BC Premier Week 5 Predictions and Rosters: Vikes @ Westshore, Bays @ Caps, Pride @ Lomas, Ravens @ UBC, CW @ Burnaby – Women’s Premier Seattle @ Westshore, CW @ Burnaby
Week 5 of the men’s Premier kicks off with some teams fielding a much changed roster with the men’s national XVs in Romania, the men’s national 7s preparing for the RAN 7s in Trinidad, the Canadian Classics in Bermuda and, yes, Touch Rugby Canada in Phoenix, all claiming players.
The women’s Premier starts week 3 with two matches and some teams getting their first game of the season.
Men Premier
Westshore v University Of Victoria @ 14:30
Referee: Saro Turner AR1: Al Humphries AR2: David Hale (Pending)
Venue: Juan De Fuca
Westshore in 5th place coming off a home win against Capilano. UVic in 8th place coming off a loss to TWU at home.
The national XVs and 7s players are out of the BC Premier rosters this weekend. That will impact some clubs more than others.
Westshore are missing Matt Oworu, Thomas Isherwood and Mark Balaski. Gabe Casey slots into the #10 spot, Spencer Jones moves from inside to outside centre. Zephyr Melnyk is back in the roster at hooker. The six speedy Kenyan players are all in the starting roster. It’s a fast team, we’ll see how Gabe Casey can orchestrate the game from the #10 spot and if the pack has enough power to play UVic even in the sets.
UVic preparing for the national university championships got a scare last weekend when they almost got eliminated by TWU, they lost the match but won on series bonus points to make the nationals. They’ll be trying to fine tune their roster and give players a look in preparation. They keep their forwards mostly the same from last week, rotating the bench in the hooker and loosehead prop positions. Dane Siebens also comes off the bench to replace Merlin M’Cloud in the second row. Reece Thompson comes off the bench to start at scrum half and a few changes in the backline with Morgan di Nardo moving from wing to outside centre, Jackson Powell coming into the match 23 and starting on the wing, Ethan Smith coming off the bench to start on the wing. Sion Griffiths returns to the match 23 in the reserves.
It should be an exciting match featuring two teams who like to play a fast, expansive game. If Westshore can match up in the forwards they have the speed out wide. Prediction: Westshore by +3.
Westshore (Oct 26th/current)
1 Kane Perrett
2 Brian Waraba / Zephyr Melnyk
3 Nathan Groenewold
4 Matt Weir
5 Brian Ndirangu
6 Alvin Otieno / Brian Waraba
7 Daragh Carroll / Jade Billington
8 Matt Oworu / Alvin Otieno
9 Josh Nordstrom
10 Mark Balaski / Gabe Casey
11 Alex Mentiply
12 Spencer Jones / Jeff Olouch
13 Gabe Casey / Spencer Jones
14 Nelson Oyoo
15 Thomas Isherwood / Johnstone Olindi
16 Porter Cook / Matt Evans
17 Meshack Tunnechi / Daragh Carroll
18 Seth Recalma
19 Robert Jones
20 Jeff Olouch / Payton Gibson
21 Jimmy Wilson-Bishop / Braedan Bespalko
22 Johnstone Olindi / Jake Brown
23 TBD / TBD
UVic (Oct 26th/current)
1 Phoenix Moller / Moe Steves
2 Jordy Auger / Sully Curran
3 Nic Willey
4 Merlin M’Cloud / Dane Siebens
5 Brendan Kim
6 Muiredach Casey
7 Jaxson Jones
8 Adam Doane
9 Chris Gamage / Reece Thompson
10 Alex Gamage
11 Spencer Cotie / Jackson Powell
12 Josh McIndoe
13 Lockhart MacGregor / Morgan di Nardo
14 Morgan di Nardo / Ethan Smith
15 Matt Bennett
16 Sully Curran / Jordy Auger
17 Moe Steves / Phoenix Moller
18 Dane Siebens / Brighton Feldman
19 Alex Gordon / Josh Petrov
20 Ryder Heaney-Corns / Luke Hamilton
21 Reece Thompson / Chris Gamage
22 Angus Boyd-Porter
23 Ethan Smith / Sion Griffiths
Capilano v James Bay AA @ 14:30
Referee: Doug Thorpe AR1: Thomas Cooper AR2: Jeremy Duncan
Venue: Klahanie Park
Capilano in 10th coming off a loss on the road to Westshore. JBAA in 7th place with a narrow loss to the Pacific Pride at home last week.
The Bays are missing 5 starters from last week as the national XVs and 7s team prepare for matches, gone are Callum Botchar, Josh Thiel, Phil Berna, D’Shawn Bowen and Josiah Morra. It will definitely be a different playing strength this week.
The Caps are missing Izzak Kelly but Melani Nanai is back and he starts at fullback. Mike Moloney is at the Canada Classics in Bermuda so George Wallin gets the start at #10.
The Bays would be favourites with their fully loaded roster but this evens things out. The Caps are hungry for their first win and this is their first home game of the season, planets are aligning for a win. Prediction: Caps by +2.
James Bay (Oct 26th/current)
1) Julian Gauld
2) Tom Richardson
3) Wyatt Pilz / Daniel Toga
4) Asfi Saeed / Andrew Montgrand
5) Callum Botchar / Asfi Saeed
6) Alex Jordan / Mitch Young
7) Brendyn Beck
8) Mitch Young / Alex Jordan
9) Spike Street
10) Josh Thiel / Crosby Stewart
11) D’Shawn Bowen / Malik James
12) Mike Nieuwenhuysen
13) Phil Berna / Mostyn Findlay
14) Josiah Morra / Craig Mitchell-Hermann
15) Tom Burton
16) Steve Stadnyk / Luke Feraco
17) Dakota Lachance / Steve Stadnyk
18) D Toga / Tyler Grom
19) Andrew Montgrand / Pete Massimo
20) Travis Best
21) Crosby Stewart / Isaac Gonevou
22) Mostyn Findlay / Joeli Gonevou
23) Craig Mitchell-Hermann / Kai Khan
Capilano (Oct 26th/current)
1 Ed Wallin
2 Jacob Bossi
3 William Manulelia
4 Reid Davis / Nick Pearce
5 Izzak Kelly / Reid Davis
6 Saba Shubitidze / Pete Ingoldsby
7 Flynn Heyes
8 Austin James
9 Sam Reimer
10 Mike Moloney / George Wallin
11 Cam Waddell
12 Bailey Bocock
13 Ben Taylor / Johnny Franklin
14 Charlie Huntingford / Ben Taylor
15 Johnny Franklin / Melani Nanai
16 Pete Ingoldsby / Joey Ficocelli
17 Mackenzie Mills
18 Arsalan Schaigan
19 Riley Canning
20 Nick Pierce / Reid Yurkowski
21 Colin Mitchell
22 Jack Adams
23 George Wallin / TBD
Meraloma v Pacific Pride @ 14:30
Referee: CLINT LEMKUS AR1: John Cameron AR2: Rachel Morrison
Venue: Connaught Park
The Lomas in 2nd place coming off an impressive win over UBC last weekend. The Pride in 4th place with a narrow +2 win at JBAA last weekend.
The Pride missing Tyler Matchem, James Stockwood, Rhys James and Noah Flesch to national team duties. Tiarnan Neville returns at #10.
The Lomas have the core of their team returning with fullback Rory McParland absent and Ben Shaw replacing him. Captain Jalan Farris returns to the roster at #8.
The Lomas looked strong last week against UBC and with minimum changes to their roster go in as favourites. Prediction: Lomas by 7.
Pacific Pride (Oct 26th/current)
1 Sam Miller / Justin Tasse
2 Austin Creighton / Neil Trainor
3 Cole Harris / Conor Williams
4 Mason McDonald / Josh Halladay
5 James Stockwood / Jaiden John
6 Ben James
7 Logan Harris / Evan Logan
8 Taine Clague / Braden Bruce
9 Jesse Kilgour / Mitch Buie
10 Ty Driscoll / Tiarnan Neville
11 Rhys James / Liam Poulton
12 Noah Flesch / Jean-Louis Descoutte
13 Kyle Tremblay / Liam Turnbull
14 Andrew Cooper / Andrew Cooper
15 James Thiel / Ty Driscoll
16 Neil Trainor / Austin Creighton
17 Justin Tasse / Cole Harris
18 Tyler Matchem / Greg McDowell
19 Jaden John / Mason McDonald
20 Evan Logan / Logan Harris
21 Mitch Buie / Taine Clague
22 Liam Turnbull / Shane Rikley-Krindle
23 Jean-Louis Descoutte / Chris Rose
Meraloma (Oct 26th/current)
1 Geoff Brooks / Scott Bowers
2 Gil Cann-Vaana
3 Tom Webb
4 Conor O’Brien
5 Noah Glanville / Finton O’Sullivan
6 Corne Ludick
7 Connor Redmond
8 Giovanni Guizzetti / Jalan Farris (c)
9 Luc Thompson / Matt Roberts
10 Mike Dabulas
11 Keith Graham
12 Doug Fraser
13 Joe Wilde / Kenny Saito
14 Jordan Wilson-Ross
15 Rory McParland / Ben Shaw
16 Mark Rickard
17 Scott Bowers / Geoff Brooks
18 Conor Turley
19 Fintan O’Sullivan / Noah Glanville
20 Ethan Jaques
21 Matt Roberts / Luc Thompson
22 Kenny Saito / Joe Wilde
23 Ben Shaw / Jad Hamade
UBC RFC v UBCOB Ravens @ 14:30
Referee: Benjamin Lambrick AR1: Mark Abercrombie AR2: Phil Webster
Venue: UBC- Gerald McGavin Centre
UBC in 3rd place losing to the Lomas last weekend, the Ravens in 1st place with a perfect record and a dominant win over Burnaby last weekend.
The Ravens missing a couple of key starters who are representing Canada in a Touch Rugby tournament in Arizona this weekend. Who had that on their scorecard? Aaron McLelland and Noah Bain are playing for Touch Canada in the USA Touch Nationals in Phoenix. With McLelland missing, Jack Carson gets the starting #10 role, so what impact will that have on the match? The forwards are minimally impacted with Don Carson replacing Hilyard Carson at second row and Owen Kokan replacing Josh Tweed at loosehead prop.
UBC are hoping to peak for the University championships starting November 13th, this will be their last Premier action before the tournament. There’s still no sign of Takoda McMullin in the roster and his brother Talon has been moved from inside to outside centre with Demetri Patterson starting at inside centre. Caden Wilson returns to the roster in the second row.
This should be an interesting match, Ravens undefeated but missing a couple of keys backline players. Still they go in as favourites. Prediction: Ravens by +5.
Ravens (Oct 26th/current)
1 Josh Tweed / Owen Kokan
2 Grant Crowell
3 Joshua Christy
4 Frank Carson
5 Hilyard Carson / Don Carson
6 Iwan Shenton
7 Sean Beckett
8 Joe Locke
9 Gaspard De Ligault
10 Aaron McLelland / Jack Carson
11 Cole Keffer / Mark Wandeto
12 Tsugunosuke Hirai
13 Hamish Janes
14 Noah Bain / Cole Keffer
15 Jake Thiel / Noah Jensen
16 David Carson / Matthew Chan
17 Kaleb Whitelaw / Chris Taylor
18 Owen Kokan / James Carson
19 Andrew Crane
20 Don Carson / Blain Meek
21 David O’Donoghue / Billy Wickham
22 Jack Carson / Gioacchino Sangiorgi
23 Ethan Berry / David Thompson
UBC (Oct 26th/current)
1 Graeme Francolini
2 Tate Hartley
3 Payton Teneycke / James Noftall
4 Sandon Gupta / Caden Wilson
5 Sol Jacques / Sandon Gupta
6 Liam Kinghorn / Sol Jacques
7 Callum Arnesen
8 Relmu Wilson-Valdes
9 Stephen Webb
10 Jacob Bourne
11 Jared Andrews-Almack
12 Talon McMullin / Demetri Patterson
13 Alastair Marshall / Talon McMullin
14 Niko Andrianos
15 Max McGavern / Ben Beauchamp
16 Elijah McQueen / Emmet Allan
17 Koen Buckingham / Jacob Blackwood
18 James Noftall / Payton Teneycke
19 Ethan Lee / Liam Kinghorn
20 Callum Brown / Ethan Lee
21 Ben Martin / Max McGavern
22 Ben Beauchamp / Caleb Seumanutafa
23 Demetri Patterson / Liam James
Burnaby Lake v Castaway Wanderers @ 14:45
Referee: Nathaniel Hight AR1: Toby Mustill AR2: John Hight
Venue: Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
Burnaby in 9th place and losing big to the Ravens last week, CW had a bye last week and sit in 6th place in the standings.
CW coming off a bye and have their tighthead, Denver Fatt, back in the roster. Ollie Nott is moved from #8 to centre and big Mike Finnemore is brought into the loosies to add some bulk against a physical Burnaby side. Nick Carson back in the match 23 as reserve loose forward. Ethan Hager missing from the roster.
Burnaby have a settled forward pack with no changes. Reid Watkins gets the start at #9, Brian Murphy and Guiseppe du Toit are back in the backline.
It’s a bit of a toss up, both teams losing big in their last outing, Burnaby to Ravens and CW to Pride. Which team is going make the necessary adjustments to get back on the winning track? We’ll go with the extra week of recovery and see if Gradyn Bowd can work his magic at #10. Prediction: CW by +1.
Burnaby (Oct 26th/current)
1 Luka Bradley
2 Dylan Vermette
3 Iain Kennell-Webb
4 Karl Hunger
5 Andrew McIntyre
6 David Dinbandhu
7 Todd Bullions
8 Dylan Horne
9 Ezequiel Rossetti / Reid Watkins
10 Brendon Mcaskie
11 Hayden Mulgrew / Brian Murphy
12 Woods Sharman / Guiseppe du Toit
13 Scott Barr
14 Kyle Corrigan / Ezequiel Rossetti (c)
15 Ethan Turner / Ethan Dromgool
16 Joel Adel-Barr
17 Cass Kocevar / Lalit Bharadwaj
18 Dan Clement
19 Jonah Fridfinnson / Joe Downey
20 Reid Watkins / James Kelly
21 Jacob King
22 Ethan Dromgool / Dan Josok
23 TBD / TBD
CW (Oct 19th/current)
1 Alex McCullum / Gavin Kratz
2 Antonio Corbin
3 Gavin Kratz / Denver Fatt
4 Nat Dring
5 Ayo Ogunlabe
6 Dafydd Thomas / Mike Finnemore
7 Steve Pyke / Dafydd Thomas
8 Ollie Nott / Gord Kehoe
9 Zech Pilgrim
10 Gradyn Bowd
11 Gabriel Smith
12 Matt Sutherland / Ollie Nott
13 Ethan Hager / Rio Apt
14 Hugh Mager
15 Jordan Tait / Theo Tardiff
16 Jack Wallace / Jack Marshall
17 Jack Marshall / Alex McCullum
18 Chris Carson / Jace Peters
19 Damien Grelier / Nick Carson
20 Conor McKenzie
21 Gord Kehoe / Will Daniel
22 Mike Fuailefau / Ronan Graham
23 Theo Tardiff / Keegan Hall
Women Premier
Westshore v Seattle Rugby @ 13:00
Referee: Rose LaBrèche AR1: Al Humphries AR2: David Hale (Pending)
Venue: Juan De Fuca
Seattle coming off a loss on the road to Burnaby while this is a first look at Westshore.
Seattle have a few changes to the roster, two new forwards, Gabby Simmons at hooker and Krystal Marshall at second row. Some rotation of the bench in the backline with three reserve players getting the start at #9, #11, #13.
Westshore have a few familiar names, the Sims sisters at hooker and #8. Chelsey Minter at loosehead prop. A couple of big name backline players, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Olympic silver medalist with the 7s team, getting the start at #10 and Renee Gonzalez at outside centre. The Horsfall twins in the starting backline as well at #11 and #15.
It will be interesting to see the result as it will give a relative playing strength between Burnaby and Westshore as well. Going with the home side on this. Prediction: Westshore by +7.
Seattle (Oct 26th/current)
1. Lili Shi
2. Celine Liulamaga / Gabby Simmons
3. Sydnee Kimber
4. Bee Blackmon / Krystal Marshall
5. Jessie Eames
6. Taylor Pearson (VC) / Bee Blackmon
7. Brooke Jackson
8. Alina Ampeh
9. Astrid Ramos / Sho Markus
10. Noelle Heiser (C)
11. Sydney Colbern / Katie Shadler
12. Zyana Flores-Thomas
13. Kendra Young / Emily Barber
14. PJ Tillmann / Sydney Colbern
15. Madison Ray
16. Laurel Hendrickson / Hattie McKay
17. Hattie McKay / Kiki Mamea
18. Hannah Kang / Morgan Henson
19. Tee Teaupa / Laurel Hendrickson
20. Sho Markus / Astrid Ramos
21. Pesi Taufa / PJ Tillmann
22. Emily Barber / Emma Santosuosso
23. Katie Shadler / Mary Quick
Westshore
1 Chelsey Minter
2 Brittany Sims
3 Taylor Morrison
4 Kate Field
5 Kirianne Healey
6 Aila Norlin
7 Sarah McWhinney
8 Courtney Sims
9 Kaitlyn Brescia
10 Asia Hogan-Rochester
11 Brooke Horsfall
12 Eden Kilgour
13 Renee Gonzalez
14 Miranda Grant
15 Paige Horsfall
16 Megan Wolfe
17 Olivia Riceman
18 Hailey Sampson
19 Ivy Poetker
20 Jillian Fulton
21 Carmanah Morgan
22 Sarah Levson
23 Coral Anderson
Burnaby Lake v Castaway Wanderers @ 12:45
Referee: Tyler Dawson AR1: Brittany Blackford AR2: Trevor Honey
Venue: Town Centre South
Burnaby top of the table after an impressive win over Seattle last week, CW in 3rd place with a default win over Thunderbirds second team last week.
Burnaby keep key parts of the lineup intact from last week, the front row and the 8, 9, 10 combination. Emily Van Gulik comes into the starting roster at second row and Natasha Lalonde comes in at flanker.
CW have a settled roster as well with Annalise Branter coming in at #6 with Chanelle Edwards-Challenger off in PEI at the women’s university championships. Karen Garcia Perdomo gets the start at hooker.
Not many games in the women’s Premier yet to really get a feel for playing strengths but Burnaby put up the numbers last week against a well organized Seattle outfit, and they’re at home again. Prediction: Burnaby by +6.
Burnaby (Oct 26th/current)
1. Payton McNeill
2. Jade Farhat
3. Jailee Mercedes
4. Natasha LaLonde / Emily Van Gulik
5. Kimberley Brown
6. Chelsea Rodgers / Natasha Lalonde
7. Gabrielle Hindley / Chelsea Rodgers
8. Ada Okonkwo
9. Alayna Scramstad
10. Miriama Naiobasali
11. Natalie King / Nicole Stephenson
12. Carmen Duursema
13. Ava Van Santen / Natalie King
14. Jaidyn Mawhinney
15. Kaila France / Aphra Taylor
16. Tess Woldring
17. Stephanie Thurston
18. Teresa Thompson
19. Ella Jimenez
20. Simran Gillar
21. Rachel Wood
22. Quaila Trang
23. Rebecca Roth
CW
1 Josie Anzai
2 Jamie Rikley-Krindle / Karen Garcia Perdomo
3 Kelsey McKinnon
4 Imogen Maxwell
5 Bronwyn Zodichi
6 Chanelle Edwards-Challenger / Annalise Branter
7 Lucy Beauchemin
8 Laura Salder
9 Emily Samek ©
10 Kate Kristianson
11 Sara Einarson
12 Bella Anderton-Teasdale
13 Emily Currey / Charlotte Hilton
14 Savannah King
15 Charlotte Hilton / Emily Currey
16 Karen Garcia / Jamie Rikley-Krindle
17 Josie Pusch / Madea Solberg
18 Maddie Smith / Josie Pusch
19 Annalise Branter / Maddie Smith
20 Livia Ashbourne / Avalon Crawford
21 Kass Cej / Danica Pedrick