BC Premier Week 14 Results: Pride Upset by Burnaby, Vikes Edged by Bays, Lomas Fall to UBC, Westshore Victors at CW – Women’s Premier Westshore Lose to CW, Thunderbirds Pummell Burnaby
There are 2 weekends of regular season left after this weekend, Week 15 and a Make-Up weekend in April. The playoffs start April 12th. A couple of teams are in must win scenarios in order to keep their playoff hopes alive, plus UBC v Meraloma features a battle for a first round playoff bye.
Burnaby Lake 43 v Pacific Pride 42 @ 14:30
Referee: CLINT LEMKUS AR1: Doug Thorpe AR2: Jeremy Duncan
Venue: Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
This has to be the upset of the season, the #2 team defeated by #9 with a bonus point win. Defence apparently the victim on the day. It’s a shame Mike Devlin isn’t writing up the Burnaby matches anymore as this one would be interesting. We know the Pride were leading by 19 points with 8 minutes left and Burnaby scored 3 late tries. Quite the game. However it may not be enough to make the playoffs, Burnaby are still 4 points behind Capilano in the race for the final playoff spot, 18 points chasing 22 with both teams having played 10 games. Burnaby have games left against #3 UBC and #4 Meraloma and they have to win at least one of those to overtake Caps. The Caps play the Pride next week and then finish against UVic.
PREGAME
#9 hosting #2. Burnaby’s playoff hopes hanging by a thread, a loss here would virtually eliminate them. The Pride aren’t eligible for the playoffs but individual players will be looking to impress selectors as some will likely get called up to the senior team this summer.
The Pride with changes throughout, only recent France arrival, Thomas Cuzange, keeps his spot on the wing. Jamin Hodgkins regains his starting #10 spot, Theo Espagnol moves from tighthead prop to hooker. Mason McDonald comes into the match 23 to start in the second row with Jaiden John. Rhys James and Kyle Tremblay return to the roster and start in the centres.
Burnaby still missing Reid Watkins at scrum half, with Ezequiel Rossetti retaining that role, Ethan Turner remains at #10. Veteran Jeke Gotegote moves from openside flanker to outside centre. David Dinbandhu and Kimi Vunituraga missing from the bench but a few TWU players showing up Matt Willemse, Fynn Murphy and Genaro Gandolfo, we’ll see if they have an impact later in the match.
The Pride are clear favourites going into the match. Prediction: Pride by 9.
Pacific Pride (March 15th/current)
1 Justin Tasse / Daniel Lucic
2 Noah Kyneston / Theo Espagnol
3 Theo Espagnol / Connor Williams
4 Karl Hunger / Mason McDonald
5 James Stockwood / Jaiden John
6 Taine Clague / Karl Hunger
7 Logan Harris / Evan Logan
8 Braden Bruce / Taine Clague
9 Daniel Muzaliwa / Mitchell Buie
10 Jean-Louis Descoutte / Jamin Hodgkins
11 Glenn Roy / James Thiel
12 Rowan Closs / Kyle Tremblay
13 Liam Poulton / Rhys James
14 Thomas Cuzange
15 James Thiel / Adam Stander
16 Austin Creighton
17 Cole Harris / Justin Tasse
18 Connor Williams / Cole Harris
19 Jaiden John / James Stockwood
20 Evan Logan / Logan Harris
21 Mitchell Buie / Daniel Muzaliwa
22 Jamin Hodgkins / Liam Poulton
23 Adam Stander / Jean-Louis Descoutte
Burnaby (March 15th/current)
1 Luka Bradley / Lalit Bharadwaj
2 Dylan Vermette / Joel Abdel-Barr
3 Bryce Worden
4 Cooper Johnston / David Rafuse
5 Sam Tsoi
6 Jonah Fridfinnson
7 Jeke Gotegote / Jack Bolton
8 James Catterson / Dylan Horne
9 Ezequiel Rossetti
10 Ethan Turner
11 Dan Josok / Wiremu Sharman
12 Ed Shepherdson
13 Wiremu Sharman / Jeke Gotegote
14 Stu Jamieson
15 Ethan Dromgool
16 Joel Abdel-Barr / Dylan Vermette
17 Iain Kennell-Webb / Luka Bradley
18 Lalit Bharadwaj / Liem Jung
19 Jack Bolton / Rylin McKenzie
20 David Dinbandhu / Andrew McIntyre
21 Kimi Vunituraga / Genaro Gandolfo
22 TBD / Fynn Murphy
23 Mohi Parata / Matt Willemse
James Bay AA 18 v University Of Victoria 17 @ 14:30
Referee: Kristine Lovatt AR1: Dan Cvitanovich AR2: Martin Thornton
Venue: James Bay AA – MacDonald Park
Another upset but not on the same level as the Burnaby v Pride match. It’s too little, too late for the Bays to make the playoffs but they end their season on a high note. The Vikes may have scuppered their chance of post season play with the loss, they sit at 16 points from 10 games, 6 points behind the Caps for the final playoff spot. They face the Lomas then the Caps to finish their season, they would need to win both to have a good chance of making the playoffs. If they don’t defeat the Lomas next week (or at least get a couple of bonus points), the match against Caps may not matter in terms of their playoff chances.
PREGAME
#10 hosting #8. UVic on a 2 game losing streak, the Bays on a 4 game losing streak. The Vikes have a slim chance of making the playoffs but need a win this week to keep their hopes alive. The Bays are already eliminated from the playoffs.
The Bays still missing Josh Thiel at #10 but have national level players Cody Nhanala, D’Shawn Bowen and Kainoa Lloyd in the roster.
The Vikes have Sion Griffiths and Morgan di Nardo back in the roster to bolster their backline. Their forward pack remains the same from last week, Brighton Feldman, the U20 tighthead, is back in the match 23 in the reserves.
Will the Bays end their season on a high note or will the Vikes motivation to make the playoffs prevail. Would have to think the playoff motivation would be a factor. Prediction: Vikes by +3.
James Bay (March 15th/current)
1) Steve Stadnyk
2) Ezra Vai / Tom Richardson
3) Dakota Lachance
4) Josh Wilson / Asfi Saeed
5) Alex Jordan
6) Tom Richardson / Brendyn Beck
7) Brendyn Beck / Cody Nhanala
8) Cody Nhanala / Mitch Young
9) Crosby Stewart
10) Mike Nieuwenhuysen
11) Craig Mitchell-Hermann / D’Shawn Bowen
12) Tevita Daugunu / Kainoa Lloyd
13) Mostyn Findlay
14) Iowane Raturaciri
15) Tom Burton
16) Toby Ng / Julian Gauld
17) Wyatt Pilz
18) Andrew Montgrand / Georgiy Sinyakin
19) Asfi Saeed / Andrew Montgrand
20) Mitch Young / Pete Massimo
21) Spike Street
22) D’Shawn Bowen / Tevita Daugunu
23) Isaac Gonevou / Craig Mitchell-Hermann
UVic (March 15th/current)
1 Phoenix Moller
2 Jordy Auger
3 Nic Willey
4 Muiredach Casey
5 Dane Siebens
6 Adam Doane
7 Merlin M’Cloud
8 Ryder Heaney-Corns
9 Lachlan Crooks
10 Gareth Sandner
11 Jackson Powell
12 Mason Levin / Sion Griffiths
13 Alex Gamage / Mason Levin
14 Jack Penaluna / Morgan di Nardo
15 Angus Boyd-Porter / Alex Gamage
16 Brent Hamberg / Sully Curran
17 Kale Jones
18 Alex Gordon / Brighton Feldman
19 Josh Petrov / Brendan Kim
20 TBD / Josh Petrov
21 Sully Curran / Reece Thompson
22 Marcus Lott / Thoron Koyote
23 Thoron Koyote / Jack Penaluna
UBC RFC 36 v Meraloma 19 @ 14:30
Referee: Bradley Schwalger AR1: Inigo Inigo Atorrasagasti AR2: Michael Landiak
Venue: UBC- Gerald McGavin Centre
The Lomas were ahead at the half 14-10 but the T-Birds, like they have done recently against other clubs, owned the 2nd half, a 26-5 turnaround. The result puts UBC into 3rd, 2nd for playoff ranking, and drop the Lomas to 4th. UBC has 37 points from 11 games, 3.36 points per match, the Lomas have 29 points from 10 games, 2.9 points per match. The Lomas have the Vikes next week, then Burnaby, a possible 10 points (3.25 ppm) but Burnaby may be the surprise team with their performance today. UBC play Burnaby next weekend and finish off with a road trip to CW. They would need just 6 points (3.30 ppm) from those two matches to guarantee 2nd place in the playoffs and a quarter-final bye.
PREGAME
#4 hosting #3. The winner of the match likely to claim the first round bye in the playoffs along with the Ravens. UBC’s record since the new year has been 3 wins and a draw against #1 Ravens, the Lomas record in the new year has been 2 wins and a loss to the Ravens.
UBC switch up their openside and hooker, the players switching positions. Joe McNulty returns to the roster in second row. Sandon Gupta gets the start at blindside flanker, the rest of the starting XV remains the same.
The Lomas see the return of Finton O’Sullivan at second row. Players rotate off the bench to cover tighthead prop, openside flanker and scrum-half. Fullback Rory McParland is missing so Jordan Wilson-Ross rotates to that position and Jad Hamade comes off the bench to start at wing.
It’s a toss up really, just the result against the Ravens to compare the teams. UBC getting a slightly better result. Prediction: UBC by +2.
UBC (March 15th/current)
1 Ken Buckingham
2 Callum Arnesen / Elijan McQueen
3 Payton Teneycke
4 Sol Jacques / Joe McNulty
5 Caden Wilson
6 Liam Kinghorn / Sandon Gupta
7 Elijan McQueen / Callum Arnesen
8 Relmu Wilson-Valdes
9 Stephen Webb
10 James Biss
11 Demetri Patterson
12 Talon McMullin
13 Alastair Marshall
14 Niko Andrianos
15 Ben Beauchamp
16 Kevin Griffiths
17 Jacob Blackwood
18 James Noftall
19 Charlie Clark
20 Sandon Gupta / Liam Kinghorn
21 Ethan Lee / Josh du Toit
22 Spencer Voegeli / Caleb Seumanutafa
23 Caleb Seumanutafa / Max Mcgavern
Meraloma (March 15th/current)
1 Geoff Brooks
2 Gil Cann-Vaana
3 Scott Bowers / Tom Webb
4 Jordan Quinn / Finton O’Sullivan
5 Conor O’Brien
6 Aaron Hickey / Corne Ludick
7 Evan Galvin
8 Jalan Farris (c)
9 Luc Thompson / Tyus Dimbleby
10 Joe Wilde
11 Keith Graham
12 Doug Fraser
13 Kenny Saito
14 Jordan Wilson-Ross / Jad Hamade
15 Rory McParland / Jordan Wilson-Ross
16 Cian Cunningham
17 Andy McMeel / Scott Bowers
18 Tom Webb / Conor Turley
19 Craig Trimble / Noah Glanville
20 Corne Ludick / Jordan Quinn
21 Ethan Jaques
22 Tyus Dimbleby / James Frankenberger
23 Jad Hamade / Joe Thomas
Castaway Wanderers 8 v Westshore 43 @ 14:45
Referee: Nathaniel Hight AR1: Robert Brown AR2: Juan Pablo Rey
Venue: Windsor Park
An emphatic win by Westshore on the road, meaning the teams switch places in the standings, Westshore claiming 5th (4th playoff ranking) and CW 6th. That would give Westshore the home field quarter-final as things stand now. Westshore also claim the Barnard Cup. Westshore finish off the season next weekend hosting the undefeated Ravens while CW have a bye next weekend and then finish in the make-up weekend hosting UBC. There’s only 2 points separating the sides with both playing 12 games, so the results for them in the final two weeks will be important.
PREGAME
#5 hosting #6. CW coming off wins over JBAA and UVic, Westshore coming off losses to UBC and Pacific Pride. This match could determine who gets the home field in the quarter-finals. The match will also determine the winner of the Barnard Cup this year, awarded to the top Island Premier team in Island v Island matches.The current Barnard Cup standings have Westshore ahead of CW by 5 points so a win by Westshore or any bonus point by Westshore would give them the Cup, if CW get a bonus point win while denying Westshore a losing bonus point, that would give CW a chance at the Cup title. CW would have to win by 15 or more as the first tie breaker is head to head matches where Westshore have a +15 lead.
CW are missing Gradyn Bowd at #10, a big loss for them. Andrew Easson steps into the flyhalf role. Ollie Nott and Dafydd Thomas are also missing in the match 23. Veteran Gord Kehoe takes the #8 spot and Steve Pyke starts at flanker. Mike Fuailefau returns to the match 23 in the reserves.
Westshore are fully loaded for the match with the return of 3 national team 7s players, Thomas Isherwood starts at outside centre, Kal Sager on the wing and Elias Hancock at #8. Alvin Otieno moves to blindside flanker and Brian Ndirangu to openside flanker. Taylor McGuire gets his first start this season at #10.
It should be an interesting match as these teams might also meet in the quarter-finals. With Westshore fielding one of their strongest lineups this season, they go in as slight favourites. Prediction: Westshore by +5.
CW (March 15th/current)
1 Gavin Kratz / Jace Peters
2 Antonio Corbin
3 Denver Fatt
4 John Humphries
5 Ayo Ogunlabe / Mike Finnemore
6 Mike Finnemore / Steve Pyke
7 Jack Wallace
8 Dafydd Thomas / Gord Kehoe
9 Chris Gamage
10 Gradyn Bowd / Andrew Easson
11 Ethan Hager / Hugh Mager
12 Andrew Easson / Matt Sutherland
13 Jordan Tait / Ethan Hager
14 AJ Kosempel
15 Zech Pilgrim
16 Jack Marshall
17 Jace Peters / Declan Stove
18 Nat Dring / Conor McKenzie
19 Steve Pyke / Nat Dring
20 Gord Kehoe / Ayo Ogunlabe
21 Conor McKenzie / Lucas Okano
22 Keegan Hall / Mike Fuailefau
23 Matt Sutherland / Jordan Tait
Westshore (March 15th/current)
1 Kane Perrett
2 Zephyr Melnyk
3 Nathan Groenewold
4 Seth Recalma / Joe Kingham
5 Joe Kingham / Seth Recalma
6 Brian Ndirangu / Alvin Otieno
7 Thomas Heuser / Brian Ndirangu
8 Alvin Otieno / Elias Hancock
9 Anthony Carroll / Grayson Perry
10 Josh Nordstrom / Taylor McGuire
11 Nelson Oyoo
12 Jeff Olouch
13 Darian Morrison / Thomas Isherwood
14 Hudson Poppitt / Kal Sager
15 Braeden Bespalko / Jimmy Wilson-Bishop
16 Meshack Tunnechi / Matt Evans
17 Matt Evans / Simeon John
18 Aiden Holland / Daragh Carroll
19 Clinton Odhiambo / Matt Weir
20 Daragh Carroll / Aiden Holland
21 Jentezen Peterson / Thomas Heuser
22 Payton Gibson / Josh Nordstrom
23 Taylor McGuire / Alex Mentiply
Women’s Premier
Castaway Wanderers 22 v Westshore 19 @ 12:45
Referee: Juan Pablo Rey AR1: Pierre Iachetti AR2: Kenneth Yee
Venue: Windsor Park
A narrow win by CW, giving them a firm hold on 3rd place and closing the gap with #2 Westshore. It’s looking likely these teams will meet again in the playoffs. Next week Westshore hosts the powerful Thunderbirds 2 team while CW host Burnaby.
PREGAME
#3 hosting #2. CW coming off a narrow loss to Seattle on the road, Westshore haven’t played since February 15th when they defeated CW.
CW have a full 23 player roster after listing 20 on the road trip to Seattle. Josie Pusch returns to the roster at second row, Bella Anderton-Teasdale and Maddy Aberg at wing and Remee Brown at outside centre.
Westshore only list 20 players, so that might be a worry. They’re missing #10 Vanessa Chiappetta who is travelling with the national 7s team to Hong Kong, Hadley MacPherson takes the #10 spot. Oonagh Hynes comes into the lineup at blindside flanker, Sarah McWhinney comes off the bench to start at second row, the rest of the forward pack remains the same. Elle Douglas comes into the lineup at inside centre with Renee Gonzalez moving to outside centre.
Westshore won the previous match by a sizeable margin but the short bench could be a factor. Prediction: Westshore by +5.
CW (March 15th/current)
1 Josie Anzai
2 Karen Garcia
3 Bronwyn Zodichi
4 Marina Skakun
5 Regan Casey / Josie Pusch
6 Lucy Beauchemin / Kass Cej
7 Alex Motherwell / Regan Casey
8 Laura Sadler
9 Gwynnie Fry
10 Kate Kristianson / Charlotte Hilton
11 Savannah King / Bella Anderton-Teasdale
12 Chloe Hill-Huse
13 Emily Samek / Remee Brown
14 Danica Pedrick / Maddy Aberg
15 Emily Currey
16 Jess Beaudry
17 Kelsey McKinnon
18 Josie Pusch / Chanelle Edwards-Challenger
19 Kass Cej / Imogen Maxwell
20 Caitie McNally / Sophie Hayes
21 TBD / Danica Pedrick
22 TBD / Kate Kristianson
23 TBD / Savannah King
Westshore (Feb 15th/current)
1 Brittany Sims
2 Sierra Gillis
3 Chelsey Minter
4 Emma Grootendorst
5 Cindy Andrews / Sarah McWhinney
6 Kaitlyn Brescia / Oonagh Hynes
7 Emily Findlay
8 Courtney Sims
9 Justine Blatt-Janmaat
10 Vanessa Chiappetta / Hadley MacPherson
11 Ivy Poetker / Brooke Horsfall
12 Renee Gonzalez / Elle Douglas
13 Brooke Horsfall / Renee Gonzalez
14 Amy Camicioli / Grace McKay
15 Alexandra Ondo / Ivy Poetker
16 Grace McKay / Cindy Andrews
17 Aila Norlin
18 Phoenix Skailes / Hailey Sampson
19 Sarah McWhinney / Jillian Fulton
20 Coral Anderson / Paige Horsfall
21 Jillian Fulton / TBD
22 Hailey Sampson / TBD
23 Eden Kilgour / TBD
Burnaby Lake 0 v Vancouver Thunderbirds 95 @ 12:45
Referee: Doug Thorpe AR1: Elijah Lockington AR2: Mark Lockington
Venue: Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
Yikes, we thought it would be a mismatch, but not this big a mismatch. The return of the 7s players made a huge difference in the firepower of the Thunderbirds 2 team. They are clear on top of the standings and visit the #2 Westshore team next weekend. Burnaby make a trip to the Island to visit CW.
PREGAME
#4 hosting #1. Burnaby losing last weekend to Thunderbirds 1 and now playing Thunderbirds 2, it will be interesting to see the difference in the roster.
Burnaby have some rotation off the bench with Jailee Mercedes and Nicole Stephenson starting in the forwards, Simran Gillar comes into the roster to start at blindside flanker. Kaila France moves from fullback to scrum-half, Chelsea Rodgers moves from flanker to inside centre. TWU standout Ava van Stanten appears on the Burnaby bench as an impact player.
The Thunderbirds have their UBC championship 7s players back so this is an upgrade of the team that won by +27 last weekend. The scoreline could be high but we’ll go easy. Prediction: Thunderbirds by +12.
Thunderbirds (1/2) (March 15th/current)
1 Sasha Oreskovich / Alli Dobson
2 Maddy Thran / Kiki Idowu
3 Alli Dobson / Sasha Oreskovich
4 Anya Prokopich / Jesse Knaggs
5 Teya Ashworth / Rachel Smith
6 Dylan Kipp / Sarah Fong
7 Ella Kirk / Jordan McLeod
8 Jesse Knaggs / Maddy Thran
9 Gracie McAllister / Sara Tehrani
10 Lanae Davenport / Brooke Roddham
11 Jaime Dickson / Adia Pye
12 Chloe Bong / Lana Dueck
13 Cassie Jorgenson / Skye Farish
14 Emily Wang / Jaime Dickson
15 Taylor Gotto / Cassie Jorgenson
16 Maya Nowotny
17 Sarah Fong / Ella Kirk
18 Maghan Lindsay / Lanae Davenport
19 TBD / Chloe Bong
20 TBD / Mary Sieker
21 TBD / Emily Wang
22 TBD / Ayana Titifanua
23 TBD
Burnaby (March 15th/current)
1. Payton McNeill
2. Jade Farhat
3. Tess Woldring / Jailee Mercedes
4. Kim Brown / Teresa Thomson
5. Teresa Thomson / Nicole Stephenson
6. Chelsea Rodgers / Simran Gillar
7. Gabrielle Hindley
8. Ada Okonkwo
9. Alayna Scramstad / Kaila France
10. Aphra Taylor
11. Natalie Hewko / Rebecca Roth
12. Carmen Duursema / Chelsea Rodgers
13. Amanda Jardine / Sofie van Beusekom
14. Jaidyn Mawhinney
15. Kaila France / Faith Nishi
16. Stephanie Thurston / Lauren Tagg
17. Jailee Mercedes / Anastasia Chassmoresis
18. Stasi Chasso / Emily van Gulik
19. Emily Van Gulik / James Sheldon-Houle
20. Nicole Stephenson / Naomi Elwood
21. Faith Nishi / Natalie Teteris
22. Rebecca Roth / Ava van Stanten
23. Sofie van Beusekom / Michelle Veerman