her sister, she didn't get the chance to return the tackle. "She got me and it was fun. I'm really proud of her, she did really well this year." Irish blank Hawks whitewash Lancers 4-0 Hawks 3-0 LUCAN — The Lucan Irish blanked the Exeter Hawks 3-0 in Lucan Dec. 28 before finishing the year in Mitchell with a 5-2 loss. Three goals in the first period, including two power play markers were all the Irish needed versus the Hawks. Aaron Whitcomb opened the scoring early in the first period before Trevor Medeiros gave the Irish a 2-0 lead with just over two min- utes left in the period. But the Irish weren't done in the period as they took advan- tage of a power play to take a 3- 0 lead with 46 seconds left on a goal from Jeff Silver. It was all the Irish needed backed up by the shutout goaltending of Eric Vanderwerf, who stopped all 29 shots he faced for the win. Picking up assists in the win were Jeremy Montag, Craig Enwright, Trevor Liddle, Jeff Mclean, Whitcomb and Dan Crowley. The Irish have two games this week with Lambeth visiting tonight (Wednesday) at 7:45 p.m. before Lucan visits Thamesford Jan. 6 at 8:30 p.m. Eric Vanderwerf Aaron Whitcomb By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — The Exeter Hawks were on both ends of shutouts last week with a 3-0 loss in Lucan Dec. 28 before rebounding to blank the Lambeth Lancers 4-0 at home Dec. 29 to finish 2005. After the loss in Lucan, Exeter coach and general manager Dale Howard said he was "extremely happy," with the effort the Hawks showed against the Lancers. "Everybody showed up, we got the monkey off our back because we've had a hard time beat- ing those guys." Regarding the loss in Lucan, Howard said although it was Christmas time, "it's Christmas time for both teams, but maybe we were thinking of Christmas a little sooner." The Hawks were down early against the Irish, giving up a pair of power play goals in the first peri- od Lucan built a 3-0 lead by the end of the first and goalie Eric Vanderwerf kept the Hawks off the board to preserve the win Exeter HawkTroy Elder (right) with Fraser Jones (left) goes after his stick while avoiding a check against Lambeth Friday night at the Rec Centre.The Hawks blanked the Lancers 4-0. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout) with Aaron Whitcomb, Trevor Medeiros and Jeff Silver supplying the offence. But the Hawks turned it around Friday night with an early lead of their own on a goal off the stick of Jason Stuckless. Justin Young made it 2-0 in the second period and the Hawks put the game away with a pair in the third from Josh Liddle and Young's second of the game. Craig Masse had three assists in the win, with singles to Dan Moir, Young and Jamie Wolfe. "Friday night was the team I've seen most of the year and everybody came to play," said Howard. "Turk played awe- some in net. When we weren't there, he was there, couldn't ask for a better game." Howard added con- sistency was one of the things the team needs to work on as they begin the run up to the playoffs, "and being able to hold on to the lead." With the roster deadline Jan. 10, Howard said there might be a couple of moves made by the team as they look to pick up strength in the faceoff circle. "I pretty sure there is going to be another forward added before it's over and done with." The Hawks now have a stretch of five straight games on the road, starting Friday night in Mitchell at 8:30 p.m. before they face Parkhill Jan. 7 at 8:30 p.m. The next school night at the Rec Centre will be Jan. 20. It will be Precious Blood school night for the visit of the Lucan Irish to face the Hawks.