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McCormick Cup Final: Crusaders Fall One Point Short

ByChris Tudor Price

Heartbreak at Cru Park. Our Senior Men’s 1st XV came within a single point of the McCormick Cup on Saturday, losing a classic final 40–39 to the Brantford Harlequins with the last kick of the game.

A flying start

The Cru came out firing in front of a packed home crowd. Hudson Young scored inside five minutes and Joe Nordli added a second try soon after, with Ollie Alpe converting for a 12–0 lead.

Brantford, now nine-time provincial champions, hit back through Evan Walsh, who went on to be named Man of the Match. His two tries levelled the game at 12–12, and a converted try just before the half-hour put the Harlequins 19–12 up. Alpe’s penalty on the stroke of half-time cut the gap to four.

A second half to remember

Brantford stretched their lead early in the second half, but the Crusaders never stopped coming. Josh Ince crossed for our first try of the half, and two more tries kept us in touch as the game went down to the wire, 33–32 to Brantford at the 80-minute mark.

Then came the moment the home crowd will remember. Deep in Brantford territory, the pack drove a maul forward and the ball found David Scollon, who touched down to put us ahead. Alpe’s conversion made it 39–32, and Cru Park erupted.

But there was still time on the clock. In five minutes of added time, Brantford pushed for the line once more, and Walsh completed his hat-trick. The conversion went over as the final whistle blew: 40–39 to the Harlequins.

Proud of our boys

It doesn’t get much closer than that. We’re still chasing our first McCormick Cup since 2012, but this group pushed the champions all the way, capping a season in which they also won the Marshall Premiership. Congratulations to Brantford on their title.

Earlier in the day, our 2nd XV also reached the Gee-Gage Cup final, losing to Toronto Scottish. Two finals on one day is something to be proud of.

A huge thank you to everyone who came out for McCormick Cup Finals Day, and to every volunteer who helped us host the biggest day in Ontario men’s rugby. Up the Cru!

Match details from Oakville News.