BC Rugby Weekend of April 13th 2024

BC Premier Week 14 Results & Rosters: Pride Defeat Westshore; Ravens Blast Burnaby; CW Fall to UBC; Vikes Sink Bays; Lomas Top Caps

It’s the final weekend of the regular season, the playoffs start next weekend. The rugby weekend kicks off with a Friday night match, Pride @ Westshore at Juan de Fuca centre.

Friday

Pacific Pride 36 v Westshore 19 @ 18:30
Referee: Julianne Zussman AR1: Jamie Roszel AR2: Andrew Owen
Venue: Juan De Fuca

The Pride win the return match by a comfortable margin. The result leaves Westshore with a 2.333 point ratio (28 points in 12 games), currently in 6th place (5th for playoffs) with UVic and UBC to play tomorrow.

Match Summary

The Pride had all the possession to start the match and it was the kicking skills of #10 Mark Balaski that pinned Westshore inside their 22. A couple of penalties and mauls and it was #5 rumbling over from a lineout and maul about 5 minutes into the match.

Westshore gifted the Pride the next try, again set up by a skilled kick by Balaski into the Westshore 22, the ball trickled towards the sideline with the chase full on, the defender panicked, threw a wild hospital pass to the fullback who had a defender bearing down on him and the Pride #12 just had to pick the ball up and cross the line to score. Pride were up two tries with 8 minutes gone.

The Pride added another at 11 minutes with a running attack from inside their 22 that found an overlap on the outside and #11 strode over the line. The game looked done and dusted at that point with the Pride on a point per minute spree.

The Pride’s 4th try came at the 33 minute mark, the Pride had possession inside the Westshore 22 and won a penalty and chose lineout, they went short to the tighthead prop at the front of the lineout, he beat his cover and powered over the line. The half ended 24-0 for Pride.

About 10 minutes into the 2nd half Westshore gifted the Pride another try with a spilled ball inside the 22 that was kicked ahead and touched down, #11 scoring his second. Pride scored their 6th try about 10 minutes later from a 5 metre scrum, their scrum was dominating Westshore and they marched them back to the goal line, a couple of phases later and Matt Klimchuk was over the line.

Westshore finally got on the board as they put some phases together, #19 Brayden Gray scoring the try. A few minutes later they scored another try with centre Jeff Oluoch touching it down. They were quick tapping all penalties now and finding some gaps in the backline. Jeff Oluoch scored another on a solo effort when he quick tapped a penalty from his own 5 metres and outran the Pride defence the length of the field. The Pride had the last say in a game that was now beginning to look like a 7s contest.

PREGAME

#6 hosting #3 on a rare Friday night fixture. The Pride aren’t eligible for the playoffs. For Westshore, this match may determine whether they host a quarter-final, travel on the Island for a quarter-final or travel to the Mainland for a quarter-final, all scenarios are on the board for the final weekend of regular play.

Westshore are missing their openside flanker, Tom Heuser, he’s been impressive this season. Jade Billington slides over from blindside flanker and Seth Recalma takes his place at blindside. Thomas Isherwood never got to complete his game at #10 as the game last week versus UVic was abandoned when a UVic player went down with a serious injury (we’ve heard he’s returned from hospital and is recuperating). Payton Gibson returns to the #10 role.

The Pride are missing Noah Flesch, it looks like the 7s program has recalled its players and are preparing for Singapore in 3 weeks. They rotate their front row and Matt Klimchuck gets the start at openside flanker. Mark Balaski starts at #10, Kyle Tremblay moves from outside to inside centre to fill the gap left by Flesch. Liam Poulton comes off the bench to start at outside centre.

The scenarios for Westshore include get a bonus point and claim 5th place in the playoffs, win or lose. They would have a points ratio of 2.416 with a losing bonus point. If they get a bonus point win (pr 2.75) and a loss for CW (pr 2.538) would see them host a QF. If they lose without a bonus point (pr 2.333), UVic gets a bonus point win (pr 2.333), it would come down to tie breaking rules between UVic and Westshore. Westshore did win the head to head with UVic in November by +14 so that should be the tie-breaker. UBC, if they get a bonus point win over CW would be at a 2.384 points ratio and could go ahead of UVic and Westshore if those teams were at a 2.333 points ratio.

Westshore won the first match +3 a couple of weeks ago in heavy rain. The Pride were pressuring inside the Westshore 22 for the last 10 minutes but couldn’t cross the line, a solid defensive effort by Westshore. Missing Heuser their #7 could be a tipping factor in such a close matchup.

Prediction: Pride by 2.

Westshore

1 Justin Tasse
2 Brian Waraba
3 Kane Perrett
4 Brian Ndirangu
5 Matt Weir
6 Jade Billington / Seth Recalma
7 Tom Heuser / Jade Billington
8 Alvin Otieno
9 Malcolm Klaver
10 Thomas Isherwood / Payton Gibson
11 Braeden Bespalko
12 Jeff Oluoch
13 Darian Morrison
14 Nelson Oyoo
15 Johnstone Olindi
16 Quinn Baak / Toby Berg
17 Nathan Groenewold
18 Simeon John / Daragh Carroll
19 Brayden Gray
20 Seth Recalma / Witt Nevins
21 Grayson Perry / Keating Teft
22 Payton Gibson / Liam Clark
23 Liam Clark / Peyton Eagar

Pride

1 Sam Miller / Griffin Phillipson
2 Jesse Mackail / Neil Trainor
3 Tyler Matchem / Conor Williams
4 Jaiden John / James Stockwood
5 James Stockwood / Jaiden John
6 Ben James
7 Von Richardson / Matt Klimchuk
8 Charles Taimani
9 Brady White
10 James Thiel / Mark Balaski
11 Andrew Cooper
12 Noah Flesch / Kyle Tremblay
13 Kyle Tremblay / Liam Poulton
14 Ian Jones / Jamie Armstrong
15 Ty Driscoll / Rhys James
16 Theo Espagnol / Sam Miller
17 Neil Trainor / Noah Kyneston
18 Conor Williams / Tyler Matchem
19 Matt Klimchuk / Theo Espagnol
20 Noah Kyneston / Von Richardson
21 Justin Taylor / Paddy Kirwan
22 Liam Poulton / Tyler Buchanan
23 Mark Balaski / Ty Driscoll

Saturday

Burnaby Lake 5 v UBCOB Ravens 66 @ 14:30
Referee: Derek Horton AR1: Riley Robinson AR2: Bradley Schwalger
Venue: Burnaby Lake Rugby Club

An emphatic win by the Ravens showing why they’re #1 ranked going into the playoffs. The Lomas and Ravens finish with the same point ratio 4.538 with 59 points from 13 games. They played each other twice, Lomas winning the first match +19 and the Ravens winning the second match, +26. So the tie breaker goes to the Ravens, according to our calculations. That would mean the Ravens would play the winner of #4 vs #5 which would be CW v UBC, again according to our calculations. Burnaby as #3 plays #6, which should be Westshore. The winner of that match would play the Lomas in the semi-finals.

PREGAME

#4 hosting #2. Burnaby coming off a loss on the road to CW, the Ravens with a convinving win over UBC last weekend.

Burnaby have Reid Watkins back and in an interesting strategic move have put him at #10, perhaps to contain the elusive Aaron McLelland, the Ravens #10. James Catterson is back in the roster at blindside flanker, Lucas Albornoz moves to #8 with Taitusi Vikilani missing from the roster. Kimi Vunituraga returns on the wing.

The Ravens only have a few changes in the roster, David O’Donaghue returns to the roster and starts at openside flanker. Jake Gibson replaces Nicholas Blain at fullback. Isaac Kay, former Canada 7s player, is in the reserves.

The Ravens will have a bye next week and then host the semi-finals. It’s possible the semi-final matchup could be a replay of this game. It will be interesting to see what affect Reid Watkins at #10 will have. The Ravens have been rolling along and go in as favourites.

Prediction: Ravens by 5.

Ravens

1 Lachie Gunson / Josh Tweed
2 Riku Konrad
3 Tom Kaijaks
4 Frank Carson
5 Donald Carson
6 Grant Crowell
7 Matthew Chan / David O’Donoghue
8 Joe Locke
9 Billy Wickham
10 Aaron McLelland
11 Cole Keffer / Ethan Berry
12 Harjun Gill
13 Nico Leonard
14 Ethan Berry / Cole Keffer
15 Nicholas Blain / Jake Gibson
16 Viaan Wolmarans
17 Josh Tweed / Armin Gurdic
18 Harrison Burgess / Lachie Gunson
19 James Carson
20 Isaac Kay / / Matthew Chan
21 Sam Walton-Sexton / Isaac Kay
22 Jake Holmes / Sam Walton-Sexton
23 Augustine Lugoonzo / Aga Ligamy

Burnaby

1 Lalit Bharadwaj / Luka Bradley
2 Chase McCrum / Cass Kocevar
3 Bryce Worden (c)
4 Lucas Albornoz / Cooper Johnston
5 Leo Chen
6 Sam Tsoi / James Catterson
7 Jack Bolton
8 Taitusi Vikilani / Lucas Albornoz
9 Ezequiel Rossetti
10 Neil MacLaine / Reid Watkins
11 Hayden Mulgrew / Kimi Vunituraga
12 Sam Williams / Neil MacLaine
13 Scott Barr
14 Brian Murphy / Hayden Mulgrew
15 Ethan Dromgool
16 Evan Mackey / Jamie Kelly
17 Luka Bradley / Lalit Bharadwaj
18 Cass Kocevar / Iain Kennell-Webb
19 Dom Baptista
20 Cooper Johnston / Sam Tsoi
21 Mohi Parata / Colton Lee
22 Nolan Shelley / Mohi Parata
23 Colton Lee / Brian Murphy

James Bay 20 v University Of Victoria 31 @ 14:30
Referee: Cole Pedrick AR1: Jamie Roszel AR2: David Hale
Venue: James Bay AA- MacDonald Park

Vikes did everything they could on the final weekend, getting a bonus point win. However they end up tied for 6th place with Westshore and Westshore won the head to head match +14. James Bay remain winless on the season.

PREGAME

#10 hosting #8. The Bays are out of contention for the playoffs but would like to finish the season with one win. The Vikes need a bonus point win and hope that UBC don’t get a bonus point win, in order to make the playoffs.

The Bays missing Josh Thiel this week so Mike Newenheusen moves into that role. Mostyn Findlay takes his spot at inside centre. Anton Ngongo moves to fullback. The reserves haven’t been published at time of writing [updated].

UVic got a scare last week when one of their players went down with a head injury. Muiredach Casey is replaced by Jaxson Jones at blindside flanker, Ryder Heaney-Corns takes the #8 role. Morgan di Nardo returns from his trial with the 7s program in Hong Kong and starts on the wing.

UVic won the earlier match +11 in March, they go in as favourites.

Prediction: Vikes by 7.

James Bay

1) Toby Ng / Moe Steves
2) Dave O’Connor / Wyatt Pilz
3) Aiden Vachon
4) Jack MacIntosh / Andrew Montgrand
5) Andrew Montgrand / Asfi Saeed
6) Tyler Grom
7) Tom Richardson
8) Jake Thiel
9) Crosby Stewart
10) Josh Thiel / Mike Newenheusen
11) Anton Ngongo / Keegan Neary
12) Mike Newenheusen / Mostyn Findlay
13) Tom Burton
14) Keegan Neary / Malik James
15) Craig Mitchell-Hermann / Anton Ngongo
16) Luke Feraco
17) Kerry Park / Tony Ng
18) Jeremiah Gonevou / Travis Best
19) Moe Steves /Pete Masimo
20) Mostyn Findlay / Isaac Gonevou
21) Isaac Gonevou / Kai Khan
22) Joeli Gonevou
23) Malik James / Beau Boheme

UVic

1 Owen Kokan
2 Phoenix Moller
3 Nic Willey
4 Merlin M’Cloud
5 Brendan Kim
6 Muiredach Casey / Jaxson Jones
7 Jordy Auger
8 Jaxson Jones / Ryder Heaney-Corns
9 Chris Gamage
10 Angus Boyd-Porter
11 Dylan Cleaver / Ethan Smith
12 Josh McIndoe / Dylan Cleaver
13 Lockart MacGregor
14 Ryder Heany-Corns / Morgan di Nardo
15 Ethan Smith / Alex Gamage
16 Sully Curran
17 Brent Hamberg
18 Brighton Feldman
19 Alex Gordon / Josh Petrov
20 Josh Petrov / Alex Gordon
21 Lukas Okano
22 Jackson Graf / Josh McIndoe
23 Alex Gamage / Jackson Graf

UBC 45 v Castaway Wanderers 33 @ 14:30
Referee: Nathaniel Hight AR1: Joel Van Meer AR2: John Hight
Venue: UBC- Gerald McGavin Centre

The T-Birds started strong going up 26-7 at half time with Takoda McMullin scoring two tries. They secured their bonus point by the half and held on to claim the win with a strong second half fight back from CW. The result puts the two teams into the quarter-finals for a rematch, this time with CW hosting.

The match replay can be viewed on The Rugby Network

PREGAME

#5 hosting #7. CW coming off a home win over Burnaby, UBC losing to the Ravens in their last match. UBC need to win the match with a bonus point to make the playoffs, if the Vikes win their match with a bonus point. CW are guaranteed to make the playoffs but need a win to guarantee a home field quarter-final if Westshore defeat Pride on Friday night. CW will know what their scenarios are when they board the ferry on Saturday morning.

CW have Gavin Kratz back in the roster as starting tighthead prop. They are missing inside centre Sion Griffiths, Matt Sutherland comes off the bench to start there.

UBC have Callum Arnesen back at openside flanker, they’ve moved Alastair Marshall from wing to outside centre and Takoda McMullin to fullback.

It’s possible if UBC win with a BP and Westshore lose without a BP that this could be the quarter-final matchup but hosted by CW. It’s a tough one to call as the scenarios from the Friday night results may subtly influence the mindset of the teams. UBC at home with their playoff life on the line, we’ll say that extra motivation will be a key.

Prediction: UBC by 1.

CW

1 Jace Peters
2 Jacob Bossi
3 Denver Fatt / Gavin Kratz
4 Nick Carson / Tom Davidson
5 Tom Davidson / Mike Finnemore
6 Steve Pyke
7 Jack Wallace
8 Ollie Nott
9 Zech Pilgrim
10 Andrew Easson
11 James Mitchell / Gabriel Smith
12 Sion Griffiths / Matt Sutherland
13 Shane Rikley-Krindle
14 Jordan Ng
15 Gareth Sandner
16 Chris Carson / Scott McCann
17 Scott McCann / Denver Fatt
18 Mike Finnemore / Nick Carson
19 Ayo Ogunlabe
20 Gord Kehoe / John Humphries
21 Matt Sutherland / Conor McKenzie
22 Gabriel Smith / Hugh Mager
23 Brandon Schellenberger

UBC

1 Koen Buckingham
2 Emmett Allen / Tate Hartley
3 Payton Teneycke
4 Hilyard Carson
5 Caden Wilson
6 Joe McNulty / Sol Jacques
7 Sol Jacques / Callum Arnesen
8 Relmu Wilson-Valdes
9 Stephen Webb
10 Jacob Bourne
11 Jared Andrews-Almack
12 Talon McMullin
13 Takoda McMullin / Alastair Marshall
14 Alastair Marshall / Kieran Martin
15 Lenny Bonduau / Takoda McMullin
16 Akihito Yoshida / Ethan Lee
17 Tate Hartley / Akihito Yoshida
18 Thor Noble
19 Ethan Lee / Joe McNulty
20 Sandon Gupta
21 Niko Andrianos / Demitri Patterson
22 Ben Martin
23 Caleb Seumanutafa

Capilano 19 v Meraloma 43 @ 15:30
Referee: Saro Turner AR1: John Cameron AR2: Jeremy Duncan
Venue: Klahanie Park

The Lomas started slowly with a narrow 17-14 lead at the half, they exploded in the second half to get their bonus point win. The result leaves them tied on points with Ravens but Ravens claiming the head to head aggregate score tie-breaker. The Caps finish the season in 9th place.

PREGAME

#9 hosting #1. Caps are out of the playoffs, the Lomas are guaranteed a quarter-final bye and a home field semi-final. The Lomas coming off a strong win over the Pride and the Caps getting their first win of the season over the Bays last week.

The Lomas have shifted a lot of players around but have kept their halfback combination intact of Peter Hurst and Trent Ormsby. Coming into the roster are Gil Cann-Vaana at hooker, Geoff Brooks at loosehead prop, Brian Hayden at lock, John Willis at flanker, Conrad Kutia at centre,

The Caps have a few changes, Mike Moloney moves from fullback to #10, Johnny Franklin, their talented centre, is not in the roster this week.

The Caps have a full day of rugby on Saturday including high school matches: Carson Graham vs Argyle (Sr. Girls), Handsworth vs Carson Graham (Sr. Boys), SMUS (Victoria) vs Rockridge (Sr. Boys), Snowcaps vs Kelowna (Masters), Capilano Premier Women vs CW, Capilano Premier Reserve Men vs Meralomas, Capilano Premier Men vs Meralomas.

Even with all the changes the Lomas have made, they go in as favourites.

Prediction: Lomas by 8.

Meraloma

1 Tom Webb / Geoff Brooks
2 Scott Bowers / Gil Cann-Vaana
3 Conor O’Flaherty / Conor Turley
4 Finton O’Sullivan
5 Giovanni Guizetti / Brian Hayden
6 Corne Ludick / John Willis
7 Evan Galvin / Ethan Jaques
8 Jalan Farris / Giovanni Guizetti
9 Peter Hurst
10 Trent Ormsby
11 Dewi Williams
12 Joe Thomas / Conrad Kutia
13 Manuel Bustinduy / James McTurk
14 Keith Graham
15 Louis Whelan / Jordan Wilson Ross
16 Mark Rickard
17 Jack Coyle / Tom Webb
18 Conor Turley / Conor O’Flaherty
19 Thomas Williams / Evan Galvin
20 Ethan Jaques / Corne Ludick
21 Doug Fraser / James Frankenberger
22 James McTurk / Doug Fraser
23 Jordan Wilson Ross / Manuel Bustinduy

Capilano

1 Ed Wallin
2 Ethan McCarthy
3 Jesse Ryan
4 Cori Hamill / Nick Pearce
5 Nick Pearce / Cori Hamill (C)
6 Reid Brookes / Ollie Winspear
7 Flynn Heyes / Reid Brookes
8 Glen McKinnon
9 Chris Robinson
10 George Wallin / Mike Moloney
11 Cam Waddell / Bruce Jones
12 Johnny Franklin / Sam Franklin
13 Melani Nanai
14 Matt Nicol / Ethan Whiting
15 Mike Moloney / Tenniel Cowen
16 Pete Ingoldsby / Jason de Freitas
17 James Ritzema
18 Ryan Scott / Arsalan Schaigan
19 Ollie Winspear / Rich Merinsky
20 Jack Rainer / Pete Ingoldsby
21 Mahyar Hosseini / Jack Rainer
22 Brandon Power / Casey Paddock
23 Bruce Jones / Mahyar Hosseini

Posted in BC Premier, Front Page.