Ottawa’s Bytown Blues Rugby Club tops Quebec Champions in Exhibition Match
Posted on:Ottawa’s Bytown Blues 1st and 2nd XV sides travelled to St. Anne’s de Bellevue on Saturday, May 4th to take on St. Anne’s RFC. St Anne’s is widely regarded to be the top rugby club in Eastern Canada and is the reigning Quebec Rugby Union Champion.
The Blues 2nd XV looked like they were in for a tough day when the much larger St Annes’s 2nd XV took to the field and began to impose their will in the initial mauls and tackles. However, the Blues soon found their footing in the match and standout performances by be Blues scrum half and fly half combinations coupled with excellent running by the Blues 8 man and outside centre helped ensure a victory of 29-14 for the visiting Ottawa rugby club.
St Anne’s took an early lead in the 1st XV match with some excellent rucking and fast paced running in the backs. It looked like St Anne’s was set to run away with the match but the Blues put away the jitters and began to meet their hosts head on, eliminating St. Anne’s territorial advantage. The two sides battled down to the wire with many exciting well supported runs by each teams backs.
Final score 27-22 for Ottawa’s Bytown Blues Rugby club.
As is their custom, St. Anne’s put on a fine post game event which featured the 1000th post game speech (give or take) delivered by former Bytown Blue and legendary Quebec rugby icon Martin (Stone) Silverstone.
It was a great day for rugby.
