SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The boys’ championship banner for the 23rd annual David Voye Memorial rugby tournament is staying home.
The James Voye-coached host Three Oaks Axemen capped an undefeated weekend with a 28-0 victory over the Colonel Gray Colonels in the final before a good crowd at the Canada Games Field on the campus of the Summerside high school Saturday afternoon.
“It means a lot to everybody (to win this tournament) knowing that it’s our home tournament and it’s in memory of our coach’s father,” said senior Ethan Beaulieu, who plays the open side flanker position. “It means a lot to this organization and to the school.”
Click here for feature story on Three Oaks coach James Voye:
The late David Voye was a music teacher at Three Oaks and a driving force behind the development of the school’s rugby program.
The Axemen completed play in the six-team boys’ event 4-0 (won-lost). After going 2-0 in pool play Friday, the Axemen prevailed 15-10 over the Charlottetown Rural Raiders in one of two semifinal games Saturday morning. The Colonels blanked the Bluefield Bobcats 22-0 in the other semifinal.
“I was happy with the effort,” assessed Voye. “To play four games in a tight 24-hour span is hard on their bodies, especially the way I am asking them to play and be physical.
“We were a little surprised Colonel Gray upset Bluefield (in the semifinals) and we wanted to take them very seriously. The boys did a good job of that.”
Click here for story on girls' championship game:
Three Oaks Stephen Smallwood, who added the Axemen “struggled” in the semifinal, was a key contributor in the final, scoring an early try to give the Axemen the lead and momentum.
“We had numbers on the left and Isaac Arsenault, our fullback, passed it out to me and I had some space, I cut in and had some open space from there,” explained the 17-year-old Grade 12 student, who plays the wing position.
Ryan Murphy, Ben Thompson and Brandon Hastings also scored trys while Caleb Dawson kicked four converts to round out the Axemen’s scoring.
“It was a well-played final on both sides,” assessed Colonels head coach Andrew Rowe. “They got an early try, which set us back on our heels, and they were able to keep their composure better in the end.
“Our guys kept playing hard, but were focusing the energy in the wrong spots sometimes.”
Click here for story on Friday's games:
Rowe “was much happier” with the Colonels’ performance in the championship game than in Friday’s 33-5 loss to the Axemen.
“We have some things to work on, but they are a solid team and deserved the win,” added Rowe.
Voye, who was impressed with the calibre of rugby from all six boys’ teams, praised the Axemen’s defensive play.
“The tackling had been strong all weekend and that’s probably what got us through the semifinal game,” added Voye.
Beaulieu noted the Axemen take great pride in their defensive play.
“We really showed up this weekend,” said Beaulieu. “We were pushing back on the goal-line and our goal-line D was extraordinary this weekend.
“Everybody was willing to put their bodies on the line, go against their big guys and push them back a few metres.”
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Results
Boys’ scores at David Voye Memorial rugby tournament:
Saturday
Final
Three Oaks 28 Colonel Gray 0
Semifinals
Three Oaks 15 Charlottetown Rural 10
Colonel Gray 22 Bluefield 0
Cross-Over
Hants East 27 North Nova 0
Friday
Colonel Gray 22 North Nova 5
Charlottetown Rural 31 Hants East 5
Three Oaks 33 Colonel Gray 5
Bluefield 27 Hants East 14
Three Oaks 17 North Nova 5
Thursday
Bluefield 22 Charlottetown Rural 11
