Sports News - September 12, 2006
Mountaineer's Rugby Preview
Last season, the Mohawk men’s rugby team started off at 0-3, but in their final three games they rattled off two wins and a tie. It wasn’t quite good enough to make the playoffs, but the late season resurgence left coach Alex Paris’ returning troops with a positive feeling for the 2006 season. That begins this Saturday night at Sir Sandford Fleming College in Peterborough as the Mountaineers meet the Knights.
Coach Paris feels he will have a bigger and faster back line with the return of Brian Pearman, who had a successful summer with the Stoney Creek Rugby Club and the Niagara Thunder of the Canada Super League. Also coming back is Darcy Palmer.
Tyler Struyk returns after a 7-0 season with the Hamilton Hornets and leads the forwards, along with returnees Andrew Welsby and Dylan Grubar. Coach Paris says with the addition of Jeff Perssia, Steve Johnston and Frank Tombol the forwards should be bigger, faster and more aggressive. A 6-2 insurance student, Tombol is quite a story. He’s 45 years of age! He’s also fit as a fiddle and plays his club rugby in his hometown of Brantford.
