BC Finals Weekend Results: Ravens Men’s Premier Champions, Thunderbirds Women’s Premier Champions, Titles for Burnaby Men’s Div 1, Meraloma Women’s Div 1, Kamloops Men’s Div 2, Comox Women’s Div 2, Langley Men’s Div 3
There weren’t any upsets on finals day as the predicted top ranked teams completed their championship titles. Ravens won the men’s Premier, Thunderbirds the women’s Premier. Other titles went to the Burnaby men’s Div 1, the Meraloma women’s Div 1, the Kamloops men’s Div 2, the Comox women’s Div 2 and the Langley men’s Div 3. The rosters below are from the BCRU Program.The live stream links are included below.
Men’s Premier
UBCOB Ravens 33 v UBC 24 @ 14:15
Referee: Saro Turner AR1: Chris Assmus AR2: Benjamin Lambrick
Venue: Abbotsford Exhibition Park – Field 1
Ravens led 17-14 at the half, pushing that lead to 24-14 in the second half. UBC closed the gap to 24-21 before the Ravens added two long range penalty kicks to extend the lead to 30-21. Knowing they needed two scores the Thunderbirds elected to kick a penalty to get within one score, 30-24, but it was the Ravens with another penalty kick to finish off the match, 33-24. Hopefully Peter MacDonald will have his report later. The live stream link is below.
These teams met twice in the season, the Ravens winning 29-10 in November, and the teams drawing 38-38 in February. The Ravens were missing a few key players in that February draw, including their halfback pair of Jack Carson and Aaron McLelland, the starting tighthead and hooker. The Ravens going with a 5/3 bench and UBC with a 6/2. The Ravens haven’t lost a game all season, have their first string players available and finished top of the table, they go in as favourites. Prediction: Ravens by +4.
Ravens (April 26th/current)
1 Josh Tweed
2 Vian Wollie Wolmarans
3 Dion Falconer
4 Iwan Shenton
5 Don Carson
6 Ethan MacDonald
7 David O’Donoghue
8 Joe Locke
9 Jack Carson
10 Logan Henry / Aaron McLelland
11 Cole Keffer
12 Ethan Berry / Logan Henry
13 Hamish Janes
14 Noah Bain
15 Nick Blain
16 Owen Kokan / Grant Crowell
17 Joshua Christy
18 Chris Taylor
19 Frank Carson / Owain Ruttan
20 Sean Beckett / Jacob Ikeda
21 Owain Ruttan / Gaspard de Ligault
22 Jacob Ikeda / Ethan Berry
23 Grant Crowell / Jacob Thiel
UBC (April 26th/current)
1 Ken Buckingham
2 Elijan McQueen / Emmett Allan
3 Payton Teneycke
4 Caden Wilson
5 Joe McNulty
6 Sol Jacques
7 Callum Arnesen
8 Relmu Wilson-Valdes
9 Stephen Webb
10 James Biss
11 Demitri Patterson
12 Talon McMullin
13 Alastair Marshall
14 Niko Andrianos
15 Ben Beauchamp
16 Emmett Allan / Joshua du Toit
17 Graeme Francolini
18 Charlie Clark / James Noftall
19 Sandon Gupta / Charlie Clark
20 Liam Kinghorn / Sandon Gupta
21 Max Birtley / Liam Kinghorn
22 Caleb Seumanutafa / Max McGavern
23 Max McGavern / Caleb Seumanutafa
Women’s Premier
Vancouver Thunderbirds 43 v Westshore 17 @ 16:15
Referee: John Cameron AR1: Shanda Assmus AR2: Brittany Blackford
Venue: Abbotsford Exhibition Park – Field 1
The Thunderbirds led at the half 17-5 and extended that lead in the second half. The UBC/Thunderbirds team have had a strong run in the last couple of years under coach Dean Murten, winning last year’s Premier, the national University championship and another Premier title today.
These teams met in the regular season in November and it was a 58-0 win for the Thunderbirds, although Westshore were missing 11 starters in that match. The Thunderbirds haven’t lost a match with this roster, they have a formidable +306 point differential over the season, and finished the season in 1st place. They’ll go in as favourites. Prediction: Thunderbirds by +8.
Thunderbirds (April 26th/current)
1 Kiki Idowu
2 Maddy Thran
3 Dylan Kipp
4 Anya Prokopich / Teya Ashworth
5 Teya Ashworth / Anya Prokopich
6 Sarah Fong / Mya Koleba
7 Mya Koleba / Jordan McLeod
8 Jess Knaggs
9 Sara Tehrani
10 Brooke Roddham
11 Adia Pye
12 Lana Dueck
13 Meghan Lindsay
14 Jaime Dickson
15 Cassie Jorgenson
16 Allie Dobson
17 Maya Nowotny / Catrin Taylor
18 Kim Sinow / Katie Stoddart
19 Katie Stoddart / Kimberly Sinow
20 Chloe Bong / Mary Sieker
21 Lanae Davenport / Chloe Bong
22 Mary Sieker / Emily Wang
23 Emily Wang / Lanae Davenport
Westshore (April 5th/current)
1 Brittany Sims
2 Sierra Gillis
3 Chelsey Minter
4 Emma Grootendorst
5 Aila Norlin
6 Courtney Sims
7 Oonagh Hynes
8 Emily Findlay
9 Jillian Fulton
10 Hadley MacPherson
11 Brooke Horsfall
12 Renee Gonzalez
13 Grace McKay
14 Amy Camicioli
15 Vanessa Chiappettaa
16 Taylor Morrison / Cindy Andrews
17 Cindy Andrews / Taylor Morrison
18 Hailey Sampson
19 Sarah McWhinney / Kate Field
20 Phoenix Skailes / Sarah McWhinney
21 TBD / Kaitlyn Brescia
22 TBD / Britanny Waters
23 TBD / Emilie Brett
Men’s Div 1
Burnaby Lake 29 v Nanaimo Hornets 7 @ 12:15
Referee: David Smortchevsky AR1: Bradley Schwalger AR2: Doug Thorpe
Venue: Abbotsford Exhibition Park – Field 1
Once again the BCRU live stream ended before the match did, it was 15-7 Burnaby with 97′ showing on the clock, Burnaby scored a try but the stream ended before the conversion attempt. The BCRU are reporting the final score as 29-7 for Burnaby. Live stream link below.
There is a bit of a controversy in the men’s Div 1. JBAA defeated Nanaimo in the semi-final but were deemed to have used an ineligible player so Nanaimo won by default. The BC Rugby Rules of Competition for player playoff eligibility is posted below.
6.6 Player Eligibility
In addition to Player Eligibility for the relevant Competition, the following apply to a Player’s eligibility to represent a Club’s Team in Playoffs. If a Team has any Player that does not comply with the following, then that Team will be deemed to have defaulted the Playoff Match and the opposition shall be deemed the winner and progress.
a) Commitment – firstly, a Player must have Played at least 40% of the Club’s scheduled Matches for the Club in their season to be eligible to represent that Club in Playoff Matches. Playing more than one Match within one week (Monday to Sunday) will only count as one Match towards the Player’s eligibility calculation. The Committee will receive applications for exemptions in accordance with Section 8.3.
b) Level of Play – For Clubs with more than one Team, no Player that has started on a Team Sheet more than 50% of the time in a higher Division may play for the lower Division team through Playoffs. Playing more than one Match within one week (Monday to Sunday) will only count as one Match towards the Players eligibility calculation. If that Player appears on a team sheet in more than one match within a week, then the higher Division Match will be counted. The Committee will receive applications for exemptions in accordance with Section 8.3
In Div 1 the clubs with Premier teams seem to have an advantage as they have a larger pool of players and some do play up and down, according to BCRU rules, no more than 50% of the matches are permitted at the higher level. Burnaby have a few starters who are familiar at the Premier level, and a few players who played with TWU in the fall at the Coastal Cup level. They’ll go in as favourites. Prediction: Burnaby by +10.
Women’s Div 1
Meraloma 26 v Abbotsford 14 @ 15:15
Referee: Phil Webster AR1: Miriam Sobrino AR2: Ryan Lambrick
Venue: Abbotsford Exhibition Park – Field 2
The Lomas led 14-0 at the half and held onto that lead with a +12 win in the end, 26-14. The live stream link is below.
The Meraloma women went undefeated this season 15-0, Abbotsford finished the season with an 11-4 record. Abbotsford lost twice to the Lomas in the regular season, 25-12 in February and 37-3 in March. Meraloma go in as favourites. Prediction: Lomas by +12.
Men’s Div 2
Kamloops 45 v Brit Lions 17 @ 13:15
Referee: Nathaniel Hight AR1: Brett Hay AR2: John Hight
Venue: Abbotsford Exhibition Park – Field 2
A comprehensive win for the Kamloops side that only lost one match all year. The live stream link is below.
Kamloops finished the season with a 16-1 record, their only loss a -5 to Kats on the road. They finished top of the table. The Brit Lions were 10-7 on the season but upset the Kats 36-34 in the semi-finals. Kamloops won the head to head match with Brit Lions 45-31 in March, in Kamloops. Kamloops go in as favourites as regular season winners but Brit Lions look like a team with momentum with that upset semi win. Should be a close match. Prediction: Kamloops by +5.
Women’s Div 2
Comox Valley Kickers 61 v Nanaimo Hornets 0 @ 11:15
Referee: Rachel Morrison AR1: Joel Van Meer AR2: JT ZHANG
Venue: Abbotsford Exhibition Park – Field 2
A dominant win by the women from the Comox Valley. The region is becoming a powerhouse in girls’ and women’s rugby, they also won the girls U16 and U18 club championships in the fall. Live stream link below.
Two Island teams in the final, a rare occurrence. Comox topped the table at 13-2, Nanaimo were 14-4 on the season. The teams split their matches during the season, Nanaimo winning in November 17-14, Comox winning in March 53-5. Comox look to be the favourites here. Prediction: Comox by +5.
Men’s Div 3
Langley RFC 23 v Burnaby Lake 12 @ 10:15
Referee: Lance Davison AR1: John Eadie AR2: Jamie Overgaard
Venue: Abbotsford Exhibition Park – Field 1
It was 23-12 for Langley on the live stream when it stopped at 88 minutes on the live stream clock. There’s been no update by the BCRU or the clubs on social media, so we’re assuming that’s the final score. Live stream link below.
Two closely matched teams with Langley finishing #1 with a 9-4 record and Burnaby #2 with an 11-4 record. Burnaby lost to Langley in September 34-19 but defeated Langley 12-7 in November. Burnaby took out #3 Bayside in the semis with a +2 win, Langley defeated #4 Squamish by a +17 margin in the semis. It looks to be a very competitive match, we’ll give the nod to team that finished top of the table. Prediction: Langley by +2.
I apologize, I don’t understand why the event of the B.C. Premier men’s final the organization seemed superficial to me, like a country party, far from the big cities of Vancouver or Victoria. Yesterday it was played in a field without stands, with the lines of the field that were barely visible, a low-level television coverage, without commentary, not even the lineups of the teams were reported, with images that were often unclear. Too bad the game was of a good level, balanced, a show that the Union of British Columbia can use to spread the game
Because BC Rugby is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more then just Vancouver and Victoria, not everything needs to be in the heart of Vancouver all the time when its clear the teams in the finals represent the talent that is everywhere in BC. Cowichan, Nanaimo, Comox, Abbostford, Burnaby, Kamloops, Delta etc, all of these teams are thriving throughout BC and yet, Vancouver has to be the spot for their showcase? Its BC Rugby, not Vancouver rugby. I think you’re also forgetting at the end of the day, this is all amateur rugby, 99% of the players are paying to play in this league, for the love of the game!
I don’t disagree with any of the points made here about the importance of showcasing top-level finals rugby in different communities. My only issue is with the misconception that everything happens in Vancouver or Victoria. In reality, neither city has hosted a final in nearly a decade. The last seven have consistently been held in Burnaby, Abbotsford, or Bayside. I understand that securing venues with sufficient field space is challenging, but expanding the rotation to include other areas would be a positive step.
Hopefully that ignorant comment by Carmelo is a minority comment. God forbid the BCRU for taking the finals outside of Vancouver to Abbotsford. Considering that Abbotsford and the Valley is a hotbed for rugby, boasting huge junior programs, high school programs while sending countless amounts of players to regional, provincial, and national programs. Some of the largest clubs have been in the valley over the years and yet we have hosted a grand total of 1 final over the years. It’s this elitist thinking that has hampered the growth of the game in this province. Maybe if BCRU and RC actually spent time developing these heartlands of the game we would have a much more robust Sr. Men’s team. Talk about spreading the game.. maybe drive your ass down the highway for once.
First of all, thanks for your “compliment”; I think that if you want to increase the visibility of a sport, you need to show off its best side, in the case of BCRU the final of its premier league, one of the best club competitions in North America. But maybe that’s a step too far. It’s worrying that these comments come from the Fraser Valley R U, I know very well the great scholastic and youth activity that this union carries out in BC, but it takes a reasoning of growth of perspective, managerial skills, precisely to capitalize on all the development work, such as that of establishing a franchise of British Columbia that participates in the MRL, it’s incredible that one of the most important provinces doesn’t have a team. P.S. what happened to the Highlanders?
you can’t show off the sports best side in Abbotsford because there was no stands? (which there was stands on both fields). Did you complain like this when Burnaby hosted the finals with their “stands” Not a member of the FVRU just a normal rugby person who spent their fair share of time going to Vancouver and Victoria to see and play in the finals with the same turnout regardless of where they are held…
To FVRU I agree with your comments; “Considering that Abbotsford and the Valley is a hotbed for rugby, boasting huge junior programs, high school programs while sending countless amounts of players to regional, provincial, and national programs” I believe a big component of player representing Canada will come from the FVRU’s youth program, you only have to look at the Canada Men 15 and see the number of players from White Rock and Abbotsford. The FVRU has done an excellent job of developing talented young players and deserve to be showcase. (Hint, only to loose them to VRU)
Carmelo talks about Franchise to compete at the MLR (Vancouver is hotbed for paid imports) and FVRU talks about Clubs, I stand with FVRU, it is the Clubs that is the foundation that builds integrity, loyalty, long life friendships, fair play, love of the game, comradery and people of strong sense of character into the young men and women that will represent Canada and keep rugby going at the club level when all the $$$$ dries up, and it will, think Highlander and Toronto MLR Franchise ( Where are they now?)
Here is a riddle for FVRU, your clubs have developed great talent but what clubs do you best players end up playing for? Clue, I don’t think I have ever heard of a player in the FVRU being paid to play, but I may be wrong. Vancouver already has a semi-professional franchise
I’ll bypass Carmelo’s comments on where the finals were held as Abbotsford is the perfect venue to host such an event, however, Carmelo does bring up some reasonable points.
Why was the Prem final not held in the stadium? It did seem absurd to see the final being played on a field that appeared to still have the remnants of lines set for javelin or hammer throw(?) while Rotary Stadium sat empty in the background.
Why did they opt for such a lackluster streaming option without commentators calling the game like we’ve seen in finals past? Like Carmelo, I was disappointed by the quality of the stream. Even UBC, UVic, and occasionally Burnaby Lake are able to produce better livestreams during the regular season than what was presented. It was simply not to standard and I hope that is corrected for next year.
The BC finals should be the ultimate showcase of what we’re doing with the senior club game here in British Columbia and it deserves to be presented and packaged with a little more pride.
With that being said, by all accounts the festivities on the ground were a big success. Congratulations to all participating teams and thank you to Abbotsford and all the volunteers for doing such a wonderful job. I hope to see the BC finals return to the Valley next year.
Did Burnaby and Bayside build stadiums? I don’t recall if they have stadiums when they hosted. BCRU organizes the event..I wonder why they didn’t host in the stadium at rotary. Cost? Other events happening? Maybe they weren’t organized enough