BC Bears vs Ontario Blues Match #2

BC Win 32-7 in Game #2 – 68-21 on Aggregate

BC claimed a 32-7 win in Game #2 for a 68-21 win on aggregate. BC came out strong scoring within the first five minutes and continued to add points throughout the match, Ontario got on the board in the last two minutes. The game notes are below. Showing well for BC were Cody Nhanala, probably the player of the series, Wes Black the surprise of the series (coming from a Div 1 club), Lockie Kratz who controlled both games, the McMullin brothers who are always solid. Brendyn Beck was also a player who deserves some attention from selectors and hopefully he gets invited to a Canada camp. Emerson Prior of course who was a mainstay of a strong BC front row. Don Carson was solid in the second row. Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Game Notes

BC wasted no time getting on the board in the first 5 minutes, they looked a lot more composed in the backline with the extra time together. Big carries by Cody Nhanala, Don Carson, Wes Black gave them front foot ball, Lockie Kratz put in a cheeky grubber which he reclaimed and they were on the board early, 7-0 with conversion by Takoda McMullin.

The next major action was 20 minutes in when Ontario’s Jacob Ince made a line break and offloaded to winger Prince Ndukwe who fended Jack Shaw but just stepped in to touch before offloading for what looked like an Ontario try. BC dodged the bullet on that one. Ontario stole the lineout and crashed the ball over the line but were held up, goal line drop out for BC.

BC score again with Hamish Janes touching down but the work was done by Wes Black who turned the ball over and Lockie Kratz who jinked his way through several defenders before offloading to Janes, 14-0.

Henry Kirwan subs on for Liam James who may have picked up a bit of a leg injury, he was hobbling a few plays ago. The scrums have been even so far this game and they were deadlocked again on this Ontario feed. Cody Nhanala gets his first jackal of the match inside the BC 22 and relieves the Ontario pressure.

BC’s backline moves not connecting especially on the timing moves, in these short prep games you have to be more deliberate in passing. Ontario scampered down the field with the errant pass but fortunately for BC a penalty had been called, possibly for offside. Lockie Kratz muffs the kick to touch and Ontario clears their zone with a long kick.

Talon McMullin has a strong run, offloads to Arthur Greene who gets turned over and Ontario on the counter-attack. Ontario then knocks the ball on and then BC, it’s an Ontario scrum. There’s not a lot of ball security in this stretch of play and it’s getting scrappy with 10 minutes left in the half. BC win this scrum and are awarded the penalty. Takoda McMullin goes for goal but misses his second one today, still 14-0.

Ontario win the next penalty as it gets scrappy at the breakdown and Ontario win the contest. Ontario are going nowhere on attack and they drop the ball, BC scrum. Ontario win the penalty on the scrum, they go for the lineout, it’s pulled down, another penalty and a 5 metre lineout with just a minute left until half. BC steal the lineout, feed it wide and make their way down the field, they kick to the corner, Ontario returns it and BC have a lineout inside the Ontario half.

The BC maul is gaining yards but referee Julianne Zussman calls them for crossing. Ontario kick to touch, win their lineout and win a penalty when BC is deemed to jump across the gap. The lineout is messy but Ontario maintains possession and another penalty, they go for the corner again, try to maul, it’s stopped and when they go wide it’s shutdown and the half time whistle is called, 14-0..

The second half kicks off and BC #21 is on, Brendyn Beck, and he gets a jackal within the first minute. Takoda McMullin goes for the posts again and three times a charm, 17-0.

The first scrum of the second half goes to BC as Djustice is called for a knee on the ground. Joe Locke comes on, Arthur Greene goes off, Stephen Webb and Will Kelly come on for Ontario. Ontario get a short arm penalty on the next scrum for an early engage. BC return the clearing kick, Cody Nhanala has a line break, great support by Brendyn Beck to secure the ruck, it’s gets recycled quickly and Talon McMullin is over the line, 24-0.

Theo Espagnol, Brock Gallagher and Gabe Casey on. Wes Black and Cody Nhanala with some strong runs from the kickoff. Tim Zimmer comes on for Emerson Prior. Henry Kirwan is on as well for BC.

Ontario get a penalty at the BC 22 for an offside. The lineout is successful but the maul stalls and Tim Zimmer jackals a ball when it breaks off. Andrew Crane on and Don Carson off. BC attacking inside the Ontario 22 but get turned over, 20 minutes remaining.

Simroy John gets on the field to applause as he’s a Shawnigan student, Wes Black comes off. BC win a penalty from an Ontario knock down of a pass, Takoda McMullin slots 3, 27-0. Brock Gallagher goes blindside from a ruck and starts a 3 on 1 to Kirwan to Espagnol who crosses the line, 32-0. Ontario maul one in with 2 minutes left, 32-7 final score.

BC Name Lineup for Match #2 vs Ontario Blues – Ontario Roster Added

Coach Curry Hitchborn has made a few changes for Game #2. Neil Trainor starts at hooker with Jesse Mackail picking up an injury in Game #1, Trainor played most of Game #1 and played well. The props who did so well in the first game get the start again, Emerson Prior at loosehead and Wes Black at tighthead. Frank Carson came off early in Game #1 and isn’t in the roster for this match, Reegan O’Gorman is switched from blindside flanker to second row and Arthur Greene from Capilano gets the start at blindside. Owain Ruttan who played #8 for Tide starts at openside and man of the match from Game #1, Cody Nhanala, starts at #8.

It’s the same halfback combination of Billy Wickham and Lockie Kratz, Takoda McMullin moves to fullback, Liam James to wing and Hamish Janes of the Ravens starts at outside centre. D’Shawn Bowen isn’t in the roster for this match, Jack Shaw remains at wing and Talon McMullin at inside centre. Again it’s a long bench with 26 players named.

Ontario haven’t named their roster at the time of writing, we’ll add it when it’s available. We just updated the article on game day with the Ontario roster, see below.

The kick off is Saturday at Shawnigan Lake School at 2pm, live stream link below. The women’s Blue vs Gold match is the curtain raiser at 12:30pm, we’ll have those rosters in a separate article.

1. Emerson Prior (Westshore RFC)
2. Neil Trainor (James Bay AA)
3. Wes Black (Kamloops Raiders RFC)
4. Reegan O’Gorman (UBCOB Ravens)
5. Don Carson (UBCOB Ravens)
6. Arthur Greene (Capilano RFC)
7. Owain Ruttan (UBCOB Ravens)
8. Cody Nhanala (UBC Thunderbirds)
9. Billy Wickham (UBCOB Ravens)
10. Lachlan Kratz (UBCOB Ravens)
11. Liam James (UBC Thunderbirds)
12. Talon McMullin (UBC Thunderbirds)
13. Hamish Janes (UBCOB Ravens)
14. Jack Shaw (Castaway Wanderers)
15. Takoda McMullin (UBC Thunderbirds)

Impacts
16. Timothy Zimmer (TWU Spartans)
17. Theo Espagnol (Pacific Pride)
18. Simroy John (Westshore RFC)
19. Conrad Mitchell (Capilano RFC)
20. Andrew Crane (Capilano RFC)
21. Brendyn Beck (James Bay AA)
22. Joe Locke (UBCOB Ravens)
23. Joshua Thiel (James Bay AA)
24. Henry Kirwan (James Bay AA)
25. Gabe Casey (UVIC Vikes)
26. Brock Gallagher (Cowichan RFC)

Alternates
William Dormaar (Capilano RFC)
Kyle Tremblay (Westshore RFC)
Ethan Hager (Castaway Wanderers)

Ontario

Alternates
Filip Pasagic | Balmy Beach
Dan Martyn | Aurora Barbarians

BC Win 32-7 in Game #2 – 68-21 on Aggregate

BC Name Lineup for Match #2 vs Ontario Blues – Ontario Roster Added

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