BC Premier Weekend Results: Burnaby Edge Bays, Vikes Paddle Rowers, UBC Nudge Ravens
Our prediction accuracy went down from 92% to 86% last week and it may take a further hit this week with 3 close matches. The Ravens v UBC match is a tough one to call, UVic can always surprise and the Bays are starting to turn things around.
Our prediction accuracy indeed did go down this week, only getting 1 of 3 so now we’re 26 out of 32 and 81%.
Burnaby Lake 18 v James Bay 13 @ 14:30
Referee: David Smortchevsky Assessor: Thomas Cooper (Pending)
Venue: Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
Link: Live match
This was the only match we predicted correctly, we said Burnaby +6 and it was Burnaby +5.
The JBAA defence has stiffened since the opening weeks, previously their average points against was 40+ and they held Burnaby to 18.
Brian Fitzpatrick score the only try of the first half for an 8-3 Burnaby lead at the half. Gio Douyon replied for JBAA on the outside to make it 8-8. Burnaby stole a lineout near the Bays’ goal line and spread it wide to Ethan Turner for Burnaby’s next try, 15-8. Burnaby added a penalty to make it 18-8 before the Bays ended with a late try by hooker Austin Creighton to make it a 18-13 final.
The result gives the Bays an important bonus point meaning they’re tied with Lomas for the last playoff spot, but have won the head to head matchup. We’ll get clarification from the BCRU on the tie breaking scenarios for this season.
Next week the Bays host Capilano, while Burnaby visit the Rowers. The full match video is below.
PREGAME
With just 3 weeks left in the regular season, wins are becoming critical for teams to make the playoffs and get a favourable draw. Burnaby are sitting comfortable right now in 6th place at 3-2 (5th minus Pride) but will want at least 4th place for a home QF match. They defeated last place Westshore last week building up a comfortable lead but easing off in the second half. They have just one change in the forwards with Dom Baptista coming in at #8. Dean McMahon starts insted of Parata at scrum half and Neil Maclaine comes in at #10, moving Ethan Turner to outside centre. Cole McQueen starts at inside centre with David Dinbandhu missing from the match 23. Jack Gelbart moves from the centres to the wing.
For the Bays (6 pts) this is a must win as they battle the Lomas (7 pts) for the last playoff spot, bonus points matter. The Bays are coming off a big win at home against the Lomas, their first of the season. Veteran Ben Johnson returns to the team to start at second row and Teigan White comes off the bench to start at blindside flanker. The backline remains unchanged from last week.
Burnaby at home go in as favourites. Prediction: Burnaby by 6.
Burnaby
1 Nik Hildebrand
2 Lalit Bharadwaj
3 Bryce Worden
4 Cooper Johnston
5 Mike OToole
6 Fuku Vikilani
7 Connor McCann
8 Dom Baptista
9 Dean McMahon
10 Neil Maclaine ©
11 Kou Odaka
12 Cole McQueen
13 Ethan Turner
14 Jack Gelbart
15 Brian Fitzpatrick
16 Dylan Vermette
17 Liem Jung
18 Adrian Longbone
19 Nate Mantle
20 Doug Breadon
21 Mohi Parata
22 Nolan Shelley
23 Andrew Porter
JBAA
1. Andrew Macpherson
2. Austin Creighton
3. Blake Van Heyningen Cpt.
4. Andrew Montgrand
5. Ben Johnson
6. Teigan White
7. Wyatt Pilz
8. Alex Jordan
9. Crosby Stewart
10. Mitch Sora
11. Keith Graham
12. Ryan Boothroyd
13. Thomas Burton
14. Gio Douyon
15. Craig Mitchell-Hermann
UBCOB Ravens 26 v UBC 27 @ 14:30
Referee: Julianne Zussman Assessor: Saro Turner
Venue: UBC- Gerald McGavin Centre
Link: Live match
The Ravens went up early for a 7-0 lead. UBC hit back from the kickoff with a blunder from the Ravens prompted by defensive pressure from UBC, as they blocked a clearing kick for a try, 7-5. UBC went ahead with a galloping run from one of their big forwards, 12-7. Ravens hit a penalty, 12-10. UBC scored another try after crushing the Ravens scrum, winning a ruck penalty and going on a quick tap, 17-10. The UBC tighthead Conor OFlaherty looks like he’s having an impact on the set pieces. The half ends at 17-10.
The Ravens score first in the second half, a cheeky chip kick to the wing with penalty advantage, unable to convert, 17-15. Another blocked kick and try by UBC, both coming off the Ravens first receiver it looks like, 22-15. A penalty to Ravens 22-18. A bullocking run from Ravens player puts him over the line, again unconverted, now 23-22 for Ravens. A penalty to Ravens puts them up 26-22 with time running down. Prolonged pressure by UBC inside the Ravens 5 metres finally pays dividends as they spread it wide and cross the line, 27-26. Whistle blows after the missed conversion.
A real arm wrestle, won by UBC and very likely there will be a rematch in the playoffs, possibly the final.
Next weekend UBC visit Westshore and Ravens host Pacific Pride. Match video is below.
PREGAME
The game of the season perhaps and a possible preview of the final. The two undefeated teams going head to head.
The Ravens have had 2 weeks off, a benefit or a detriment? Healthy bodies but perhaps it will give them a slower start. Three key players are starting, Moylett at #8, Mason in the centres and McLelland at fullback. Only 3 changes from 2 weeks ago, James Carson gets the start at second row, Alex Ball comes in at scrum half and Tyler Hume starts at inside centre. A couple of important subs, they have Grant Crowell listed at #16, usually the reserve hooker. That would be a first if it’s accurate. Crowell was one of the top players in Canada’s provincial competition a few years ago, the CRC, playing for the Wolf Pack. He was a dominant #8. Also Chris Taylor is showing up as the reserve tighthead prop, again a dominant player when he was playing on a regular basis.
UBC are undefeated, sometimes showing complete dominance vs the Pride and JBAA, sometimes delivering a scrappy win vs Rowers and Capilano. They’re coming off a comprehensive win over university rivals UVic. There’s only a couple of changes from last week, Jake Lan gets the start at wing, and Tenniel Cowen starts at centre.
It’s a tough one to call, experience v youth. I’ll give the nod to the Ravens. Prediction: Ravens by 3.
UBC
1. Cali Martinez
2. Jacob Bossi
3. Conor OFlaherty
4. Frank Carson
5. David Carson
6. Donald Carson
7. Owain Ruttan
8. Alfie Scopes
9. Jack Carson
10. Max Abercrombie
11. Jake Lan
12. Tenniel Cowen
13. Takoda Mcmullin
14. Jared Andrews – Almack
15. Matt Percillier
16. Joshua Tweed
17. Payton Teneycke
18. Josh Downes
19. Jacob Bourne
20. Connor Byron
21. Landon Clironomos
22. Sol Jaques
23. Izzak Kelly
Ravens
1 Tom Kaijaks
2 Sean Pyle
3 Guido Suez
4 James Carson
5 Ray Wilson
6 David O’Donoghue
7 Jake Ikeda
8 Brian Moylett
9 Alex Ball
10 Jasper Mellish
11 Sean Hase
12 Tyler Hume
13 Colby Mason
14 David Thompson
15 Aaron McLelland
16 Grant Crowell
17 Neil Murphy
18 Chris Taylor
19 Matt Chan
20 Trevor Helgason
21 Simon Etheve
22 Jack Scher
23 Dan Pelletier
University Of Victoria 43 v Vancouver Rowing Club 27 @ 14:30
Referee: CLINT LEMKUS Assessor: Mark Abercrombie
Venue: Brockton Oval
We weren’t even close on this one, we said Rowers by 4 and it was Vikes by +16. Both Vikes (8th) and Rowers (7th) are 2-4 with Rowers holding an extra bonus point. As the table stands it would see Rowers and Vikes visiting CW and Ravens in the quarter-finals but there are two weeks left to decide the exact match ups.
Next week Rowers host Burnaby and Vikes visit Meraloma.
PREGAME
UVic sitting in 8th place at 1-4 need another win to put them more comfortably in a playoff position. They were soundly beaten by UBC last week and have only beaten last place Westshore. They gave the Ravens a scare but that was with national players Kratz and Prevost in the lineup. There’s a few changes from last week, Nathan Yue starts at hooker, Ayo Ogunlade moves from blindside to second row, Asfand Saeed switches to blindside flanker and Ryder Heaney-Corns starts at openside. Payton Gibson comes off the bench to start at wing, Jonas Robinson moves from centre to wing, and Andrew Eason starts at inside centre.
The Rowers are looking comfortable for a playoff spot in 7th place at 2-3, a win this weekend would likely assure that playoff spot. They’ve given UBC and the Pride competitive matches. They only have 2 changes in the starting XV from last week’s loss to the Canada Academy team, both second rows are switched out from the bench with Felix Grignon and Kelly Anderson getting the start. It looks like coach Duncan James has slotted himself into the reserves for this match.
Rowers at home with a better record go in as favourites. Prediction: Rowers by 4.
UVic
1 Owen Kokan
2 Nathan Yue
3 Denver Fatt
4 Benjamin Newhook
5 Ayo Ogunlade
6 Asfand Saeed
7 Ryder Heaney-Corns
8 Nicholas Carson
9 Ethan Smith
10 Gabriel Casey
11 Payton Gibson
12 Andrew Easson
13 Graeme Norris
14 Jonas Robinson
15 Ethan Hager
16 Max Hassel
17 Brendan Kim
18 Merlin M’Cloud
19 Hanno Fourie
20 Marcus Lott
21 Chris Gamage
22 James Thiel
23 Liam Clark
Rowers
1. Josh Waller
2. Jason Carton
3. Eddy Quinn
4. Felix Grignon
5. Kelly Anderson
6. Ian Prendiville
7. Ray Bissonette
8. David Dumas
9. Dermot O Meara
10. Nick Wackwitz
11. Mitch Stainer
12. Tom O’Hare
13. Ryan Williams
14. Chris Nolan
15. Harvey Rowland
16. Jake Schwartz
17. Eddy Quinn
18. Callum Bulman
19. Spencer Cooper
20. Duncan James
21. Morgan Branson