SUMMERSIDE -
SUMMERSIDE - Make it four straight David Voye Memorial rugby tournament championships for the host Three Oaks Axemen.
The Axemen pulled out an 8-7 come-from-behind win over the Charlottetown Rural Raiders in a rematch of last year's final to give the Summerside high school five titles in the tournament's 13-year history.
"The team played absolutely unreal," said Three Oaks head coach James Voye, who is the son of the late David Voye, following Saturday afternoon's deciding match. "The dedication, hard work and drive to win the tournament was incredible. It means a lot to me and the other coaches."
At the Canada Games field, Kris Rice scored the game-winning try halfway through the second half.
"The guys were rucking the ball very well," said Voye, explaining how the winning score developed. "They were being patient and that's the key when you are in the red-zone type area like in football.
"That's when you have to be your most patient, and you really have to be effective with your plays. That's what happened."
Close call
The Raiders, though, drove deep into the Axemen's zone as time was winding down, and were inches away from winning the game when an attempted penalty kick hit the upright.
"To be quite honest, Rural is so strong kicking I thought it was going to go in," said Voye. "We got very lucky."
Phil Lanthier's try and Liam Carter's convert gave the Raiders a 7-3 lead at the half. Nathan Ferrish's penalty kick accounted for Three Oaks' first-half scoring.
"We had a good pep talk at the half," said Voye. "We just wanted to make sure the boys knew they were a better team than this, and we were not playing up to our capability, and that we had to come out hard and be more aggressive. That's what they did."
Charlottetown Rural head coach John Michael Murphy described the championship game a hard-fought battle on both sides.
"We came out quick right off the start, but Three Oaks was able to turn the tide midway through the first half, and we just weren't able to get into their end," said Murphy. "I thought we dominated them in the ruck and started to take some penalties, which gave us a problem. At the end of the game, you miss a kick, hit a post and lose by a point."
In the semifinals, the Axemen blanked Nova Scotia's Northumberland 10-0 while Rural shut out East Hants 12-0.
Ferrish accounted for eight of Three Oaks' points - a try and penalty kick - and Keith Girard added a two-point convert.
jpsports@journalpioneer.com
