Junior football ends season with nail biter

Louis Ferraciti was forced to leave the game due to injury with four minutes
 remaining in a 3-0 playoff loss to Adam Scott last Friday (oct 29)
Photo by Gav

Special Thanks to Coach Bruce Griffith and the Hal High Sports Team
Posted by Gav
Red Hawks junior footballers dropped a thriller 3-0 to Adam Scott Lions last Friday afternoon.
It was a game that they hadn't planned on playing.
Last Wednesday they learned they had squeaked into the Kawartha playoffs.
Coach Bruce Griffith said he had to call the boys back to the storage room to pick up their pads and helmets.
They had already been turned in.
So they practiced Thursday and slipped down the road to Adam Scott, and in charming fashion they proved that they not only belonged, but they darn near pulled off a Harry (Houdini) when a 70-yard run to paydirt had them in the lead.

Girls field hockey COSSA dream dies on penalties

Terrance Gavan - Sports Ed Hal Sports Pages

Red Hawks hopes dwindled to denouement last Friday after a penalty shot
loss to North Hastings in Bancroft on Friday. (Oct 29, 2010)

Courtesy of County Voice Sports - Covering the County
New season.
Next year.
The Red Hawks Varsity girls field hockey team finished second in the Kawartha finals last Tuesday.
They dropped an overtime sudden-death squeaker to St. Peters after winning their first two games of the tourney 7-0 and 1-0.
That loss placed them second in the COSSA seeding, forcing an unfavorable match up against perennial rival North Hastings in Bancroft on Friday (Oct 29).
The teams battled to a draw and then to another scoreless overtime, forcing penalties, the field hockey equivalent of the hockey shootout.

Junior Girls edged out in Kawartha West final

Juniors must now play in at Wild Card Tourney Nov 9

By Terrance Gavan - Red Hawk Nest
Red Hawk junior girls held a lead for a large portion of Friday's Kawartha West championship final.
There was a time when they actually looked ready to pop the clutch and snap it into overdrive.
However, some mental errors, followed by a fourth quarter of missed opportunities allowed the Brock Bulldogs to drag out a 26-23 victory.
Brock gets a bye into the Kawartha Tourney while both Hal High senior and junior hoop squads will participate in a play-in tourney slated for Hal High Hawks' Nest on Nov 9.
I'll get the update for junior football, Varsity Field Hockey and a complete wrapper up here at some point either tonight or tomorrow (Saturday) morning.
Red Hawk football hosts a playdown game next Tuesday at Brohman Memorial.
Full week of action in the upcoming week at Hal High.
Complete coverage in the County Voice.
Cos' as you know, the Voice covers the county!
Thanks to all my peeps for keeping me up to date wit' da' dap and da' dipsey-doodle.
The Gavster.

Junior Football Hawks - Shazaaam! Popped into playoffs

Tyler Wood leads the hawks into the playoffs next Tuesday at
Gary Brohman Memorial Field.

 By Terrance Gavan - Editor HSP
The Red Hawk juniors had already turned in their uniforms.
Their coach, Bruce Griffith, who thought last week that his playoff hopes were dans la toilette, was shrugging as a reporter from the County Voice approached him, ink leaving a dark trail as he plodded in the rain to the junior Hawks who were - WHA? - practicing in a cold steady rain.
So what the heck was the young Red Hawk squad doing last Thursday - out on the Gary Brohman practice field, in pads and helmets, enveloped by a grazing downpour -  running sets and popping sprints?
"Okay I got it wrong," laughed Griffith.
"Something happened that we didn't think could happen - what are the odds that Brock would lose to Norwood in overtime and that our win Tuesday would put us into the playoffs" shrugged Griffith.
The odds apparently quite favorable for the lucky Hawks, who backed into the final playoff berth in Kawartha with a combination of that convincing win over Thomas A Stewart on Tuesday and that somewhat bizarre loss by Brock to Norwood.
To put it in perspective, Brock handed Hal High their keesters in a game earlier this season.
Last week the Hawks dominated Norwood cruising to their first win of the season on electra glide.
What are the odds?
Pretty darn good if you consider the uneven ebb and flow of junior football.
Where week to week things go down through the uneven prism of parallel universes.
"We had the players turn in their uniforms on Tuesday and I put my coaching gear away, and then I got the call at 3 o'clock and so we couldn't practice on Wednesday," smiled the coach. They were out on the field in partial pads, just shorts and shoulder and helmets, running play sets and one would imagine, counting lucky points in the night sky.
So season not over.
Hawks travelled to Adam Scott on Friday for a rematch versus the Rams.
Click this site to your faves or bookmark it.
Results of that game will appear as if by magic to the Hal Sports Page once I get the nod from Griffith.
The Senior Hawks completed their season sweep against TAS with a 42-7 win.
Undefeated on the season.
Kudos to these big guys who have done nothing but get better all season.
The way it's supposed to go.
They were out in full pads last Thursday running plays, and punching up their itinerary which will not include any nuance.
Just up the gut, in your face, smashmouth football.
That according to coaches Tim Davies and Derek Little.
They get a bye till Tuesday where they will host that Kawartha playoff.
Stay tuned.
Read the County Voice - we're first best and always there.
The Gav.
 

Hal High Sports Round-up for Oct 18-25

Thanks to Ms Paul's crack reporting team
Tuesday, October 19
B-BALL
The junior girls’ basketball team defeated Brock High School to tie up
first place in the Double A category.  Players of the game are Casey
Pringle and Kayla Gardiner.  Megan LaPierre  enabled the team to take the
lead by sinking her foul shot.  Final score 22-21 for the Hawks.

Soccer
The junior boys’ soccer team played an amazing game against I.E. Weldon,
holding a lead for most of the game but eventually losing by a 3-2 score.
Goal scorers were Brad Wood and Tanner Hamilton.  Special mention to
Nathan Feir for excellent goalkeeping.

Wednesday, October 20
Field Hockey
The Varsity A field hockey team finished their regular season play with an
undefeated record.  The girls competed against St. Peter’s and PCVS,
accomplishing a a 4-0 and 3-0 win.  Special mention to Sandy Griffith for
earning a hat trick and Jessica Bishop for controlling midfield play.

Thursday, October 21
Hoops
The senior girls’ basketball team showed strong improvement in team play
against the Weldon Wildcats, but were defeated by a final score of 30-21.
Strong games from Jenna Dibblee, Maia O’Sullivan and Tessa Iles.
Excellent, improved performances from Loretta Kerr, Quinn Schell and
Amanda Kraft. 

 The junior girls’ basketball team fell just short of a win with a 31-30
loss against the Weldon Wildcats.  Great team defense and many points from
top scorers Jessica Rider and Meghan LaPierre led to an outstanding
outcome. 
Football
The senior Redhawk football team continued their winning streak defeating
Norwood 31-12 yesterday.  Players of the Game:  Scott Griffith, Josh
Dennys, and Grant Ellis.

The junior boys’ football team recorded their first win with a 20-6
victory over the Norwood Knights.  Touchdowns from Riley Tait, Louis
Ferracuti, and an end zone recovery by punt specialist Larry Reynolds.
Defensive player of the game was Brendan Bauman.
new? Tips? Sports?
Contact gav@pardontheeruption.com

Field hockey Hawks stay on page - avenge an earlier loss

Varsity hawks defeat hastings 4-0 in exhibition play. Photo by Gav

Varsity field hockey exact a measure of revenge with 4-0 win over Hastings

By Terrance gavan

Oh, you will hear teams opine, in the backwash of a disappointing defeat, that they’ve put it all behind them.

   And you will watch coaches shrug off an early season loss.

   But deep down, somewhere in the inner psyches, teams burdened with the sum of all hopes and promise, take every defeat as apersonal affront.

   Welcome to Red Hawk Varsity field hockey.

   A solid front of friends and partners who just plain don’t like to lose.

   So when they lost to a talented North Hastings team in the final of the Sir Robert Borden tourney in Ottawa last month - in a shootout following a 0-0 regulation tie - you can imagine that it didn’t sit well with the feisty contingent from Hal High.

   And you can bet that those same Red Hawks along with their coach Caley Sisson, were counting the days to last Thursday.

Facing Off with Matt Duchene - 10/15/10

Mattherw Duchene talks hockey - confidence and expectations

By Seamus O'Bradaigh - PTE Editor Emeritus 

Matthew Duchene, the Haliburton Hurricane says that unwavering confidence and last year's run at Sn Jose in the playoffs last year bodes well for the young Cloorado Avalanche team this season.

Matty says that the Avs will move ahead with that same swagger that epitomized the 2009-10 Avs.

Over five games this season Matt is honking along at a point per game clip.

It's his sophomore season and he's battling the famous second season curse.

Sophomore jinx?

Naaah!

The second line center is keeping pace with Peter Stastny the Avs first line pivot man.

Let's go Matty.

Haliburton Curling Club sponsors vibrant youth curling program

By Terrance Gavan

Not everyone likes hockey.

   Not every kid plays hockey.

   Cue the gasps.

   And not every kid in Canada grows up with visions of Maurice Richard, Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux, or Wayne Gretzky bouncing around his or her noggin.

   Some kids, believe it or not, are like me.

   They have a poster of Jeff Stoughton and Cheryl Bernard – or Glen Howard, or Jennifer Jones – hanging on the wall of their bedrooms.

   Men and women with brooms? 

   But of course.

   This is Canada, where eight months of ice, snow and howling nor’westers mandate a hallowed hall of solace, refuge, and contemplative activity.

   Hurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry!

   Don’t you dare! Touch! That! Bloody! Rock!

   Okay, so maybe a curling club is not so much a chapel, but a community hub, where we can all get mad at winter together.

   Curling … fun?

   Damn right it is.

   I am fully cognizant of the great leap of faith involved.

   But the fact remains that curling, along with hockey, are two Olympic sports where Canada is expected to medal (as in Gold) in both women’s and men’s competition.

Senior Hawks bypass the bye with exhibition contest

By Terrance Gavan

When you’re on a roll, it’s wise not to mess with the chemistry.

   And so the senior Red Hawks football team – already 4-0 on the season – went looking for and eventually found a team to play last Friday.

   The regular season schedule called for a game versus St. Mary’s, but their senior program fell into the dumper after the first game of the season.

   Enter Adam Scott High, invited last Friday to participate in a friendly exhibition game.

   Or at least as friendly as it gets on the gridiron.

   The Lions ended up winning the game 14-7 at Gary Brohman Field.

   Hawk coaches Derek Little and Tim Davies set up the exhibition with the caveat that they would play Scott straight up in the first half, but pull some starters in the final 24 minutes.

   Both coaching staffs were aware that the first place Hawks would be using the final half to allow some of their second team players to get some much deserved and valuable playing time.

   Both teams played hard, but the coaching staffs on both sidelines were also aware that this was a “friendly” and it was a game played in the best tradition of fairness and good conduct.

   The first half ended in a 7-7 tie, and the Hawks went with backup quarterback Damon Flatman and running back Greg Baumgartner - in place of starting pivot Scot Griffith and stellar tail back Tyler Wood – for the duration of the last half..

   Griffith connected on a beautifully crafted touchdown pass to wide-out Luke Watson in the second quarter. Jesse Lefebvre connected on the convert to tie the score at seven.

   Adam Scott scored earlier in the first quarter on a quick hitting off tackle running play.

   All the scoring in that first half was done with the wind – a foul, cold, gusting  and disgusting rumbler, blowing in from the vicinity of Siberia - or Head Lake.

   The wind would play a big factor in the second half as well.

   Adam Scott scored with the wind just five minutes into the third quarter and from that point onward both defenses dominated the discussion.

   Flatman struggled in the third, but the Hawks did start to rally during the fourth quarter with the wind at their backs.

   On the last play of the game Flatman aired out a bomb on a rope caught by Watson deep downfield.

   Watson could not elude a phalanx of Lions’ defenders who were playing zone prevent with twin safeties and three defensive backs and linebackers dropping back in the mix.

   It was said Coach Little, just what the doctor ordered.

   “The goal was to get our second string – both offense and defense – some reps and we did that,” said Little. “Now we’ve got some players that can come in with more confidence if we happen to need them in the final two games and the playoffs.”

   He said that they also had an opportunity to videotape the game, which will give the coaching staff and the players a chance to review some of the offensive and defensive sets as the unbeaten Hawks prepare for the post season.

   “With the post season picture in front of us, it’s important that these guys start to see some things on video,” said Little. “Look we can talk till we’re blue in the face but unless they see it it maybe doesn’t mean as much to the players.

   “We had a video session of last week’s game (a 20-14 squeaker versus Holy Cross) and they were shocked at some of the stuff they saw on the field.”

   And Little said the video is there to keep the Hawk’s heads firmly on square shoulders.

   He says it’s omportant for the team to realize that there is vast room for improvement.

   “Because we’re not, on video, a 3-0 or a 4-0 team,” said Little. “There’s still a lot of things we have to work on.”

   Little said that in terms of points for and against in the three league games – 101-14 – the team looks unstoppable.

   But the Hawks did in fact stall against Holy Cross during the second half in their last league tilt and Little says that the defense is in fact controlling team fortunes so far.

   “We’re not adding anything new from here on in,” said Little. “We’re going to tweak and just try to get better as we’re heading to the playoffs.”

   The Hawks are in Norwood today and at Thomas A Stewart next Tuesday (Oct 26).

   Playoffs begin on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Rob Lewis finishes and learns some things

Rob Lewis fights wind, rain and gonzo greens at OFSAA tournament

By Terrance Gavan

   Rob Lewis said last week that the greens would write the story.

   Lewis got it right.

   The greens at the Barrie Golf Club, home to the OFSAA golf tournament last week (Oct 13-14), were fast and furious.

   They were bewildering for a large portion of the field.

   Lewis finished tied for 64^th in his first ever OFSAA tourney and he admits that the weather and the greens certainly played a role in his scores of  81 and 84 last week.

   All the same, it’s a respectable finish for the young Grade 10 student who was playing against a field largely comprised of third and fourth year players.

   No picnic for any of the golfers involved.

   Well except for two time winner Brandon Ng – now the back to back winner of the Ontario High School (OFSAA) golfing crown.

   Ng, from Toronto's Upper Canada College, didn't seem to mind the rain, the wind nor the lightening quick greens.

   Ng shot a three-over-par 75 on both days of the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations final to win the individual title with an aggregate score of 150 at the Twenty Valley Golf and Country Club.

   Jonathan Kim-Moss, from Erindale Secondary in Mississauga, was runner-up with totals of 77 and 74 for 151. Zachary Kempa from Assumption, was third with a 75 and 77 for 152.

   Last week Lewis told the Voice that he would be treating this first OFSAA event as a warm up for what he expects to be another two runs at the Ontario title.

   His high school coach Paul Longo has every confidence in his young rising star.

   A finish in the top half of the field is certainly respectable and Lewis said he’s happy with the result.

Week in Review at Hal High - Thanks to Ms. Paul's Class

Much thanks to Ms. Paul's class at HHSS!

October is Breast Cancer Month - Thus our Pink Bylines

The Hal High Red Hawk Field Hockey team found vindication last Thursday

for an earlier shootout loss to local rival North Hastings HS.

In the Sir Robert Borden Tourney (Sept)They beat Hastings 4-0

last Thursday -  in the rain during an exhibition contest. The old coach Paul Morissette

was out there officiating the contest - enjoying his retirement and giving back.

Tuesday,  October 12

The Varsity A field hockey team defeated the team from Adam Scott with a 6-0 score.   Special mention to midfielders Tara O’Sullivan, Bri Hicks and Jess Bishop for their tremendous leadership.

The Varsity B field Hockey team celebrated two victories yesterday, defeating Bracebridge and Parry Sound.

The Junior Girls’ basketball team defeated LCVI in an impressive game where the girls showcased their speed and scoring ability.  Great team play saw 7 girls mark the scoreboard in a 26-21 victory.

The Senior Girls’ basketball team put up a respectable 18 points but was defeated by a ferocious LCVI assault.

Thursday,  October 14

The Junior Girls’ basketball team played a strong defensive game against

the undefeated Fenelon Falcons with the final score 39-19 for Fenelon.

Great game from Kayla Gardiner and strong play from Jaimie Dack, Jessica

Ryder, Bailey Walker, and Casey Pringle.

The Varsity A field hockey team took on long-time rivals North Hastings

where intense play resulted in a 4-0 win for Haliburton.  Excellent

defensive play by Lily Coneybeare, Vicky Bukta, and Jessica Duchene.

Amazing goals by Jillian Mayhew, Lindsey Pogue and Grace Diezel.

The Varsity B field hockey team played Bancroft, with the game ending in a

0-0 tie.

The Senior Girls’ basketball team played their best league game of the

season but were defeated by a 27-20 score. Jenna Dibblee had her career

best game, scoring over half the team points.  Thanks to Paige Roberts and

Jessica Ryder for filing in as guards.

The Senior Boys’ soccer team travelled to Cannington to play the Brock

Bulldogs.  Brett Yake scored a pair of goals for a first half lead;

however, Brock was able to tie it up in the second half for a final score

of 2-2.

The Junior Redhawk soccer team took on the team from Brock and played

extremely well in another dominating win.  Goal scorers were Tyler Nolan,

Tanner Hamilton, Darcy Schmidt, Brad Wood, and Jake Harrison.

Football juniors still struggling to find footing

Blanked by St Mary’s Thunder 27-0

By Terrance Gavan

Practices got more interesting for the junior Red Hawk Football team after another disappointing game last Friday.

   Head coach Bruce Griffith wasn’t smiling after a 27-0 loss to visiting St. Mary’s Thunder last Friday afternoon (Oct 15) at Gary Brohman field.

   “I told the boys in the huddle at the end, that next week, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday there’s no more fun time at practice,” smiled Griffith. “We have a lot of fun and we kid around a bit, but I told the guys that we’re going to be serious and we’re going to win next Thursday.”

   Both senior and junior teams are on the road at Norwood District HS today (Oct 14).

   “I told them that’s it, no more messing around,” smiled Griffith. “And we are going to win.”

   The Hawks were on the receiving end of a big roughing penalty resulting in a first and goal from the Thunder’s three yard line with just seconds left in the game,

   Griffith called a time out to rally the troops and he said that the call was a hand off to their best backfield running threat Louis Ferracuti.

   Keep in mind that the Hawks haven’t scored a point since their first game of the season, a 9-6 loss to Kenner Rams.

   For Griffith and indeed the whole Red Hawk team, this excellent opportunity in the final minute of play was a chance to regain some measure of respect after a game marred by turnovers, penalties and several defensive lapses.

   It didn’t happen.

   Ferracuti was hit at the two yard line and attempted to stretch the ball out over the goal line as he fell.

   The tip of the outstretched ball fell just 2 inches from the end zone.

Hal High's Rob Lewis captures COSSA gold in golf

We're hopin' that ol' Bagger will be somewhere
around barrie this week as Rob lewis competes in OFSAA>

By Terrance Gavan - PTE Managing Editor

Golf’s a funny game.

   Sometimes it’s hard to tell if you’re playing the course or the course is playing you.

   Some days it’s a sunny stroll: spoiled.

   And some days golf literally pops with poesy, like the bright red maple leaves strewn on dew-laden green fairways.

   Rob Lewis, a young Hal High Red Hawk swinging prodigy, is as subject to the vagaries of this confounding game as most weekend warriors.

   However, last Friday at the eloquent fairways of Port Hope’s Dalewood Country Club - a tough par 71 6,400 yard track - Lewis experienced one of those Bagger Vance days.

   He expunged demons; he narrowed sight lines; and he eschewed any thoughts of gusting winds and idle thoughts.

   Old Bagger woulda’ been dancin’ along the beach.

   Lewis put together one of the best rounds of his young career.

   And more important, he did it with the heat on and the water bubbling on the stove.

   Lewis shot a spellbinding 75 and earned the respect and praise of his coach Paul Longo who was absolutely ecstatic with his young protégé’s play last week.

   His 75 was the second best round of the day says Longo, but the 74 score was posted as part of the team event, and thus Lewis who was golfing as a single – his Hal High teammates were eliminated in the Kawartha play downs – was awarded low round and an automatic entry into the prestigious OFSAA play downs slated for the Barrie Country Club next Wednesday and Thursday (Oct 13-14).

   “He played really well,” says Longo. “The course plays tough and there was a stiff wind for most of the round, so we’re really proud of him and I know he’s pretty happy.”

   Longo says that the gold medal performance is made even more poignant by the fact that Lewis is only in Grade 10, meaning that he’s got two more years to anchor Hal High’s links team.

   Now that youth factor may come into play next week in Barrie where most of the golfers that Lewis will be facing – among the 100 or so competitors province-wide – will be in grade juniors or seniors.

   But after watching Lewis’s performance on Friday Longo has no doubt that he’ll be equal to the task.

   He adds that Lewis has been under the tutelage of Ken Rosenberg working out of the Pinestone Resort here in Haliburton.

  “Kenny and Rob have been working together for a couple of years now,” he adds.

   Longo says that Lewis came out if not with a chip on his shoulder, at least with something to prove after just missing the OFSAA cut last year.

   “He’s just a really nice young man, and his goal was to be there (OFSAA) this year,” says Longo. “He was only a few shots off last year and he had it in his mind to be there this year.”

   We might call that mission accomplished, but Longo says that he’s not there just to participate; Lewis is there to play the rounds of his life.

   “I think he’ll be out playing every night this week and he and his dad may make a trip to Barrie on Thanksgiving weekend,” adds Longo. “He’s allowed to go play a practice round on Tuesday, but that would entail taking another day off school.”

   Longo is hoping that the weather cooperates and has been scanning the long range forecast since last Friday night.

   “We’re hoping for two nice days,” says the coach.

   And Lewis will be hoping for another two of those “walk in the sunshine” rounds.

News Tips? Contact Gav on Sports at gav@pardontheeruption.com. Or twitter.com/terrancegavan  

Hawks Varsity field hockey – unflappable, unbeatable – unbelievably good

Varsity girls continue their unrelenting roll – to an ultimate goal

By Terrance Gavan - Oct. is breast Cancer Month

Sometimes the stats don’t tell the real story.

The Hawks are simply superb this season.

   And sometimes – as in the prepossessing statistical outpouring currently being writ large by Hal High Red Hawks women’s varsity field hockey team – stats remain as the only way to properly place a season in perspective.

   So here’s the deal.

   In nine games – including six played at Ottawa’s Sir Robert Borden Tournament last weekend – the Hawks are 3-0 in league play, and 8-1 overall. (Their only blemish coming by way of a controversial 0-0 [2-1] shootout loss to North Hastings in the tourney final.)

   Impressive?

   Of course.

   But not nearly as impressive as the overall line.

   The Hawks are 41-0 in the goals for/against column.

   And really that’s pretty darn eye-popping, even for the most skeptical deniers of statistical efficacy.

   Last Tuesday afternoon (Oct 5) the Hawks crumpled visiting Thomas A Stewart 6-0.

   Lindsey Pogue led the scoring parade with a pair while, Brittany Howe, Grace Diezel, Sandy Griffith, and Vicky Bukta all struck once.

   It was just another case of wholesale domination - poetry in motion.

   The Hawks obviously have a potent offensive attack, but it’s an offense that begins with the pinching play of a very solid defense.

   Caley Sisson, the erstwhile mastermind and mentor behind this fledgling juggernaut has a pretty simple explanation for this stellar start on an unprecedented season.

   “We’re on a mission,” smiles Sisson. “The core of the team participated in the Ontario Summer Games, placing 4th in the province. Ten of the 15 players I coached in junior last year; and they were the Kawartha Champions. The other five players are returning COSSA champions from last year's varsity team coached by Paul (Morissette).

   “Our goals for the season: to be Kawartha Champions, COSSA Champions and compete at OFSAA again - placing in the top 12. I am very optimistic about this team; the girls are extremely dedicated - practicing 5 days a week and weekly throughout the summer. I’m confident in their abilities and we have set realistic goals that can be obtained with hard work, determination and consistent effort - all of which the girls demonstrate on a daily basis.”

   They won their home opener against Holy Cross 3-0 – goals by Diezel, Lucy Belli, Pogue – and followed that up with a 6-0 drubbing of Crestwood Secondary.

   Diezel nailed a hat trick and Pogue popped a pair with a singles tally from Tara O’Sullivan.

   In the Borden tourney the line was just as impressive.

   They defeated Bell High 6-0 in their opener (Goals to Griffith, Pogue (2), Grace Diezel (2), and Laura Pottier. They drifted by Maxwell HS 8-0. (Goals by Pogue (2), Grace Diezel (3), Jillian Mayhew, Ali Hicks and Griffith)

   Hawks crunched North Toronto 7-0 in their third game of the round robin on the basis of a stunning four goal performance by Griffith. Singles went to Diezel, Mayhew and Pottier.

   They defeated Earl of March 4-0 on goals by Diezel, Pogue, Griffith, and Brittany Howe.

   The rolling hawks then edged out Nepean’s Merivale High School 1-0 in the tourney semi-final on the basis of a Diezel timely tally.

And in the final The girls played Hastings to a draw before finally succumbing 2-1 in penalties.

   “The Game was 0-0 at the end of the 30 minutes, sending us to sudden death penalty strokes,” says Sisson. “Sandy Griffith scored and one goal was denied (Pogue’s try). It crossed the goal line, but it was unfortunately missed by the umpire.”

   The Red Hawks are on the pitch this afternoon versus St Thomas.

   They’ll be sharing home games with both football teams.

   Do yourself a favor and step lively over to the pitch just behind the basketballl courts.

   It may offer a little eye-opening shuck and jive to some history in the making.

   And for Sisson?

   Encore?

   “Our season is going very well,” says the coach, who remains very workmanlike and capable in her approach. “If we continue with the same intensity and team cohesion, the rest will fall into place.”

   We’ll be watching … intently.

   Get Gav at gav@pardontheeruption.com. Twitter Gav at twitter.com/terrancegavan. 

Junior Hawks fall to Campbellford Flames

Louis Ferracuti struggles for some hard-won
yardage against Holy Cross. Story this week in The VOICE.

By Terrance Gavan - 

PTE.com Managing Editor

Junior football coach Bruce Griffith is used to the ebb and flow of junior football.

   With no rep league extant in the Highlands, Griff and his assistant coach Ed Tait have become accustomed to welcoming green recruits into the program, Kids who quite literally have to be shown how to don the implements of gridiron wars.

   Last Friday, that learning curve was highlighted once again.

   The Hawks lost 19-6 to Cambbellford High School and after a 9-6 loss in their home opener versus Kenner, the struggling hawks are staring at a 0-2 start, and with perennial powerhouse Holy Cross coming to town today, well, it just ain’t gonna’ get any easier.

Hawks douse Campbellford Flames 41-0 - run record to two and "oh my!"

Jesse Walker on the way to a TD in the home opener. Jesse broke
his left wrist in the game against the Flames and is gone for the season.

By Terrance Gavan

There are twin wins.

   And then there are “Twin-Wins!”

   The former is nice, but the latter is exclamatory.

   Especially noteworthy when, like the Red Hawks senior football squad, your twin wins consist of the following: Points for - 81. Points against - squadouche. That’s Pardon the Interuption for ZERO.

   The Hawks’ apparently prepossessing juggernaut dispatched Kenner Rams 40-0 in their first contest last Tuesday (Sept 28), and then travelled to Campbellford last Friday where they unleashed a similarly spectacular 41-0 thumping of the Flames.

   Coaches Derek Little and Tim Davies were quite pumped after practice on Monday.

   “I think offensive line dominated and played really well in the first quarter,” says Little.

Hal High varsity Field Hockey girls rumble to 3-0 win

Field Hockey team rolls out a new season - with same vibe

Jillian Mayhew (above) was an integral part of Hal High's offense.

By Terrance Gavan - Managing Editor PTE

Support Breast Cancer month
Reprinted from the County Voice

When the tide is flowing it’s hard to stem.

   The levees crack and it all rolls in.

   The Red Hawk senior girls’ field hockey rolled like Fundy with a following wind last Wednesday (Sept 22) at their home opener versus Holy Cross Secondary.

    The varsity Hawks maneuvered the ball over, through and past a valiant but outgunned Holy Cross squad.

   Hal High held sway but were held scoreless for a good part of the game, suffering through a long drought of good try-no finish hockey before finally managing their first goal.

   They followed that first strike with a second and then sealed the deal with another second half goal winning 3-0 and popping the cork on a brand new season.

Red Hawks batter Rams - Season Openers

Tyler Wood runs and runs and runs in 40-0 Hawks romp over Rams

By Terrance Gavan

Ìt sometimes takes a village to bring down a determined
 running back. Lookee here as Tyler Wood
channels his inner George Reed
in a two TD performance and 40-0 battering of Rams.

Haliburton High quarterback Scott Griffith never saw legendary CFL pivot Ron Lancaster play a single down for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

   So he probably wouldn’t know that the Red Hawks were copping some mellow rifts from a very old score last Tuesday afternoon on Gary Brohman Field.

   Lancaster and a human battering ram named George Reed used to do to opposing CFL teams – circa 1963-75 - what Griffith and the Red Hawks’ hellzapoppin’ running back Tyler Wood did to the visiting Kenner Rams last Tuesday afternoon during the annual Red and White Day home opener.

   Griffith and Wood ran and ran and ran the ball; channeled their inner Ronnie and George; then ran some more; quite literally daring the Kenner Rams defense to stop ‘em.

   They didn’t.

   Couldn’t.

   Ain’t broke? Don’t fix!

There's a fine line between curling and spieling

Gav – Pardon the Eruption - reprinted from County Voice

Haliburton Curling Club hosts twin clinics to launch 2010-11 season

Glen Smith with some finer points at the beginner clinic, Sept 25,2010.

By Terrance Gavan - Breast cancer Month

A full complement of 35-40 new curlers were introduced to the finer accoutrements and niceties of the roaring game last weekend at the Haliburton Curling Club.

   On Sunday about 30 intermediate club members attended a two hour refresher and skills session.

   Surely a sign that curling season is sweeping up fast.

   Indeed the Haliburton Curling Club’s league action slides outta’ the hack on Monday, Oct. 4.

   Curling. Hmm, how to place it in its proper perspective?

   It’s a Scottish invention that was never intended to usurp soccer on the world’s stage.

   No, the Scots - who also like to deep fry Mars bars in batter with fish and chip oil - would prefer that you refer to curling as something to pass the time while waiting for the frost to leave the cow pastures.

Hal High Footie clubs open season at home

Red Hawks’ footie clubs rip one huge win/ one squeaker loss in openers

By Terrance Gavan - PTE Editor – County Voice Sports Reporter

   Hal High Red Hawk junior footie players ran a veritable pastiche of TSN-worthy highlight reel goals past their struggling counterparts from Brock High School last Tuesday afternoon.

   The Trilliums Lakelands sports body prohibits teams from showing actual scores during lopsided games, so it was hard to accurately manage the books after the home-town Hawks ran their advantage to 5-1.

   That’s where the home town clock technician literally clocked off.

   Deadline issues – Voice goes to print proofs on Tuesday afternoon – prevent a final airing of the score, but suffice to say that the junior Hawks soccer squad ran the score to 8-1 at one point in a wind-aided second half.

   The impressive home opener bodes well for junior footie at Hal High.

   They show a well organized front end attack, bulwarked by a solid cadre of high styled footmen.

   They finish with flourish and their open-ended attacking style provided the fans on hand with plenty to talk about.

   Stylish club with some hard-core offensive players, capable of finish. Obviously.

   Meanwhile the senior footie squad fell prey to some opening day jitters in a lackluster first 40 minutes.

   They dug themselves a huge 4-0 hole before rallying in the latter stages of the contest.

   Alex Monk-Cray, Jesse Schmidt, Brett Yake and Mike Mazara rallied the cause with some stellar crosses, ball movement, and a heady counter-punching demeanor with the wind at their backs and blowing out to Head Lake in the second half.

   They scored their first wind-aided goal with less than 30 minutes remaining and then rallied huge in the closing minutes to close the advantage to 4-3. Their second and third goals came during an absolutely awe-inspiring flurry of offensive activity in the closing three minutes of regular time.

   During a minute and a half of extra time the senior Hawks had one glorious chance to knot the score, but fell just shy as the clock dwindled to the final whistle after 85 seconds of added time.

   This senior club possesses some very potent weapons and should be all right this year.

   Brock seniors play a disciplined ball control game and the senior Hawks like to freewheel. Despite that ugly first half, the senior Hawks showed dig deep heart, and some emotional flourish in the face of some dire odds.

   Last Tuesday they had patches of brilliance in that second half, which shattered the composure of Brock’s back line.

   Kudos goes to Brock’s backstop, who was superb when needed, and eventually he turned the tide in the closing moments.

   However those late flashes should provide momentum for the senior club who travel to St. Thomas Aquinas today.

   Both footie clubs are on the road to KCVI next Tuesday.

   The Brohman pitch will turn into Brohman Field next Tuesday (Sept 28) for the twin bill football home opener against KCVI.

    reach the gav at gav@pardontheeruption.com / twitter.com/terrancegavan