BC Premier Regional Week 6 Results: UBC Edge Pride; TWU Fall to UVic; Westshore Overcome CW
This wraps up the BC Premier Regional season, the BC Premier kicks off next weekend. We believe the Pacific Pride won the Coastal Cup even though they lost the match today to UBC, both teams have 21 points but the Pride have the better point differential both in the league and head to head. We’ll check with the team coaches and verify that later.
It’s the final weekend of the BC Premier Regional competitions, the BC Premier itself starts next weekend. The feature match will be the Coastal Cup final between UBC and Pacific Pride. The Pride have a 4 point lead in the standings and a hefty point differential lead so there are various scenarios that can play out if UBC win the match, if Pride win they take the trophy.
The TWU v UVic match is also a fundraiser for the Thunder Indigenous rugby program. The TWU jerseys feature an Indigenous design by John Lyall, the UVic jerseys feature an Indigenous design by Trey Hunt, they’ll both be auctioned online.
Here is the online auction link for TWU jerseys: https://www.32auctions.com/organizations/81247/auctions/131363?r=1&t=all
Here is the online auction link for UVic jerseys: https://www.32auctions.com/organizations/81247/auctions/131391?r=1&t=all
The CW v Westshore match will determine second place in the Barnard Cup competition.
UBC 27 v Pacific Pride 22 @ 14:30
Venue: UBC- Gerald McGavin Centre
UBC won the match by +5, gaining a bonus point but the Pride also gained a bonus point leaving the teams tied at 21 points. The Pride have a better point differential in league play +66 vs +15, they split their head to head matches 1-1 with the Pride having a better point differential +23. So by normal tie breaking procedures we expect the Pride to be awarded the trophy. Next weekend kicks off the BC Premier season with UBC visiting the Ravens while the Pride visit Burnaby.
PREGAME
The final match of the Coastal Cup, the BCRU have the standings as Pride 20 points (+71 differential) and UBC 16 points (+10 differential). The result of this match will decide the winner.
UBC defeated TWU last week 55-38 but didn’t have a good first half, down 35-19. They limited TWU to 3 second half points but the lack of depth in the TWU program showed as well. UBC missing Izzak Kelly and the McMullin brothers who are in Brazil with Canada ‘A’.
The Pride had a close match with UVic last week, just edging them 17-15. They’re missing Matt Klimchuk to the Canada ‘A’ Brazil tour. They’ve made a few changes Kyle Steeves is replaced by Tyler Matchem at tighthead. Austin Creighton replaces Dan Cooper at hooker. Oliver Mackenzie gets the start at fullback.
It should be a close, entertaining match. Prediction: Pride by 2.
Pride
1. Willem den Ouden
2. Austin Creighton
3. Tyler Matchem
4. Reid Davis
5. Sam Miller
6. Zephyr Melnyk
7. Cody Nhanala
8. Elias Hancock
9. Sam Reimer
10. Max Stewart
11. AJ Kosempel
12. Seth Purdy
13. Ciaran Breen
14. Jack East
15. Oliver Mackenzie
16. Sione Fine
17. Liam Bolten
18. Dan Cooper
19. Jayden John
20. Noah Flesch
21. Zech Pilgrim
22. Taylor Desouza
23. James Thiel
UBC
1. Koen Buckingham
2. Jacob Bossi
3. Payton Teneycke
4. Sol Jaques
5. Joe Mcnulty
6. Thomas Foote
7. Joshua Downes
8. Relmu Wilson – Valdes
9. Jack Carson
10. Max Abercrombie
11. Alastair Marshall
12. Ethan Berry
13. Kieran Martin
14. Jacob Bourne
15. Matt Percillier
16. Raymond Chou
17. Beaudry Leman
18. Caden Wilson
20. Jared Andrews – Almack
21. Owain Cormack
Trinity Western University 26 v University Of Victoria 35 @ 14:30
Venue: Langley Events Centre
UVic end the Coastal Cup at 3-3 with 19 points, TWU finish at 1-5 with 9 points. TWU won’t participate in the BC Premier this season, although they’re competitive enough to be admitted. UVic will kick off their Premier season with a visit to Capilano next weekend.
PREGAME
UVic won the first match between these teams in September by +3, it was a high scoring match, 42-39. Tam Awonusi has been a scoring machine for TWU and he just wrecked the UBC defence last week, before he was subbed off in the second half.
UVic are missing Gabe Casey who is on the Canada ‘A’ tour. Phoenix Moller comes into the starting lineup at loosehead prop. Jenner Teufel gets the start at scrum-half. Jonas Robinson takes Casey’s spot at fullback.
TWU make six changes to the starting XV. The only change in the backs is Collin Lagat starting at #12. The props are rotated and there’s changes in the loose forwards with Caleb Gerth starting at #8 and Leo Chen at openside.
TWU are steadily improving and showed a strong 40 last week but couldn’t sustain it in the second half. Prediction: UVic by 3.
TWU
1. Ben Graci
2. Scott Bowers
3. Tim Zimmer
4. Martin Zubiri
5. Josh Halladay
6. Erik Niebuhr (C)
7. Leo Chen
8. Caleb Gerth
9. Fynn Murphy
10. Keegan Morengo
11. Tam Awonusi
12. Collin Lagat
13. Kenny Paul
14. Lynden Duggan
15. Matt Willemse
16. Seth Klassen
17. Ethan Jurgeneit
18. Favour Olaniyan
19. Isaiah de Peiza
20. Nate Schroeder
21. Brady Howlett
22. Tapiwa Marufu
23. Oliver Clarke
UVic
1 Phoenix Moller – Robert Bateman Secondary
2 Jack Marshall – Gonzaga High School
3 Denver Fatt – St. Georges School
4 Asfand Saeed – Victoria High 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 Jenner Teufel – Shawnigan Lake School
10 Logan Martin-Feek – Claremont Secondary School
11 Graeme Norris – Shawnigan Lake School
12 Andrew Easson – Oakville Trafalger High School
13 Shane Rikley-Krindle – Westwood High School
14 Ethan Hager – Brantford Collegiate Institute
15 Jonas Robinson – St. Michaels University School16 Clayton Miller – Rockridge Secondary
17 Owen Kokan – Point Grey Secondary
18 Liam Mitchell – Brentwood College School
19 Karl Hare – Aberhart High School
20 Tucker Nadeau – Flathead High School
21 Chris Gamage – Henry Wise Wood
22 Ethan Smith – Carson Graham Secondary
23 Angus Boyd-Porter – Gonzaga
Westshore 18 v Castaway Wanderers 13 @ 14:30
Venue: Juan De Fuca
This seemed destined to be another draw between these teams with CW drawing even at 13 with less than a quarter to play. Alvin “The Buffalo” Otieno had other plans and scored the go ahead try out wide with minutes left in the match. There was time for a kickoff and a scrum before the final whistle blew. CW had most of the possession and territory and a stronger set piece. The rain that fell shortly after the game started made the ball greasy and there were a plenitude of handling errors in the match. Westshore played a strong defensive game, rebuffing CW at the goal line on several occasions. Next weekend CW visit Meraloma while Westshore make the cross-border trip to Seattle.
PREGAME
This was a 27-27 draw when the teams last met in September at Windsor. It will likely be close again.
Westshore have some new faces since that last match with Quinn Ngawati getting a start at blindside flanker. Admir Cejvanovic, who now runs a plumbing business in the Langford area, starts at #8. The Kenyan 7s player nicknamed The Buffalo, Alvin Otieno, moves to outside centre for this match. Peyton Eagar returns to the side at wing.
CW were on the receiving end of a drubbing by the Barnard Cup winners this year, James Bay, in their last match on October 1st. Riley Ilnicki is back in the second row, Haydyn Evans starts at blindside. Brandon Schellenberger gets the start at #10.
Westhore with some new faces may have the slight edge this time around. Prediction: Westshore by 1.
Westshore
1 Nathan Yue
2 Matt Evans
3 Simeon John
4 Adam Beaupre
5 Aidan Holland
6 Quinn Ngawati
7 Tom Heuser
8 Admir Cejvanovic
9 Rylen Waugh c
10 Nicky Mouret
11 Seth Recalma
12 Taylor McGuire
13 Alvin Otieno
14 Peyton Eagar
15 Braedan Bespalko
16 Neil Hagerty
17 Tobias Berg
18 Tyler Symon-Burke
19 Matt Weir
20 Josh Nordstrom
21 Liam Clark
22 JB Nikkel
23 Sawyer Shmyrko
CW
1 Gavin Kratz
2 Alex Clark
3 Jack Sponarski
4 Riley Ilnicki
5 Nat Dring
6 Haydyn Evans
7 Jace Peters
8 Mike Finnemore
9 Ian Hickman
10 Brandon Schellenberger
11 Pavlos Silvestros
12 Seamus McDougall
13 David Keta
14 Gabriel Smith
15 Harry Elliot