BC Rugby Weekend of March 11th 2023

BC Premier Week 8 Results: Caps Edge Lakers; Ravens Top Lomas; CW Battle UBC; Bays Fall to Vikes; Pride Blast Westshore; Rowers Sunk in Seattle

BC Premier is back after 3 weeks of down time due to holiday, weather, Canada 7s. Note the rosters are listed to show last roster/change this week.

Burnaby Lake 35 v Capilano 36
Referee: Christopher Assmus AR1: Emma Gallagher AR2: Joel Van Meer
Venue: Burnaby Lake Rugby Club

A tight back and forth match, Burnaby were ahead 21-15 at the half. The game was tied at 21 before Burnaby went ahead 28-21, Capilano battled back to make it 28-26. A nice offload by David Dinbandhu to Kimi Vunituraga saw the home side extend the lead 35-26. An errant kick by the Burnaby #10 gave Caps a counter attack opportunity finished off by Johnny Franklin and it was now 35-33. Both teams had penalty kick opportunities near the end, Capilano hit their kick and Burnaby missed theirs, that was the difference in the match. Next week Capilano host CW and Burnaby host Westshore.

PREGAME
#7 Burnaby hosting #9 Capilano. Not a lot of changes for either team. For Burnaby Dom Baptista comes back into the roster in the second row, Jack Gelbart slots into the wing with Eoin Reddington getting the other outside assignment. For Capilano James Ritzema takes loosehead prop role while Rich Merinsky moves to tighthead, Glen McKinnon moves from the loose forwards to second row and Nick Pierce moves to blindside flanker. In the backs Johnny Franklin moves to inside centre with the backbone of 9 Robinson, 10 Moloney, 15 Simon remaining the same.

This matchup is usually a close call, in the quarter-finals last year Capilano had a comprehensive 55-31 over Burnaby, that match was at Klahanie. In the regular season last year Burnaby won 21-19 at Burnaby. Think Burnaby are a little stronger this year than last and Caps had a strong showing last season. Going with the home field edge. Prediction: Burnaby by 2.

Burnaby
1. Lalit Bharadwaj
2. Evan Mackey
3. Bryce Worden (C)
4. Cooper Johnston
5. Ish Mulema / Dom Baptista
6. David Dinbandhu
7. Kimi Vunituraga
8. Callum Cruickshank
9. Ezequiel Rossetti
10. Neil Maclaine
11. Darren McCrory / Jack Gelbart
12. Connor Byron
13. Ethan Turner
14. Jack Gelbart / Eoin Reddington
15. Brian Fitzpatrick
16. Chase McCrum
17. Juan Videla / Luka Bradley
18. Juan Videla
19. Ish Mulema
20. Darius Towers / Charlie Murphy
21. Cian Keegan
22. Dean McMahon
23. Eoin Reddington / Justin Coen

Capilano
1. Rich Merinsky / James Ritzema
2. Pete Ingoldsby
3. Jesse Ryan / Rich Merinsky
4. Nick Pearce / Glen McKinnon
5. Tim Manns
6. Glen McKinnon / Nick Pearce
7. Cori Hamill
8. Jordan Harvey
9. Chris Robinson
10. Mike Moloney
11. Cam Waddell / Sean Hogan
12. Charlie Jones / Johnny Franklin
13. Johnny Franklin / Cam Waddell
14. Eligh Papin
15. Jeremy Simon
16 Jesse Ryan
17 Reece Huber
18 Jack Rainer
19
20
21 Johnny Adams
22 Charlie Jones
23

Meraloma 14 v UBCOB Ravens 31
Referee: Derek Horton AR1: Jamie Dopson AR2: Thomas Cooper
Venue: Connaught Park

Ravens reinforce their position as one of the title favourites this season, giving the Lomas their second loss of the season. The Lomas drop to 5th and the Ravens rise to 3rd in the standings. Next week the Ravens host the Pride while the Lomas host James Bay.

PREGAME
#2 Meraloma hosting #4 Ravens. The Ravens, even though in 4th place in the standings, haven’t actually lost a match on the field. They lost points due to a travel issue when they had to default a match on the Island. The Lomas have lost to the Pride and drawn with Capilano.

The Ravens have a stable roster with one change to the starting XV, David Carson starting at #8. The Lomas haven’t published their current roster at the time of writing, we’ve posted their last known roster.

Ravens continue to go in as favourites until they’re defeated. Prediction: Ravens by 6.

Ravens
1 Connor Sampson
2 Matias Suez
3 Tom Kaijaks
4 Don Carson
5 Frank Carson
6 Trevor Helgason
7 Jacob Ikeda
8 Joe Locke / David Carson
9 Alex Ball
10 Harjun Gill
11 Cole Keffer
12 Sawyer Herron
13 Noah Bain
14 Aga Ligamy
15 Aaron McLelland
16 Joe Dawson / Jesse Mackail
17 David Carson / Joe Dawson
18 Keenan Kayser
19 James Carson
20 Matt Chan
21 Christian Tasi / Joe Locke
22 Billy Wickham / Marceau Bertin
23 Sean Pyle / Mark Wandeto

Meraloma (Previous roster)
1 Mark Rickard
2 Corne Ludick
3 Pat Zuk
4 Jim Mulvany
5 Fintan O’Sullivan
6 Evan Galvin
7 John Willis
8 Jalan Farris
9 Tommy Viljoen
10 Monty Weatherall
11 Keith Graham
12 Jay Younger
13 Jad Hamade
14 Dewi Williams
15 Louis Whelan
16 Scott McGinley
17 Theo Espangol
18 Tom Dunne
19 Jacob Bourke
20 Thomas Williams
21 Darragh Foley
22 Ginga Ishii
23 D.W. Van Niekerk

UBC RFC 43 v Castaway Wanderers 39
Referee: Saro Turner AR1: Riley Robinson AR2: Nathaniel Hight
Venue: UBC- Gerald McGavin Centre

UBC pulled this one out at the whistle but it was a close battle throughout. The CW tight five got plaudits from the opposing coach and the CW performance was described as cohesive. UBC remain top of the table at 6-1 while CW are battling for a playoff spot in 8th place. Next week sees UBC visit the Rowers while CW travel to Capilano.

PREGAME
#1 UBC hosting #8 CW. UBC top the table only losing to Ravens in Week 1. CW are at 3-3 and will need to start making a move to make the playoffs.

UBC only have one change to the starting XV with Koen Buckingham getting the start at loosehead prop. They’re still missing the two players they loaned the national 7s program, Carson and Percillier. CW have a few changes as players are moved around, former UBC player Michael Smith is moved to openside, Brandon Schellenberger moves from scrum half to outside centre. Ollie Nott returns to inside centre. Jordan Ng returns from a stint with the Maple Leaf 7s to start on the wing.

CW have a strong roster with a number of former UVic players and several capped players but #1 UBC at home have to go in as favourites. This is a rematch of last season’s final where CW were leading for a good portion of the match but UBC pulled away in the last 20 for a +14 win. Prediction: UBC by 8.

UBC
1. Conor O’Flaherty / Koen Buckingham
2. Jacob Bossi
3. Payton Tenneycke
4. Hillyard Carson
5. Joe Mcnulty
6. Sol Jaques
7. Joshua Downes
8. Relmu Wilson – Valdes
9. Jacob Bourne
10. James Biss
11. Alastair Marshall / Tenniel Cowen
12. Ethan Berry
13. Takoda Mcmullin
14. Tenniel Cowen / Alastair Marshall
15. Owain Cormack
16. Joshua Tweed
17. Raymond Chou / Conor O’Flaherty
18. Koen Buckingham / Raymond Chou
19. Izzak Kelly / Flynn Heyes
20. Flynn Heyes / Izzak Kelly
21. Max Abercrombie / Jared Andrews-Almack
22. Talon Mcmullin / Max Abercrombie
23. Nico Andrianos / Talon Mcmullin

CW
1 Gavin Kratz
2 Alex Clark / Jace Peters
3 Denver Fatt
4 John Humphries
5 Riley Ilnicki
6 Michael Smith / Mike Finnemore
7 Steve Pyke / Michael Smith
8 Nick Carson
9 Brandon Schellenberger / Zech Pilgrim
10 Ian Hickman / Gareth Sandner
11 James Mitchell / Gabriel Smith
12 Matt Sutherland / Ollie Nott
13 James Duguid / Brandon Schellenberger
14 Gabriel Smith / Jordan Ng
15 Harry Elliot
16 Jace Peters / Jack Sponarski
17 Jack Sponarski / Jake Ilnicki
18 John Braddock
19 Jack Wallace / Antonio Corbin
20 Cam Sandison
21 Nat Dring / Steve Pyke
22 Ollie Nott / James Duguid
23 Zech Pilgrim / James Mitchell

University Of Victoria 44 v James Bay AA 39
Referee: Julianne Zussman AR1: Kristine Lovatt AR2: Martin Thornton
Venue: U Of Victoria- Wallace Field

Another back and forth battle which had the Vikes ahead 22-17 at the half. The Bays jumped ahead 24-22 before the Vikes added another for a 29-24 lead. The score went to 36-29 and then 41-34 with minutes left. Vikes added a penalty and the Bays a try for the final tally. The Vikes go to 2nd place in the standings and the Bays remain in 6th. Next week the Vikes visit Seattle and the Bays travel to the Lomas.

PREGAME
#3 UVic hosting #6 JBAA. This should be a close match, both teams with 4-2 records. Only one change to the UVic starting XV with Tucker Nadeau starting at openside flanker. The Bays have a couple of changes with Andrew McPherson moving from hooker to loosehead prop and Jake Slobodian coming in at hooker. Mostyn Findlay returns from the Maple Leaf 7s causing a shifting of backline assignments.

This match could go either way, it’s a bit of a coin toss. I’ll go with home field advantage. Prediction: Vikes by 1.

UVic
1 Phoenix Moller
2 Jack Marshall
3 Owen Kokan
4 Muiredach Casey
5 Ayo Ogunlade
6 Brendan Kim
7 Merlin M’Cloud / Tucker Nadeau
8 Taine Clague
9 Jenner Teufel
10 Alex Gamage
11 Graeme Norris
12 Andrew Easson
13 Shane Rikley-Krindle
14 Austin Pinnell
15 Ethan Smith
16 Jordy Auger
17 George Piper Arroliga Max Hassel
18 Tucker Nadeau / Merlin M’Cloud
19 Jaxson Jones
20 Marcus Lott
21 Chris Gamage
22 Dylan Cleaver
23 Lockhart MacGregor

JBAA
1. Dakota Lachance / Andrew McPherson
2. Andrew McPherson / Jake Slobodian
3. Blake van Heyningen
4. Asfi Saeed
5. Teigen White
6. Andrew Montgrand
7. Tom Richardson
8. Mitch Young
9. Crosby Stewart
10. Mitch Sora
11. Mike Nieuwenhusen / Kainoa Lloyd
12. Tom Burton / Mike Nieuwenhusen
13. Kainoa Lloyd / Mostyn Findlay
14. Henry Do / Craig Mitchell-Hermann
15. Craig Mitchell-Hermann / Tom Burton
16. Toby Ng / Dakota Lachance
17. Adam Fort / Toby Ng
18. Jim de Goede / Adam Fort
19. Shea Wakefield / Jim de Goede
20. Isaiah Harrison / Shea Wakefield
21. Travis Best / Henry Do
22. Dawson Fatoric
23. JS Cook / Mark Yuen

Westshore 0 v Pacific Pride 58
Referee: Cole Pedrick AR1: John J De Goede AR2: Andrew Owen
Venue: Juan De Fuca

A one sided match with the Pride doing all the scoring and as predicted D’Shawn Bowen was on the try list, at least twice. The Pride openside Zephyr Melnyk is playing at another level now and hopefully gets the opportunity to play professionally. The Pride are in 4th place but aren’t eligible for the playoffs, Westshore remain winless in 12th place. Next week the Pride visit Jericho Beach to take on the Ravens which should be the game of the week. Westshore visit Burnaby.

PREGAME
#12 Westshore hosting #5 Pride. Westshore are looking for their first win of the season. The Pride have had some poor results lately, getting thumped by UBC and then being upset by CW and only scoring 7 points. Westshore may be the unfortunate rebound recipient this weekend as the Pride look to get things right. The Pride have D’Shawn Bowen back after being released from the 7s program, he’ll likely get at least one try. The Pride have a couple of top level loose forwards in Melnyk and Klimchuk, their half back combination are young and were recently at the Canada U20 camp. Westshore have some experienced players, Admir Cejvanovic moves from #8 to outside centre and partners up with Tutusi Vikilani at inside centre, that will be a physical matchup for the Pride to contend with. Charles Taimani starts at #8. Josh Nordstrom starts at #10, from the Strathcona Druids, he was on the Canada U18 team in 2019.

Pride obviously go in as favourites, a lot depends on how Westshore can get stuck in on defence. Prediction: Pride by 12.

Pride
1. Willem den Ouden / Aaron Clark
2. Tyler Wong
3. Dan Cooper
4. Reid Davis
5. Sam Miller / Ben James
6. Reid Davis / Seif Sanad
7. Zephyr Melnyk
8 Matt Klimchuk
9. Brady White
10. Justin Taylor
11. JC Vinette / D’Shawn Bowen
12 Taylor de Souza
13 Noah Flesch
14 D’Shawn Bowen / AJ Kosempel
15 Ben Russell / James Thiel
16 Scott Bowers
17 Willem den Ouden
18 Tyler Matchem / Sam Miller
19 Liam Bolton / Karl Hunger
20 Alan Berros / Liam Bolton
21 Seif Sanad / Sam Reimer
22 Sion Griffiths / Ben Russell
23 James Thiel / Sion Griffiths

Westshore
1 Nathan Yue / Nathan Groenewold
2 Matt Evans
3 Nathan Groenewold / Neil Hagerty
4 Matt Weir
5 Adam Beaupre
6 Jade Billington
7 Tom Heuser
8 Admir Cejvanovic / Charles Taimani
9 Nicky Mouret
10 Josh Nordstrom
11 Jacob Brown
12 Tutusi Vikilani
13 Aidan Holland / Admir Cejvanovic
14 Alex Mentiply / Jon Cox
15 Braedan Bespalko
16 Tobias Berg / Nathan Yue
17 Parker Smith / Keating Teft
18 Neil Hagerty / Makz Foot
19 Makz Foot / Braden Gray
20 Hanno Fourie
21 Yuya Kimura / Witt Nevins
22 Tyler Wilkes / James Sandifer
23 Ethan Gottschulk / Seth Recalma

Seattle 33 v Vancouver Rowing Club 24
Referee: Visiting Referee
Venue: Starfire Field

We said Seattle by 8 and it was Seattle by 9. Seattle remain in 10th and Rowers in 11th. Next week Seattle host the Vikes and the Rowers host UBC.

PREGAME
#10 Seattle hosting #11 Rowers. Seattle have a strong roster at home, they ran the Ravens close in their last match at home. The Rowers only have one win this season, that was over last place Westshore. Neither team have published rosters at the time of writing, so we’ve included their previous rosters.

Seattle at home will be favourites. Prediction: Seattle by 8.

Rowers (previous roster)
1. Eddie Quinn
2 Gregory Crowe
3 Ian Prendiville
4 Jack Warren
5 Michael Cooke
6 Ray Bissonette
7 Scott McTavish
8 Scyler Dumas
9 Jakeb Roiri
10 Nick Wackwitz
11 Morgan Brinson
12 Tim O’Hare
13 Spencer Morgan
14 Filipe Tagitulmua
15 Jordan Wilson-Ross
16 Josh Waller
17 Liam Litchfield
18 Jake Schwartz
19 Tom Brennan
20 Paul Ciulini
21 Eoin Keenan
22 Duncan James
23 Dominic Howard

Seattle (previous roster)
1 Kellen Gordon
2 Maile Taufa
3 Freddie Tafuna
4 Eric Soto
5 Jamie Demers
6 Ian Crilly
7 Tomasi Puletu
8 Sami Ma’afu
9 Zander Tkel
10 Jonny Reid
11 Isaac Mayala
12 Matt Brennan
13 Patrick Nglam
14 Jordan Anderson
15 Ian Wright
16 Mike Faust
17 Lu Alainuuse
18 Sevuloni Tawake
19 Joe Evans
20 Jeremiah Sio
21 Ronald Dwyer
22 Nephi Ledua
23 Neori Drew

WOMEN’S PREMIER

Capilano 10 v Burnaby Lake 34 @12:45
Referee: Benjamin Lambrick
Venue: Klahanie Park

Capilano
1. Karyn Nelson
2. Melissa Robinson (C)
3. Santina Luti
4. Stacey Hake
5. Karina Christiansen
6. Rachel Moloney
7. Gillian Boag
8. Teya Ashworth
9. Christina Burnham
10. Flora Poole
11. Charlotte Ketchen
12. Sarah Bill
13. Bethany Dueck
14. Suhad Mardikian
15. Savannah Bacchus
16. Genevieve Bitorff
17. Catrina Thompson
18. Shelby Slay
19. Victoria Waud
20. Tiana Coutts
21. Leonie Lartey
22. Ruth Sherlock
23. Saila Deschamps

Vancouver Thunderbirds v Castaway Wanderers @12:45
Referee: Riley Robinson
Venue: UBC- Gerald McGavin Centre

Westshore v Seattle @13:00
Referee: Malcolm Klaver AR1: John J De Goede AR2: Andrew Owen
Venue: Juan De Fuca

Posted in BC Premier.

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