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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, May 31, 2012 · 22 Pearson evens score with Trinity in Sr. rugby Tier 2 rematch who was the team MVP last year and will be back on the team next season, was introduced to the BURLINGTON -- For the sec- sport in high school. Wednesday, ond straight year, the L.B. Pearson he put Pearson into the lead for Patriots and the Holy Trinity Titans good just before halftime when he met for the Halton senior boys' sprinted down the left side to score a try. Tier 2 rugby title. Pearson upped the 5-3 lead five The defending champion Titans, however, were not about to minutes into the second half when shut out the Patriots as they did Shurtleff broke through the Titans line in the middle of the field, (12-0) last season. In fact, if it were not for a Kevin scoring his second try while positioning the ball for O'Connor penalty an easy converkick 19 minutes "They certainly didn't sion, which he into yesterday's forget we took them then kicked him( W e d n e s d a y ' s ) last year. They were self. championship ready from the start... A Shurtleff f game that gave the penalty kick and Titans a 3-0 lead, they wanted it." his conversion of f Holy Trinity would teammate Tyler have been shut out Holy Trinity senior boys' rugby coach Peter Leonard, Wilson's try 26 this time. minutes into the The Patriots referring to Lester B. Pearson half completed the scored the next 22 points, 17 courtesy of scrum half scoring. "We've been in Halton finals, Zack Shurtleff, to win 22-3 at Burlington's Sherwood Forest losing to HT last year and Loyola Park and give Pearson its first before that, but we haven't played Halton crown after dropping the this calibre before," said Shurtleff, who's a provincial-level curler as last two finals. Peter Leonard, coach of the well. "It was unbelievable." Pearson didn't field a strong Titans along with Pat Kelly, said it was a much tougher opponent team for OFSAA last year. Many starters couldn't attend because of f than his players faced in 2011. "The (Patriots) were hungrier," school commitments. "This year we're really focused he said. "They certainly didn't forget we took them last year. They on winning that first game and were ready from the start. Their after that changing our goals to forwards were tough, their backs actually win a medal or at least make it to (Day 2)," said Shurtleff. were tough -- they wanted it." Patriots coach Andrew Esp was Pearson's knack of being first to the ball negated any momentum a little more conservative. "This year we'd like to cause an Holy Trinity might have gained on the couple of occasions it had the upset somewhere along the line," he said. "I don't know if we'll ball near the Pearson goal line. The Patriots' next challenge medal, but we hope to do better will be next week's Ontario than last year." Federation of School Athletic -- Kevin Nagel can be Associations (OFSAA) A-AA tourfollowed on Twitter nament in Cobourg June 7-8. @BPostSports Shurtleff, a Grade 11 student By Kevin Nagel METROLAND MEDIA GROUP STEVEN DER-GARABEDIAN / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER EMERGENCY PASS: Lester B. Pearson Patriots player Brian Woodley (in red) tries to get the ball off before being tackled by Holy Trinity's James Snoddy (right) yesterday in Burlington. Pearson defeated the Titans 22-3 in the Halton senior boys' rugby Tier 2 title game. Abbey Park qualifies f for f OFSAA rugby The Abbey Park Eagles are headed back to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA0 senior boys' rugby AAA/AAAA championship tournament. Abbey Park earned a berth in this year's competition with a 62-10 dismantling of Hamilton's St. Jean de Brebeuf Braves Monday in Hamilton. The Eagles then pummeled Hamilton's Cathedral 57-0 yesterday (Wednesday) in the Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference championship game, but both teams were already guaranteed a trip to the OFSAA A tournament. The Eagles, who finished fourth at last year's OFSAA tournament, won the Halton championship last week with a 32-10 victory over the Oakville Trafalgar Red Devils.