Canada Selects defeat Arrows in Series opener

A healthy crowd were in attendance at York Lions Stadium in Toronto, ON to see the Canada Selects and Ontario Arrows match up for the first of two development fixtures.

The match got off to a slow start with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. The Selects stamped their authority on the game after Arrows Captain, Mike Sheppard was given a yellow card for an off-the-ball incident.

From this point on, the team in red took control of possession and after a long spell of pressure in the Arrows twenty-two, the Selects finally managed to cross the white-wash through big lock and Arrows member, Paul Ciulini. Robbie Povey converted to give the Selects a deserved 7-0 lead.

The match continued in similar fashion with both teams opting for a more conservative approach. The Arrows were reduced to fourteen men for a second time when replacement prop, Clint Lemkus was sent to the sin-bin for not rolling away.

The Selects once again capitalized on their man advantage as Conor Keys pushed over for the travelling teams second try of the night on the stroke of half-time. Robbie Povey made no mistake as the Canada Selects went into the break at 14-0.

The Ontario Arrows started the better of the two sides in the second-half and were unlucky not to come away with a score after a neat phase of play, which ended in John Sheridan diving over, was called back because of a forward pass.

The third try of the night came courtesy of another Arrows member playing for the Selects, Kainoa Lloyd. The big winger doing what he has been doing all season for the Arrows and beating three defenders to score what would be, without a doubt, the try of the night. The Selects increasing their lead to nineteen points.

The Arrows would once again come close in the final minutes but a knock-on within inches of the Selects line is where it would end. The Canada Selects opening with a 19-0 win against the Ontario Arrows.

The return fixture will take place at Westhills Stadium on May 26.

Canada Selects:
Tries - '27 Paul Ciulini, '40 Conor Keys, '63 Kainoa Lloyd.
Conversions - Robbie Povey (2)
Drop Goals - 0

Canada Selects roster:

1.    Noah Barker – James Bay AA/BC Bears (Courtenay, BC)
2.    Martial Lagain – Sherbrooke Abenakis/Atlantic Rock) Saint-Jean-de-Marsacq, France
3.    Cole Keith – James Bay AA/Atlantic Rock (Sussex, NB)
4.    Paul Ciulini – Aurora Barbarians/Ontario Blues (Vaughan, ON)
5.    Conor Keys – UVIC Vikes/Atlantic Rock (Stittsville, ON)
6.    Dustin Dobravsky – Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears (Hanover, Germany) 
7.    Lucas Rumball – Captain, Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues (Mississauga, ON)
8.    Luke Campbell – James Bay AA/BC Bears (Victoria, BC)
9.    Andrew Ferguson – Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues (Mississauga, ON)
10. Robbie Povey – Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack (Northampton, UK)
11. Kainoa Lloyd – Mississauga Blues/Ontario Blues (Mississauga, ON)
12. Guiseppe du Toit – UVIC Vikes/BC Bears (Maple Ridge, BC)
13. Doug Fraser – Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears (Ladysmith, BC)
14. Cole Davis – Calgary Saints/Prairie Wolf Pack (Calgary, AB)
15. Pat Parfrey – Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock (St. John’s, NL)
16. Steven Ng – James Bay AA (Ottawa, ON)
17. Liam Murray – James Bay AA (Langley, BC)
18. Ryan Kotlewski – Westshore RFC/Prairie Wolf Pack (Calgary, AB)
19. Grant Crowell – Calgary Rams/Prairie Wolf Pack (Wolfville, NS)
20. Matt Heaton – (Darlington Mowden Park/Atlantic Rock) Godmanchester, QC
21. Jorden Sandover-Best – UBCOB Ravens/BC Bears (Abbotsford, BC)
22. Gordon McRorie – Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack (Calgary, AB)
23. Josh Thiel – Abbotsford RFC (Abbotsford, BC)

Ontario Arrows Roster:

1. Rob Brouwer
2. Alex Post
3. Mike Smith
4. Mike Sheppard (Captain)
5. Josh Van Horne
6. Marcello Wainwright
7. Peter Milazzo
8. Kolby Francis
9. Alex Gliksten
10. Will Kelly
11. Aaron Mclelland
12. Jamie Leveridge
13. Jon West
14. John Sheridan
15. Shawn Windsor
16. Cam Sandison
17. Pat Lynott
18. Clint Lemkus
19. Tom Van Horne
20. Travis Larsen
21. Mario van der Westhuizen
22. Mitch Richardson
23. Kyle Lagasca

Upcoming development fixtures schedule:

May 18th
Canada Selects 19-0 Ontario Arrows
York University
Toronto, ON

May 26th
Westhills Stadium
Langford, BC

Canada’s 2018 Summer Series:

June 9th
Canada vs. Scotland
Commonwealth Stadium
Edmonton, AB
Kick off: 7pm local time (9pm ET/6pm PT)

June 16th
Canada vs. Russia
Twin Elm Rugby Park
Ottawa, ON
Kick off: 4pm ET/1pm PT

June 23rd
Canada vs. USA
Wanderers Ground
Halifax, NS
Kick off: 4pm local time (3pm ET/12pm PT)

Tickets for the 2018 Summer Series can be purchased by clicking here > 
https://rugby.ca/en/tickets  

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