BC Premier Regional Week 5 Results: Pride Edge Vikes in Friday Night Match; UBC Overpower TWU, Bays Defeat Westshore, Burnaby Top Lomas, Rowers Upset Ravens, Caps Clobber Seattle
Week 5 of the BC Premier Regional competition is in the books. On the Island, the Bays claimed the Barnard Cup. Westshore and CW will battle next week to determine the runner up. In the Coastal Cup it’s all to play for between the Pride and UBC next weekend. The Pride are at 4-1 (20 pts) and UBC are 3-2 (16 pts). On the Mainland, teams take next week off in preparation for BC Premier Week 1 on October 29th.
There are two weeks left in the BC Premier Regional season, the BC Premier kicks off on October 29th. In the Coastal Cup the Pacific Pride continue on top at 3-1 with Vikes and UBC in close pursuit at 2-2, TWU are at 1-3. In the Barnard Cup, James Bay have claimed the title with 2 weeks left and will be presented the trophy following the Westshore match. On the mainland the Ravens remain the only undefeated team with one remaining match left against the Rowers this weekend.
Pacific Pride 17 v University Of Victoria 15 @ 18:00 – Friday
Venue: Starlight Stadium
An entertaining match by all accounts. The Pride go 4-1 and the Vikes fall to 2-3 but pick up a bonus point. Speaking to an international coach at the match, the two fullbacks impressed, James Thiel on his debut for the Pride and Gabe Casey for the Vikes. The Pride dominated possession and the Pride front row were dominant. Ciaran Breen had another strong match in the centres for the Pride and Ethan Hager had a strong match on the wing for UVic. I was advised to put on my watch list the Vikes #5, Ayo Ogunlade, who was the top UVic forward today. Some of the Canada ‘A’ players only played the first half as they’ll be on the plane this weekend for South America. Next weekend the Pride take a trip to UBC while the Vikes travel to Trinity Western, that will wrap up the Coastal Cup competition.
PREGAME
The Pride won the first match between the teams by a +5 score. It should be another close match. It’s being held Friday night at Starlight Stadium, the Pride will be wearing First Nation designed jerseys (artist Trey Hunt). The jerseys will be auctioned online, proceeds to Thunder Rugby, here is the auction link https://www.32auctions.com/organizations/81247/auctions/131367?r=1&t=all
UVic have switched Logan Martin-Feek back to #10 and shifted Gabe Casey back to fullback. Casey was doing a great job at #10 and has been selected for the Canada ‘A’ tour to South America. Martin-Feek was the Arrows first round draft choice in 2021 and is coming back from a long term injury. The Vikes coaching staff no doubt wanting to test all combinations leading up to the University championships in November.
The Pride missing Callum Botchar who is now part of the 7s program. A couple of players selected for the Canada ‘A’ tour, Kyle Steeves and Matt Klimchuk, are in the starting lineup. Max Stewart back after his red card suspension. James Thiel gets his first start with the Pacific Pride at fullback. Sam Reimer replaces Sion Griffiths as starting scrum half. Ciaran Breen looked impressive at outside centre against TWU, and returns to start at #13 again alongside Seth Purdey at #12.
Prediction: Pride by 5.
Pride
1 Willem den Ouden
2 Dan Cooper
3 Kyle Steeves
4 Reid Davis
5 Karl Hunger
6 Zephyr Melnyk
7 Cody Nhanala
8 Matt Klimchuk
9 Sam Reimer
10 Max Stewart
11 Ben Russell
12 Seth Purdey
13 Ciaran Breen
14 Alan Berros
15 James Thiel
16 Liam Bolton
17 Aaron Clark
18 Sam Miller
19 Alistair Bruce
20 Elias Hancock
21 Sion Griffiths
22 Noah Flesch
23 Lucas Scheck
UVic
1 Owen Kokan – Point Grey Secondary
2 Jack Marshall – Gonzaga High School
3 Denver Fatt – St. Georges School
4 Liam Mitchell – Brentwood College School
5 Ayo Ogunlade – Brentwood College School
6 Brendan Kim – Elgin Park Secondary
7 Merlin MCloud – Montague Regional High
8 Marcus Lott – Okay Bay High School
9 Ethan Smith – Carson Graham Secondary
10 Logan Martin-Feek – Claremont Secondary School
11 Ethan Hager – Brantford Collegiate Institute
12 Andrew Easson – Oakville Trafalger High School
13 Shane Rikley-Krindle – Westwood High School
14 Jonas Robinson – St. Michaels University School
15 Gabriel Casey – Nepean High School
16 George Piper Arroliga – Robert Bateman Secondary School
17 Max Hassel – Western Canada High School
18 Karl Hare – Aberhart Highschool
19 Tucker Nadeau – Flathead High School
20 Asfand Saeed – Victoria High School
21 Jenner Teufel – Shawnigan Lake School
22 Graeme Norris – Shawnigan Lake School
23 Angus Boyd-Porter – Gonzaga
Trinity Western University 38 v UBC 55 @ 14:30
Venue: Langley Events Centre
UBC improve to 3-2 setting up a big Coastal Cup match against the 4-1 Pacific Pride next weekend at UBC. If UBC win that match it would put both teams at 4-2 with tie breaking scenarios in play. In the head to head results, the Pride are up +28 after the first match. TWU host UVic in a match that counts towards the University Championship qualification.
PREGAME
UBC won the last match between these sides by +23. TWU have improved from last season but are 1-3 in the Coastal Cup, UBC are 2-2.
Izzak Kelly gets the start at second row, he was selected for the Canada ‘A’ team heading to South America. The McMullin brothers are also part of the Canada ‘A’ tour, and both get the start in the centres. Jacob Bourne starts on the wing, he was selected for the Canada Rugby League team playing USA on November 5th in Florida. Burnaby’s Kimi Vinituraga is also on that squad.
TWU have made some changes to the squad that lost to the Pride by 47 in their last match. Ethan Jurgeneit and Favour Olaniyan return as starting props, Guiseppe du Toit isn’t in the match 23 and South African Keegan Morengo who usually plays #12, gets the start at #10. Their usual #10 Matt Willemse moves to fullback.
Prediction: UBC by 8.
UBC
1. Conor OFlaherty
2. Jacob Bossi
3. Payton Teneycke
4. Caden Wilson
5. Izzak Kelly
6. Thomas Foote
7. Joshua Downes
8. Relmu Wilson – Valdes
9. Jack Carson
10. Max Abercrombie
11. James Biss
12. Talon Mcmullin
13. Takoda Mcmullin
14. Jacob Bourne
15. Matt Percillier
16. Koen Buckingham
17. Raymond Chou
18. Cole Dreyer
19. Sol Jaques
20. Joe Mcnulty
21. Ethan Berry
22. Kieran Martin
23. Alastair Marshall
TWU
1. Ethan Jurgeneit
2. Scott Bowers
3. Favour Olaniyan
4. Martin Zubiri
5. Josh Halladay
6. Erik Niebuhr (C)
7. Caleb van Til
8. Nate Schroeder
9. Jan Lourens
10. Keegan Morengo
11. Tam Awonusi
12. Fynn Murphy
13. Kenny Paul
14. Lynden Duggan
15. Matt Willemse
16. Seth Klassen
17. Ben Graci
18. Tim Zimmer
19. Caleb Gerth
20. Leo Chen
21. Colin Lagat
22. Ethan Bernardin
23. Connor Bernardin
Westshore 24 v James Bay 41 @ 14:30
Venue: Juan De Fuca
It was a scrappy match, Westshore scored first and last and the Bays scored more in between. The Bays scrum was dominant and set the platform for the win, Westshore were loose with the ball and threw a couple of passes that turned into opposition tries. The Buffalo scored two tries for Westshore but was subbed out for the last quarter. The Bays were awarded the Barnard Cup, next week Westshore host CW in a match that will determine second place.
PREGAME
The first match between the two sides was a +1 win for the Bays. The Bays then went on to clobber CW a week after by a +72 margin, that was aided by the return of some super subs, some of those are missing this week. Luke Campbell remains at #8 but gone are Nick Allen (Classics), Tyler Rowland (Canada ‘A’), Kainoa Lloyd (Canada), Cooper Coats (Canada/7s) and Josh Thiel (Canada ‘A’). Westshore are also missing Foster Dewitt (Canada ‘A’). It’s interesting to note that some Canada ‘A’ players are playing this weekend and some are not. It may be a reflection on who will be in the match day roster for the first match vs Chile on October 21st.
Westshore have some interesting additions, Admir Cejvanovic at #8, setting up a great battle of #8s, both national team class. A real surprise is the inclusion of Alvin Otieno on the wing. Otieno is the Kenyan 7s player referred to as “The Buffalo”. This should be interesting if they can get the ball out wide to him or bring him in on the inside for some battering runs.
James Bay have Phil Mack on the bench, that’s another interesting twist, as coach Mack’s Pacific Pride team plays on the Friday and he’s free on the Saturday – perhaps getting in match shape for the 2023 World Classics in Bermuda. The Canadian Classics defeated Italy yesterday for their best performance in recent memory, 2-1, only narrowly losing to finalists Argentina.
Prediction: Bays by 1.
Westshore
1 Nathan Yue
2 Matt Evans
3 Simeon John
4 Adam Beaupre
5 Makz Foot
6 Aidan Holland
7 Tommy Halls
8 Admir Cejvanovic
9 Rylen Waugh ©
10 Nicky Mouret
11 Seth Recalma
12 Quinn Ngawati
13 Taylor McGuire
14 Alvin Otieno
15 Braedan Bespalko
16 Rick Bown
17 Keating Teft
18 Charles Taimani
19 Tyler Symon-Burke
20 Matt Weir
21 Josh Nordstrom
22 JB Nikkel
23 Liam Clark
JBAA
1. Andrew McPherson
2. Jake Slobodian
3. Blake van Heyningen
4. Jimmy de Goede
5. Andrew Montgrand
6. Alex Jordan
7. Tom Richardson
8. Luke Campbell
9. Crosby Stewart
10. Mitch Sora
11. Ryan Boothroyd
12. Tom Burton
13. Mostyn Findlay
14. Isaac Gonevou
15. Craig Mitchell-Hermann
16 Dakota Lachance
17 Pete Reyes
18 Wyatt Pilz
19 Shea Wakefield
20 Pete Massimo
21 Teigan White
22 Phil Mack
23 Mark Yuen
Meraloma 22 v Burnaby Lake 23 @ 14:30
Venue: Connaught Park
The BCRU had this as 23-22 for Burnaby but another source reported it as 24-17, in either case Burnaby win to finish the pre-season at 2-3, the Lomas finish with a 1-4 record. Both teams have the next week off before the Premier starts on October 29th, then the Lomas will host CW and Burnaby host the Pride.
PREGAME
Both teams 1-3 in the regional Premier season. Burnaby lost by 4 to Caps in their last match, the Caps beat the Lomas by 10 earlier in the season. That seems like a good predictor.
Burnaby have Bryce Worden back in the front row. They also see MLR players Lucas Albornoz and Reid Watkins return to the club, they are in the reserves. David Dinbandhu reclaims his #8 starting position.
Prediction: Burnaby by 6.
Meraloma
1 Richie Barrett
2 Dan Aplin
3 Tom Dunne
4 Darragh Foley
5 Jim Mulvany
6 Jalan Farris
7 Darcy Hinkley
8 John Willis
9 Paddy Kirwan
10 Tommy Viljoen
11 James McTurk
12 Luke O’Brien
13 Andy Cooper
14 Tuveia Leon
15 Louis Whelan
16 Mark Rickard
17 Pat Zuk
18 Brenden Brown
19 Jacob Bourke
20 Dave Matthews
21 Bayce Leatherby
22 Connor Lane
23 Jay Younger
Burnaby
1. Bryce Worden
2. Preston Petrovitch
3. Luka Bradley
4. Riley Fergus
5. Cooper Johnston
6. Kimi Vunituraga
7. Connor McCann
8. David Dinbandhu
9. Ezequiel Rossetti
10. Ethan Turner
11. Jack Gelbart
12. Cole McQueen
13. Scott Barr
14. Jean Koorsten
15. Brian Fitzpatrick
16. Chase McCrum
17. Evan Mackey J Lung
18. Lalit Bharadwaj
19. Lucas Albornoz
20. J Fridfinnson
21. Reid Watkins
22. A Cockayne
23. Nolan Shelley
Seattle 12 v Capilano 81@ 14:30
Venue: Chuckanut
The BCRU haven’t reported the score yet but we’ve had two sources with scores of 81-12 and 84-12, either way a lot to a little. Caps finish the pre-season with 3 wins a draw and a loss. Seattle finish with 2 wins and 3 losses. Both teams are off next week. The following weekend, the 29th, Seattle host Westshore and Capilano host UVic in BC Premier Week 1.
PREGAME
Seattle are hosting at Chuckanut, so not too far for Caps to travel. Caps are 2-1-1 and Seattle are 2-2, last match Caps defeated Burnaby and Seattle lost to Rowers. Caps are missing Chris Robinson (Classics) and Jordan Harvey isn’t in the starting XV. Capilano coach Ramses Langston has again switched the #10 Jeremy Simon and fullback Mike Moloney around. Seattle haven’t published a roster at time of writing, so we’ve posted their last match roster from October 1st.
Prediction: Caps by 3.
Capilano
1 – Jesse Ryan
2 – Ryan Scott
3 – Mackenzie Mills
4 – Jack Rainer
5 – Nick Pearce
6 – Reid Brookes
7 – Cori Hamill
8 – Glen McKinnon
9 – Johnny Adams
10 – Mike Moloney
11 – Josh Wang
12 – Johnny Franklin
13 – Eligh Papin
14 – Cam Waddell
15 – Jeremy Simon
Seattle (roster October 1st)
1 Liam Noone
2 Alex Glover
3 Jakob Mathisen
4 Jamie Demers
5 Adam Page
6 Halleluiah Tiauli
7 Aidan Carlisle
8 Kellen Gordon
9 Jack Canon
10 Jonny Reid
11 Jacob Perkins
12 Jeremiah Sio
13 Devereau Ferris
14 Joey Lincoln
15 Oida Ryuhei
16 Joe Evans
17 Matt Duncan
18 Isaiah Lotawa
19 Hiro Nakajima
UBCOB Ravens 39 v Vancouver Rowing Club 43 @ 14:30
Venue: Jericho Beach Park
The first loss for the Ravens and the absence of Aaron McLelland at the key #10 position may have been a factor. Ravens finish at 4-1, the Rowers complete the pre-season at 2-1-2. On the 29th when the Premier begins, Rowers will host the Bays and the Ravens will host UBC.
PREGAME
Ravens are undefeated in the Premier regional competition, they’re 4-0 with 2 weeks left to go in the warmup to the BC Premier which kicks off October 29th. The Rowers are 1-1-2 coming off their first win which was against Seattle.
Ravens are missing key play maker Aaron McLelland who is with the Classics in Bermuda. Santiago Guadarrama fills his boots. They’re also misssing Frank Carson so Matt Chan will take the #6 spot. As usual there are a couple of Carson’s in the second row, Don and James, David Carson starts at #8.
The Rowers don’t have their roster published at time of writing, we’ve posted their October 1st roster.
Prediction: Ravens by 7.
Ravens
1 Connor Sampson
2 Jesse Mackail
3 Tom Kaijaks
4 Don Carson
5 James Carson
6 Matt Chan
7 Jake Ikeda
8 David Carson
9 Alex Ball
10 Santiago Guadarrama
11 John John Tolton
12 Noah Bain
13 Mark Wandeto
14 Cole Keffer
15 Henry Bibby
16 Joe Sourisseau
17 Willis Reimer
18 Nato Gucake
19 Blain Meek
20 Billy Wickham
21 Kelepi Gucake
22 Andrew Gucake
23 Bryn Tucker
24 Sam Duggan
Rowers
1 Eddy Quinn
2 Jason Carton
3 Ian Prendiville
4 Spencer Cooper
5 Felix Grignon
6 Jack Warren
7 Tom Brennan
8 Michael Cooke
9 Dermot O’Meara
10 Nick Wackwitz
11 Jakeb Roiri
12 Filipe Tagituimua
13 Ollie Joyce
14 Doug Fraser
15 Jordan Wilson-Ross
16 Josh Waller
17 Liam Litchfield
18 Gregory Crowe
19 Rob McGreevy
20 Morgan Brinson
21 Scott McTavish
22 Dominic Howard
23 Tom O’Hare