BC Premier Quarter-Final Results: Westshore Topple Caps – Full Match Video; Lomas Defeat CW; Full Playoff Results from Div 1 to Div 3
The BC Premier quarter-finals are here, the #1 Ravens and #2 UBC have a bye. The semi-finals take place April 26th with Westshore @ Ravens and Meraloma @ UBC. Results of other division playoff matches are listed below.
Westshore 40 v Capilano 28 @ 14:30
Referee: CLINT LEMKUS AR1: Pierre Iachetti AR2: Juan Pablo Rey Comment: QF2
Venue: Juan De Fuca
Westshore came back from a 28-12 scoreline to win 40-28 with a strong second half. The full match video is below courtesy of the Westshore YouTube channel. Westshore will travel to the mainland to take on the #1 Ravens in the semi-finals.
There was a strong breeze in play during the match, it seemed to swirl and change direction throughout the match, affecting the kicking game. Westshore scored first at 7 minutes from a penalty, lineout, maul, it looked like hooker Zephyr Melnyk scored the try. Caps tied it up at 12 minutes when a Westshore kick from a 22 metre drop out when straight into touch, Caps were awarded a free kick from the resulting scrum, they tapped and after several phases, the loosehead prop, Mareko Fagasa-Nuku crossed the line, 7-7. Capilano went ahead at 16 minutes from some strong forward work inside the Westshore 22, first a strong run by Mareko Fagasa-Nuku, then hooker Jacob Bossi followed up on the next phase and drove over the line, 14-7.
Westshore got one back at 28 minutes when Seth Recalma, second row, picked up a bouncing ball at a ruck, beat a defender and hoofed it in from 22 metres out, 14-12. At 34 minutes Caps added another one on a well rehearsed backline play. Caps had a 22 metre scrum, the ball went to #10 Mike Moloney and the Capilano centres ran close lines off of him simultaneously, outside centre, Johnny Franklin, got the ball and it was nothing but net as he went in virtually untouched, 21-12. Capilano added to their score at the 37 minute mark when Westshore dropped the ball in a backline play, the ball bounced up nicely for the Caps and the counter-attack was on. Several phases later the openside, Flynn Heyes, took the ball over the line, 28-12, and it was looking dire for the home side three scores down with the half approaching. Westshore scored one just before half to close the gap, a quick tap on a penalty from 5 metres out found a charging inside centre, Jeff Oluoch, running a nice angled line and he scored, 28-19 for Capilano at the half.
Westshore scored first in the second half, at 55 minutes, off the back of some strong runs by #8 Alvin “the buffalo” Otieno inside the Caps 22. Westshore were camped inside the 5 metres and after several attempts to cross the line it looked like prop Kane Perrett scored the try, 28-26 now for the Caps. Westshore’s next score at 58 minutes was highlight reel worthy. Winger Nelson Oyoo found some space along the sideline and advanced the ball from centre to the 22, then consecutive offloads to Oluoch, Perrett, Heuser, back to Perrett, and eventually Otieno who dotted it down, 33-28 Westshore in front. Openside flanker, Tom Heuser, added the final try at 75 minutes, taking an offload pass and accelerating over the try line, 40-28.
PREGAME
The Caps coming off a draw with the Pacific Pride 2 weeks ago and then a default win over UVic last week. Their record in the new year is 2 wins, 2 losses and a draw. Westshore coming off a loss to the Ravens 2 weeks ago, their record in the new year is 5 losses and 2 wins.
The Caps have Jacob Bossi back at hooker and Melani Nanai, the Samoan international who was a marquee signing by the Highlanders last season, at fullback. Georgian Saba Shubitidze moves from blindside flanker to #8. Mike Moloney moves from fullback to #10.
Westshore have Tom Heuser at openside flanker, Josh Nordstrom starts at #10 and Darian Morrison at #13. The rest of the starting XV remains the same from the Ravens match.
Westshore had an impressive win over CW 3 weeks ago but they’re missing 4 key players from that match, including 3 national 7s players. Caps have Melani Nanai back. Mike Moloney, when he’s on, is a master with the boot. If Westshore make errant kicks, Melani Nanai will punish them. This quarter-final is a toss up between #4 and #5 in the standings, we’ll give the nudge to the higher ranked team at home but there’s a strong chance of an upset. Prediction: Westshore by +2.
Capilano (March 29th/current)
1 Mareko Fagasa-Nuku
2 Joey Ficocelli / Jacob Bossi
3 Arsalan Schaigan / Vincent Liardet-Smith
4 Ryan Hickey
5 Reid Yurkowski
6 Saba Shubitidze / Nick Pearce
7 Flynn Heyes
8 Colin Mitchell / Saba Shubitidze
9 Jamie Drummond
10 Toby Horn / Mike Moloney
11 Cam Waddell
12 Bruce Jones
13 Johnny Franklin
14 Ben Taylor
15 Mike Moloney / Melani Nanai
16 TBD / Josh Leeks
17 Mackenzie Mills / Arsalan Schaigan
18 Vincent Liardet-Smith / Sasha Putt
19 Sasha Putt / Reid Brookes
20 Nick Pearce / Callum Steer
21 Callum Steer / Jack Adams
22 Eligh Papin / Toby Horn
23 Ryan Leskiw / TBD
Westshore (March 29th/current)
1 Kane Perrett
2 Zephyr Melnyk
3 Nathan Groenewold
4 Joe Kingham
5 Seth Recalma
6 Brian Ndirangu
7 Daragh Carroll / Tom Heuser
8 Alvin Otieno
9 Grayson Perry
10 Taylor McGuire / Josh Nordstrom
11 Nelson Oyoo
12 Jeff Olouch
13 Payton Gibson / Darian Morrison
14 Alex Mentiply
15 Jimmy Wilson-Bishop
16 Matt Evans
17 Bobby McKay / Simeon John
18 Tom Heuser / Daragh Carroll
19 Matt Weir
20 Clinton Obhiambo
21 Josh Nordstrom / Aiden Holland
22 Darian Morrison / Payton Gibson
23 Braedan Bespalko
Meraloma 35 v Castaway Wanderers 17 @ 14:30
Referee: Shanda Assmus AR1: Brittany Blackford AR2: John Cameron Comment: QF3
Venue: Brockton Oval
The Lomas were up 28-5 at the half and weathered a strong CW second half to win 35-17. The Lomas now visit UBC in the semi-finals on April 26th.
PREGAME
#3 hosting #6. The Lomas are 4-2 in the new year and have won two in a row. CW are 3-3 in the new year and have lost two in a row.
CW move a few forwards around with Mike Finnemore missing at lock, John Humphries comes into the match 23. The loose forwards and backline remain the same from last week with the lone change, Ronan Graham starting on the wing.
Meralomas still don’t have their roster posted as of 3:30pm Friday, we’ll update when it’s available. Update, the Lomas roster is in, the major change from last match is Doug Fraser is back in the match 23 and starting at inside centre.
Based on recent results, the Lomas have to go in as favourites. The match is at Brockton Oval. Prediction: Lomas by +7.
CW (April 5th/current)
1 Gavin Kratz
2 Antonio Corbin / Jack Wallace
3 Denver Fatt
4 Mike Finnemore / Ayo Ogunlabe
5 Nat Dring / John Humphries
6 Jack Wallace / Nat Dring
7 Steve Pyke
8 Dafydd Thomas
9 Chris Gamage
10 Gradyn Bowd
11 Joe Massyn / Ronan Graham
12 Andrew Easson
13 Jordan Tait
14 AJ Kosempel
15 Zech Pilgrim
16 Jack Marshall / Antonio Corbin
17 Jace Peters
18 Declan Stove / Zach Hahn
19 Ayo Ogunlabe / Conor McKenzie
20 Gord Kehoe / Lucas Okano
21 Lucas Okano / Matt Sutherland
22 Mike Fuailefau / Hugh Mager
23 Matt Sutherland / Marshall Stove
Meraloma (April 5th/current)
1 Geoff Brooks
2 Cian Cunningham
3 Tom Webb
4 Conor O’Brien
5 Noah Glanville / Finton O’Sullivan
6 Aaron Hickey
7 Evan Galvin
8 Giovanni Guizzetti / Jalan Farris
9 James Frankenberger
10 Joe Wilde
11 Keith Graham
12 Corne Ludick / Doug Fraser
13 Kenny Saito
14 Jordan Wilson-Ross
15 Rory McParland
16 Gil Cann-Vaana / Scott Bowers
17 Scott Bowers / Andy McMeel
18 Conor Turley
19 Finton O’Sullivan / Noah Glanville
20 Jalan Farris / Giovanni Guizzetti
21 Ethan Jaques
22 Tyus Dimbleby / Luc Thomson
23 Joe Thomas / Jad Hamade
Men’s Div 1 Quarter-Finals
JBAA 55 – Westshore 17
Nanaimo 46 – Port Alberni 13
Burnaby 24 – Meraloma 22
Ravens 34 – Capilano 29
Men’s Div 2 Quarter-Finals
Brit Lions 34 – Kelowna 21
Kamloops 41 – Chilliwack 25
Richmond 18 – United 8
Kats 29 – Rdge Meadows 19
Men’s Div 3 Quarter-Finals
Squamish 31 – Abbotsford 21
Burnaby 32 – Capilano 7
Women’s Div 1 Quarter-Finals
Capilano 12 – Kamloops 10
JBAA 39 – Bayside 0
Women’s Div 2 Quarter-Finals
Thunderbirds 61 – Chilliwack 0
Nanaimo 61 – SFU 15
Comox 121 – Rowers 0
Kelowna 36 – Richmond 7