BC Premier Week 9 Results: Pride Fall to CW; Westshore Defeated by Lomas; UBC Draw with Ravens; Burnaby Lose at Bays; Vikes @ Caps Cancelled
The BC Premier season resumed for the “spring” season with all 10 teams in action. It was a week for the home teams as they won 3 of the 4 matches, with other a draw for the home side. The Capilano v Vikes game was cancelled as Klahanie Park was closed by West Vancouver Parks & Recreation.
Castaway Wanderers 38 v Pacific Pride 35 @ 14:30
Referee: Derek Horton AR1: Justine Blatt-Janmaat AR2: Martin Thornton
Venue: Windsor Park
We called Pride by +1 but it was CW +3. The result puts CW at 20 points/8 games, 2.5 points per match in the standings. Pacific Pride are at 22 points/7 games, 3.14 points per match. The win puts CW in 5th place as they pass both UBC who drew their match and Capilano who had their match cancelled. The Pride drop to 4th place. Next week CW host UBC and the Pride host Westshore.
PREGAME
#7 hosting #3. CW have lost their last two, Pride have won their last 2.
CW have Gradyn Bowd back, that’s good news for them as the team has a better winning percentage when he’s playing #10. They’ve picked up a couple of players over the break, Chris Gamage has come over from the Vikes, and AJ Kosempel returns to the Premier. He was with the Pacific Pride then went to NZ for 2024. Andrew Easson returns after a lengthy absence from the roster. It’s a good looking backline in place.
The Pride get a first look at Jamin Hodgkins at #10, they’ve got a 4/4 split on the bench with capped player Rhys James ready to come on. It looks like their strategy is to wear down CW out wide and find some space in the last 20 with some quality backline subs. A lot depends on the forwards play and it looks like the Pride are starting a mobile forward pack, saving capped second row James Stockwood for the second half.
It should be a fascinating match, the #10 matchup between two players capable of claiming the Canada jersey. The Pride playing a 4/4 and saving some big names for the second half. A tough one to predict with some new variables introduced from the fall season. Prediction: Pride by +2.
CW (Nov 30th/current)
1 Gavin Kratz
2 Jack Marshall / Jack Wallace
3 Denver Fatt
4 John Humphries / Conor McKenzie
5 Nick Carson / Ayo Ogunlabe
6 Ayo Ogunlabe / Gord Kehoe
7 Jack Wallace / Steve Pyke
8 Mike Finnemore / Ollie Nott
9 Ronan Graham / Zech Pilgrim
10 Zech Pilgrim / Gradyn Bowd
11 Rio Apt / Hugh Mager
12 Ollie Nott / Andrew Easson
13 Jordan Tait
14 Theo Tardiff / AJ Kosempel
15 Ethan Hager
16 Antonio Corbin
17 Jace Peters
18 Dafydd Thomas / Jack Marshall
19 Conor McKenzie / Nat Dring
20 Steve Pyke / Dafydd Thomas
21 Will Daniel / Ronan Graham
22 Mike Fuailefau / Matt Sutherland
23 Jeremiah Munoz / Chris Gamage
Pacific Pride (Nov 30th/current)
1 Sam Miller / Justin Tasse
2 Austin Creighton
3 Connor Williams
4 Jaiden John / Mason MacDonald
5 James Stockwood / Josh Halliday
6 Evan Logan / Logan Harris
7 Taine Clague
8 Braden Bruce
9 Jesse Kilgour / Mitch Buie
10 Tiarnan Neville / Jamin Hodgkins
11 Shane Rikley-Krindle / Andrew Cooper
12 Noah Flesch / Kyle Tremblay
13 Rhys James / Glenn Roy
14 Andrew Cooper / Sam Blundell
15 Jean-Louis Descoutte
16 Neil Trainor / Noah Kyneston
17 Justin Tasse / Cole Harris
18 Tyler Matchem / Daniel Lucic
19 Mason MacDonald / James Stockwood
20 Logan Harris / Shane Rikley-Krindle
21 Braam Swanepeol / Chris Rose
22 Mitch Buie / Rhys James
23 Kyle Tremblay / James Thiel
Meraloma 33 v Westshore 17 @ 13:00
Referee: Chris Assmus AR1: Santiago Posner AR2: Trevor Honey
Venue: Connaught Park
We had called Westshore by +1 but it was Lomas +16. The Lomas end their 2 game losing streak and jump to 2nd in the standings, 24 points/7 games, 3.43 points per match. Westshore fall to 3rd in the standings 23 points/7 games, 3.29 points per match. Next week the Lomas host Capilano and Westshore face the Pride.
PREGAME
#4 hosting #2. Westshore have won their last 2, Lomas have lost their last 2.
The Lomas have a fairly settled roster from the fall, Mike Dabulas has likely returned to MLR. Jordan Wilson-Ross isn’t in the roster.
Westshore are missing Spencer Jones and Gabe Casey who have gone to the MLR. They’ve added Joe Kingham an Australian second row. Taylor McGuire has returned to the Premier after a season off. Tom Heuser is back after missing the fall season.
The Lomas were in the final last year and were looking good for a repeat this year but have hit a cold patch with the two consecutive losses. Can they turn things around at home? Westshore have lost some marquee players in the backline but the return of McGuire and the addition of Kingham in the second row may keep things moving ahead. Tough one to call with spring roster changes. Prediction: Westshore by +1.
Meraloma (Nov 23rd/current)
1 Geoff Brooks
2 Gil Cann-Vaana
3 Conor Turley / Tom Webb
4 Finton O’Sullivan
5 Conor O’Brien
6 Giovanni Guizzetti
7 Noah Glanville / Evan Galvin
8 Jalan Farris (c)
9 Luc Thompson
10 Mike Dabulas / Matt Roberts
11 Keith Graham
12 Joe Wilde / Jad Hamade
13 Kenny Saito
14 Jordan Wilson-Ross / James Daly
15 Ben Shaw
16 Cian Cunningham
17 Scott Bowers
18 Tom Webb / Conor Turley
19 Corne Ludick / Aaron Hickey
20 Connor Redmond / Jordan Quinn
21 Matt Roberts / Ethan Jaques
22 Jad Hamade / Joe Wilde
23 James Daly / Joe Thomas
Westshore (Nov 23rd/current)
1 Kane Perrett
2 Zephyr Melnyk
3 Nathan Groenewold
4 Matt Weir / Brian Ndirangu
5 Daragh Carroll / Joe Kingham
6 Brian Ndirangu / Brian Waraba
7 Jade Billington / Tom Heuser
8 Alvin Otieno
9 Robert Jones / Josh Nordstrom
10 Spencer Jones / Payton Gibson
11 Alex Mentiply
12 Jeff Olouch / Taylor McGuire
13 Gabe Casey / Nelson Oyoo
14 Johnstone Olindi / Braedan Bespalko
15 Jimmy Wilson-Bishop
16 Matt Evans
17 Porter Gook / Daragh Carroll
18 Adam Beaupre / Meshack Tunnechi
19 Seth Recalma
20 Josh Nordstrom / Aiden McCleary
21 Payton Gibson / Anthony Carroll
22 Nelson Oyoo / Jeff Olouch
23 Braedan Bespalko / Johnstone Olindi
Capilano v University Of Victoria @ 14:30
Referee: David Smortchevsky AR1: CLINT LEMKUS (Pending) AR2: Mark Abercrombie
Venue: Klahanie Park
The game was cancelled due to Klahanie Park being closed – no further details at this point
Caps remain at 16 points/7 games, 2.29 points per match but drop to 7th place. Vikes remain at 9 points/6 games, 1.5 points per match and remain in 9th place. Next week Caps visit Lomas and the Vikes host James Bay.
PREGAME
#6 hosting #9. Both teams are 1-1 on their last two matches.
UVic have stability in the forwards with no changes from November 30th. Gareth Sandner came over from CW in the fall and this is his first start at #10 for the Vikes.
Capilano look like they’ve added some beef to the roster, Mareko Fagasa-Nuku is new at loosehead prop, from Western Australia. They’ve retained Izzak Kelly and Reid Davis so the students may have their work cut out for them in the scrums and in the short game. Johnny Franklin gets the start at #10.
Should be an interesting match, both teams trying to keep in the playoff hunt. I’ll give a slight edge to the home team on this one. Prediction: Caps by +4.
UVic (Nov 30th/current)
1 Phoenix Moller
2 Sully Curran
3 Brighton Feldman
4 Dane Siebens
5 Brendan Kim
6 Adam Doane
7 Merlin M’Cloud
8 Ryder Heaney-Corns
9 Chris Gamage / Reece Thompson
10 Matt Bennett / Gareth Sandner
11 Ethan Smith / Jackson Powell
12 Sion Griffiths / Mason Levin
13 Morgan di Nardo / Sion Griffiths
14 Lockhart MacGregor / Morgan di Nardo
15 Alex Gamage
16 Moe Steves / Anan McAllister
17 Liam Bolton / Alex Gordon
18 Alex Gordon / Nic Willey
19 Muiredach Casey / Josh Petrov
20 Jaxson Jones / Muiredach Casey
21 Reece Thompson / Lachlan Crooks
22 Angus Boyd-Porter / Tanner Milligan
23 Spencer Cotie / Jack Penaluna
Capilano (Nov 30th/current)
1 Mackenzie Mills / Mareko Fagasa-Nuku
2 Jacob Bossi
3 William Manulelia
4 Reid Davis / Ryan Hickey
5 Izzak Kelly
6 Colin Mitchell / Reid Davis
7 Flynn Heyes / Pete Ingoldsby
8 Austin James
9 Sam Reimer / Jack Adams
10 Chris Robinson / Johnny Franklin
11 Melani Nanai / Cam Waddell
12 Bailey Bocock / Bruce Jones
13 Jack Adams / Ryan Leskiw
14 Ben Taylor
15 Mike Moloney
16 James Ritzema / Ethan McCarthy
17 Rich Merinsky / Josh Leeks
18 Arsalan Schaigan
19 Reid Yurkowski / Nick Pearce
20 Joe Britt / Flynn Heyes
21 Cam Waddell / Colin Mitchell
22 Johnny Franklin / Jamie Drummond
23 Seamus O’Sullivan / Toby Horn
UBCOB Ravens 38 v UBC 38 @ 14:30
Referee: Shanda Assmus AR1: Lance Davison AR2: Karl Hall
Venue: Jericho Beach Park
A good result for UBC as they end their 2 game losing streak. The Ravens end their winning streak but have a healthy lead in the standings. They have 37 points/8 games for a league leading 4.63 points per match. UBC have 17 points/7 matches, 2.43 points per match and drop to 6th place. Next week UBC visit CW and the Ravens host Burnaby.
PREGAME
#1 hosting #5. Ravens have won their last 2, UBC have lost their last 2.
The Ravens have added Owain Ruttan, he went off our radar after MLR 2023 when he played for the Arrows. He was a non-travelling reserve for Canada in the summer of 2023. Another interesting addition is Ethan MacDonald at #8, we believe he’s from NZ and played for the Canterbury B team. Aaron McLelland isn’t in the roster so that may impact their performance. Jacob Bourne has come over from UBC and is in the reserves.
UBC have a stable roster carrying over from the fall. Sandon Gupta returns to the second row and James Biss to #10.
Ravens have to go in as favourites, undefeated this season and UBC coming off two losses. How will the absence of Aaron McLelland impact them? Prediction: Ravens by +6.
Ravens (Nov 30th/current)
1 Owen Kokan / Josh Tweed
2 Grant Crowell / David Carson
3 Joshua Christy
4 Don Carson
5 Iwan Shenton
6 David Carson / Owain Ruttan
7 David O’Donoghue
8 Joe Locke / Ethan MacDonald
9 Jack Carson / Gioacchino Sangiorgi
10 Aaron McLelland / Nick Bain
11 Gaspard De Ligault / Cole Keffer
12 Tsugunosuke Hirai / Ethan Berry
13 Hamish Janes
14 Cole Keffer / Mark Wandeto
15 Noah Bain / Logan Henry
16 Chris Taylor / Grant Crowell
17 Kaleb Whitelaw / Owen Kokan
18 James Carson / Dion Falconer
19 Frank Carson
20 Sean Beckett / Jake Ikeda
21 Gioacchino Sangiorgi / Jack Carson
22 Archie Dixon / Jacob Bourne
23 Noah Jenson / Ben Greenstein
UBC (Nov 30th/current)
1 Ken Buckingham
2 Emmet Allan
3 Payton Teneycke
4 Sol Jacques / Sandon Gupta
5 Joe McNulty
6 Liam Kinghorn / Sol Jacques
7 Callum Arnesen
8 Relmu Wilson-Valdes
9 Stephen Webb
10 Jacob Bourne / James Biss
11 Jared Andrews-Almack / Max McGavern
12 Alastair Marshall
13 Liam James
14 Niko Andrianos
15 Ben Beauchamp
16 Tate Hartley / Elijah McQueen
17 Graeme Francolini / Ethan Lee
18 James Noftall
19 Charlie Clark
20 Ethan Lee / Liam Kinghorn
21 Marco Mitchell / Ben Martin
22 Caleb Seumanutafa
23 Max McGavern / Lenny Bonduau
James Bay AA 21 v Burnaby Lake 14 @ 14:45
Referee: Cole Pedrick AR1: Juan Pablo Rey AR2: Andrew Owen
Venue: James Bay AA- MacDonald Park
The Bays get their 2nd win of the season, 9 points/7 games, 1.29 points per match, but still sit in last place in the standings. Burnaby have 11 points/6 games, 1.83 points per match and remain in 8th place. Next week the Bays visit the Vikes and Burnaby travel to the Ravens.
PREGAME
#10 hosting #8. Burnaby have split their last two games 1-1, the Bays have lost their last two matches.
The Bays have added some speed out wide, Kainoa Lloyd and D’Shawn Bowen on the wings. If Josh Thiel can get the ball out to them they can do some damage. Phil Berna is missing, it’s possible he’s gone back to the 7s program? Cody Nhanala has returned to the Premier and is in the reserves.
Burnaby have Bryce Worden back, one of the best scrummagers in the league. They have a new #10, Ed Shepherdson, possibly from the UK.
The Bays at home, looking for a big win to start the season. It may be Burnaby forwards game vs the Bays outside threats. The wet weather should give an edge to the forwards game. Prediction: Burnaby by +3.
James Bay (Nov 23rd/current)
1) Steve Stadnyk
2) Tom Richardson / Ezra Vai
3) Dakota Lachance
4) Andrew Montgrand / Alex Jordan
5) Asfi Saeed
6) Mitch Young / Tom Richardson
7) Brendyn Beck
8) Alex Jordan / Mitch Young
9) Spike Street / Crosby Stewart
10) Josh Thiel
11) Mostyn Findlay / Kanoa Lloyd
12) Mike Nieuwenhuysen
13) Phil Berna / Mostyn Findlay
14) Craig Mitchell-Hermann / D’Shawn Bowen
15) Tom Burton
16) Ezra Vai / Moe Steves
17) Julian Gauld
18) Wyatt Pilz
19) Pete Massimo / Teigan White
20) Tyler Grom / Cody Nhanala
21) Crosby Stewart / Spike Street
22) Isaac Gonevou / Craig Mitchell-Hermann
23) Joeli Gonevou / Isaac Gonevou
Burnaby (Nov 16th/current)
1 Lalit Bharadwaj / Luka Bradley
2 James Kelly / Dylan Vermette
3 Iain Kennell-Webb / Bryce Worden
4 Karl Hunger / Andrew McIntyre
5 Andrew McIntyre / Sam Tsoi
6 David Dinbandhu / Jonah Fridfinnson
7 Todd Bullions / Jack Bolton
8 Dylan Horne
9 Ezequiel Rossetti
10 Brendon Mcaskie / Ed Shepherdson
11 Brian Murphy / Kyle Corrigan
12 Guiseppe du Toit / David Dinbandhu
13 Scott Barr / Brendon McCaskie
14 Hayden Mulgrew / Ethan Turner
15 Ethan Dromgool
16 Dylan Vermette / Joel Abdel Barr
17 Luka Bradley / Rylin McKenzie
18 Ben Graci / Iain Kennell-Webb
19 Cooper Johnston / Leo Chen
20 Sam Tsoi / Jeke Gotegote
21 Mohi Parata / Jacob King
22 Jacob King / Dan Josok
23 Woods Sharman / TBA