BC Premier Weekend Results: Caps Top Pride; Ravens Soar Past Lomas; Rowers Paddle Westshore
Only 3 matches this weekend in the men’s Premier division.
Capilano 35 v Pacific Pride 24
We went 3 for 3 on the predictions this week. This was the one we weren’t too sure of but a combination of a strong, home team performance and the Pride bringing in some of their young players was a recipe for a predicted home team win. This is the second game in a row the Pride have lost at Klahanie, they lost the Coastal Cup final to Vancouver Wave in the fall. Next weekend Burnaby host the Caps while the Pride host Westshore under the lights at Starlight Stadium on Friday evening as a curtain raiser to the Arrows vs LA Giltinis.
Coaches:
Pride: Phil Mack
Capilano: Rameses Langston
PREGAME
The first match of the new season for the Caps, it will be a good test of their playing strength this spring. They dominated the fall Division One on the mainland. Glenn McKinnon is back for another season at #8 along with a few familiar names Jordan Harvey at #7, Chris Robinson at #9 and Johnny Franklin at #13. The Pride have changed a few players this weekend as they introduce some of the younger players, Matt Klimchuk comes off the bench to start at #7, Sean Snyman gets his first match in Pride colours as the reserve scrum half. D’Shawn Bowen who tore up the pitch last week with two tries isn’t in the match day 23. Mark Balaski gets the start at #10 with Max Stewart in the reserves. Their outstanding loose forward Cody Nhanala is on the reserves bench as well. The one area the Caps may have the advantage is the tight five, the Pride starting props from last week aren’t in the roster and the reserves from last week are starting. It will be an interesting battle in the set pieces and John Langley’s match report will, no doubt, give us some insight on how that battle went. Last week we went with all home teams and were 4 out of 5 on predictions, just getting the Pride result wrong. It’s also coach Rameses Langston’s return to Premier, he helped turn around the UBC program before turning over the reins to Curry Hitchborn. He then took a break and came back to coach the Capilano Premier. I hate to go against the Pride two weeks in a row, but I’m thinking with their roster changes and the Caps first home game, it may make a difference. Prediction: Caps by 1.
Pride
1) Aaron Clark
2) Owen Lavado
3) Dan Cooper
4) Conor Turner
5) Tom Davidson(C)
6) Zephyr Melnyk
7) Matt Klimchuk
8) Calum Botchar
9) Caleb Barker
10) Mark Balaski
11) Oliver Mackenzie
12) Dawson Fatoric
13) Taylor Desouza
14) Jack Morris
15) Brock Webster
16) Pete Ingoldsby
17) Tyler Matchem
18) Cody Nhanala
19) Noah Flesch
20) Ethan Fryer
21) Sean Snyman
22) Max Stewart
23) Gabriel Smith
Capilano
1 Jesse Ryan
2 Jason de Freitas
3 Neil Courtney
4 Reid Tucker
5 Alex McDonnell
6 Liam Doll
7 Jordan Harvey (C)
8 Glen McKinnon
9 Chris Robinson
10 Jeremy Simon
11 Haward Mulindi
12 Eligh Papin
13 Johnny Franklin (C)
14 Cam Waddell
15 Mike Moloney
16 Rich Merinsky
17 Mackenzie Mills
18 Cori Hamill
19 Johnny Adams
20 Phil Le Leivre
21 Sam Franklin
Meraloma 10 v UBCOB Ravens 31
The Ravens with another win, not as impressive as the blowout score against Westshore, but a win on a cross town road trip is always welcome. The Lomas look to be competitive this season. Next weekend the Lomas visit CW while the Ravens host UVic.
Coaches:
Meraloma: Christiaan Esterhuizen
Ravens: Simon Fitzgerald
PREGAME
The Ravens have made a number of changes, only Brian Moylett has kept his spot at #8 in the forwards. Their starting front row is all new and they’ve moved a few players around Matt Chan moving from #6 to second row, O’Donoghue moving from openside to blindside, Jake Ikeda coming off the bench to start at openside. It’s a new scrum half with Robbie Jones getting the start. The key backs Colby Mason, Aaron McLelland and Sean Hase remain the same. For the Lomas their forwards remain the same from last week with a switch at loosehead, Richard Barrett, getting the start. There are more changes in the backs with Ted O’Leary starting at #10 and Luke O’Brien getting the start at inside centre. The Ravens have put their mark down early that they’ll be a playoff contender with the big win last week, the Lomas played an even match against the Rowers. The Ravens have to be favourites. Prediction: Ravens by 8.
Ravens
1 Joe Dawson
2 Scott Cunningham
3 Guido Suez
4 Trevor Helgason
5 Matt Chan
6 David O’Donoghue (c)
7 Jacob Ikeda
8 Brian Moylett
9 Robbie Jones
10 Jasper Mellish
11 Mark Wandeto
12 Aidan Baker
13 Colby Mason
14 Sean Hase
15 Aaron McLelland
16 Antonio Corbin
17 Sawyer Barth
18 Chris Taylor
19 James Carson
20 Grant Crowell
21 Simon Etheve
22 Tyler Hume
23 Jack Scher
Meraloma
1. Richard Barrett
2. Scott McGinley
3. Reese Hemmens
4. Darragh Foley
5. Gavin Hogan
6. Jalan Farris
7. Alex Carmel
8. Wes Lee
9. Paddy Kirwin
10. Ted O’Leary
11. James McTurk
12. Luke O’Brien
13. Steff Evans (c)
14. Ben Featherstone
15. Devon Singh-Parhar
16. Tim Barnby
17. Pat Zuk
18. Brendon Brown
19. Justin Fanselow
20. Athur Davis
21. Thomas Viljoen
22. Andy Cooper
23. Quinten Coetsee
Vancouver Rowing Club 32 v Westshore 0
It’s looking to be a long season for Westshore who look early contenders for the wooden spoon. The Rowers with an emphatic home win. Next weekend Westshore face the Pride at Starlight Stadium on Friday evening while the Rowers visit James Bay on Saturday.
Coaches:
Westshore: Aaron Frisby
Rowers: Duncan James
PREGAME
Westshore were blown away by the Ravens last week, this match will give an idea how they fare against a team that has placed in the lower quarter of the standings in recent seasons. A big addition for them is 7s player, Thomas Isherwood, on the wing. The Rowers make a change at tighthead with Spencer Cooper coming in and Ian Prendiville moving to blindside flanker. Jordan Wilson-Ross moves from wing to fullback. It should be a close result with the edge going to the home side. Prediction: Rowers by 3.
Westshore
1 Nathan Groenewold
2 Karl Mattison
3 Neil Hagerty
4 David Phillips
5 Makz Foot
6 Matt Weir
7 Peyton Eagar
8 Aidan Holland
9 Nicholas Mouret
10 Aaron Hersant
11 Tyler Wilkes
12 Thomas Heusier
13 Braeden Bespalko
14 Thomas Isherwood
15 Antony Fitch
16 Keating Teft
17 Rick Bown
18 Dreydon Martin
19 Carsen Holmquist
20 Martin Damianoff
21 Darian Morrison
22 Brennan Bourchier
Rowers
1. Jake Schwartz
2. Jason Carton
3. Spencer Cooper
4. Felix Grignon
5. Michael Cooke
6. Ian Prendiville
7. Scott McTavish
8. Scyler David Dumas (C)
9. Dermot O Meara
10. Nick Wackwitz
11. Mitch Stainer
12. Tom O’Hare
13. Ryan Williams
14. Tom Rowland
15. Jordan Wilson-Ross