SPORTSNEWS
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2011 • STONEY CREEK NEWS • WWW.HAMILTONNEWS.COM •
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Rugby community mourns loss of esteemed coach Ready,Willing and Able this Sunday BY CATHERINE O’HARA FLAMBOROUGH REVIEW
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hen the Waterdown Boys’ Rugby Club players took to the bench between plays, they looked for the insightful and encouraging words of Dave Burnett. But at last week’s tournament – the Warriors’ first of the season – the team’s head coach wasn’t there. The silence was deafening. Coach Burnett passed away of acute pancreatitis April 2. He was 70 years old. As the nation’s rugby community mourns the loss of the player and esteemed coach, the griefstricken Warriors took to the pitch with one goal in mind – to make Burnett proud. “Dave’s always at the back of our minds now,” said Grade 12 WDHS student Jake Newman, who has looked up to Burnett as a coach since 2007. “On my tries, I pointed to the sky,” said Warrior Jordan Young after twice securing four points for the Waterdown team at last week’s tournament. “I knew he was watching.” Burnett was also a cherished member of the Rugby Ontario and Rugby Canada associations. A native of Gloucester, England, the rugby enthusiast was heavily involved in the sport, playing an instrumental role in promoting and growing rugby locally and
Dave Burnett was a key member of the Niagara Thunder. across the province. A coach, administrator and tireless volunteer, Burnett held the position of past president and was the secretary of the Burlington Rugby Football Club. He also played with the Brantford Harlequins, Hamilton Hornets and the Burlington Centaurs. He was an active Niagara Old Boys team member until his death earlier this month. Burnett was also a key member of the Niagara Thunder of the Rugby Canada Super League, helping shepherd that team to the championship game in 2007. Described as a gentleman, Burnett was a mentor to many young rugby players, including Nick Bridges. “We all sort of looked up to him,” said the Grade 12 student, who has played the
sport for three years. “We are all different in a positive way because of him,” noted Young, who benefitted from Burnett’s guidance since joining the team last year. Burnett’s coaching abilities were second to none said members of the Warriors’ squad. According to Newman, Burnett was able to identify players’ strengths and position them on the pitch accordingly. Following the Warriors’ first tournament last week, the players were hit with the realization that Burnett was not there to offer some constructive criticism or congratulate the boys on their performance. “It was surreal,” said Bridges of the team’s mood. “It didn’t feel right. It was definitely emotional afterwards,” said Newman. Burnett’s passing has further spurred the Waterdown boys’ desire to succeed this season. “Our whole season is dedicated to him,” said Bridges, adding that the team will soon sport a special emblem on their jerseys in memory of their coach. A celebration of life ceremony in memory of Burnett was held last weekend at Burlington’s Sherwood Forest Park, hosted by the Centaurs. The Waterdown Warriors team attended, passing a rugby ball in honour of their coach.
BY GORD BOWES NEWS STAFF
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he Hamilton Accessibility Sports Council is inviting the public out Sunday to see the wide range of sports in which people with disabilities can take part. The recently formed council is Hamilton's advocacy group and voice for those with physical and cognitive disabilities ensuring equitable opportunities for participation in recreation and sport. "We're hoping we can get people with disabilities who don't get the opportunity to try something, to come out and try this," said Olga Pavlovich, a Hamilton Accessibility Sports Council board member. "Come out and see what we have available in our community."
She noted there are more than 25 different sports for disabled athletes offered in Hamilton. Such sports don’t get a lot of attention, said Pavlovich. That’s something the council, the seventh formed in the province under the ParaSport Ontario umbrella, is hoping to change. "There is a huge group of people here who need a voice and we want to be that voice for them and help them as we can," said Pavlovich. There will be sledge hockey and bocce demonstrations at this Sunday's event and the chance for people to participate. Sundays’ session, which is being held in conjunction with ParaSport Ontario, runs from noon until 4 p.m. at the Huntington Park recreation centre, 87 Brentwood Dr. on Hamilton Mountain.
Highest game ever rolled by a woman in Skyway play BY JIM MARGUERATT SPECIAL TO THE NEWS
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im Enoksen was high in Skyway Westinghouse play with a 669 and daughter Kristen almost doubled her 137 average with a 268 game for a CTF Century award. The 268 is a new league high, surpassing Sheila Moser's 235 and is the highest game ever rolled by a woman in the league's 50-year history. The 10th 290-game of the season was tossed by Scott Tarbat, as he joined
Richard Parker, Sean Patterson, Travis Cauley, Mick Anderer, Jeff Lofft, John Cherriere, Dave Custeau, Mark Ward and Vince Iacozza with the 11-strike performance. For the Star Lanes juniors, Dylan Williams had a 225 and Jerrilyn King-Russell 224. For the second time this season, a woman has spared the 8-10 split in VSL action, as Maureen Cooper did what Barb Roy did earlier. Jim Margueratt saved the best for last with a 214 and Ed Margueratt spared the 4-5 split three times.