Blues Defeat Dragons In A Nail Biter To Kick Off Friday Night Li
- Jun 16,2018
By John Amos
Mississauga Blues RFC defeat Toronto Dragons RFC 17-16
The second game of the Friday Night Lights double header was a bruising affair that was in doubt right up until the last whistle.
The Blues drew first blood three minutes into the game on a penalty by Jeff Hogle, his first of 4 on the night. Massive hits from both sides leading to many scrums as the ball was continually being knocked to the floor followed for the next thirty minutes but there was not to be another score until the 39th minute when Hogle kicked his second penalty, kissing the back of the cross bar with the ball. The Dragons bounced right back scoring an unconverted try on the last play of the half to trail by the slimmest of margins, 6-5 at the half.
The Dragons scored first in the second half with a penalty kick of their own to go ahead 8-6 in the 42nd minute. Six minutes later it was Hogle with his third penalty kick which put the Blues back in front 9-8. A crushing tackle by Blues prop Frank Kang led to a questionable yellow card and another penalty kick by the Dragons putting them back in front in this see-saw affair, 11-9.
Six minutes later it was the Dragons seeing yellow. Hogle made them pay putting the Blues ahead 12-11. While with the man advantage the Blues set up their only try of the night as man of the match Jason Park made a scissor run off a rolling maul after a Blues' line out to extend their lead to 17-11.
With ten minutes to play, the Dragons scored their second try of the night with a chance to go ahead if they could kick the convert. A spirited Blues' charge-down on the kick led by Asad Chaudhry may have disturbed the Dragons' kicker just enough to force him to push the kick wide. The Dragons pressed for the go ahead score, pushing their way to the Blues' 5m line several times, but the Blues' defence held firm, creating a crucial turnover with their backs to the goal line. The Blues held on for the 17-16 victory.