BC Rugby Weekend of October 26th 2024

BC Premier Week 4 Results: Pride Edge Bays, Caps Fall to Westshore, Lomas Defeat UBC, Ravens Fly Past Burnaby – Coastal Cup and University Championship Qualifier TWU Upset UVic – Women’s Premier Seattle @ Burnaby, Thunderbirds Default to CW

It’s Week 4 of the BC Premier with some good matchups. The Vikes host TWU which is a Coastal Cup match but more importantly the qualifier for the University Championships with a BC #2 berth for the victor. In Women’s Premer it’s Seattle at Burnaby and CW hosting the Thunderbirds 2nd team.

A huge upset in the Coastal Cup with TWU upsetting the home team Vikes however the Vikes advance to the University Championships based on the points of the home and away games between the three university sides, a further explanation below.

Men Premier

Pacific Pride 23 v James Bay AA 21@ 14:30
Referee: Shanda Assmus AR1: Andrew Owen AR2: Martin Thornton
Venue: James Bay AA- MacDonald Park

Almost an upset, we called Bays by +2 and it was the Pride +2. Bays go to 1-2 and 5 points, 1.66 points per match, in 7th place. The Pride go to 2-1 and 10 points, 3.33 points per match, in 4th place. Next week the Pride visit the Meralomas and the Bays visit Capilano.

PREGAME

The Pride have had mixed results in their two matches, a big loss to Ravens to start but they rebounded with a resounding win over CW. The Bays started with a big loss to the Lomas but then edged out Westshore last week. Currently the Pride sit in 5th place and the Bays are in 8th place.

The Bays have some big guns that came in last week from the national 7s and XVs team and they’re still available this week, so they’ll be bringing their A game. The only changes this week are Josiah Morra coming off the bench to start on the wing and Spike Street replacing Crosby Stewart at scrum half. It’s a potent backline with 4 of the 7 starters having national team credentials.

The Pacific Pride, the national team academy, also boast some national team players in the roster with Matchem, Stockwood, James and now Noah Flesch and Jesse Kilgour being selected for the November tour.

The Pride win came when they had home field advantage in Cowichan against CW, this week they’re playing at James Bay so they’ll be up against the home crowd. I think there’s an upset brewing here. Prediction: Bays by 2.

Pacific Pride (Oct 19th/current)

1 Sam Miller
2 Austin Creighton
3 Tyler Matchem / Cole Harris
4 Josh Halladay / Mason McDonald
5 James Stockwood
6 Evan Logan / Ben James
7 Taine Clague / Logan Harris
8 Braden Bruce / Taine Clague
9 Jesse Kilgour
10 Jean-Louis Descoutte / Ty Driscoll
11 Liam Poulton / Rhys James
12 Noah Flesch
13 Kyle Tremblay
14 Andrew Cooper
15 Rhys James / James Thiel
16 Neil Trainor
17 Greg McDowell / Justin Tasse
18 Justin Tasse / Tyler Matchem
19 Mason MacDonald / Jaden John
20 Jaden John / Evan Logan
21 Chris Rose / Mitch Buie
22 Ty Driscoll / Liam Turnbull
23 James Thiel / Jean-Louis Descoutte

James Bay (Oct 19th/current)

1) Julian Gauld
2) Tom Richardson
3) Wyatt Pilz
4) Asfi Saeed
5) Callum Botchar
6) Alex Jordan
7) Brendyn Beck
8) Mitch Young
9) Crosby Stewart / Spike Street
10) Josh Thiel
11) D’Shawn Bowen
12) Mike Nieuwenhuysen
13) Phil Berna
14) Mostyn Findlay / Josiah Morra
15) Tom Burton
16) Luke Feraco / Steve Stadnyk
17) Steve Stadnyk / Dakota Lachance
18) Dakota Lachance / D Toga
19) Austin Hutchcroft / Andrew Montgrand
20) Andrew Montgrand / T Best
21) Spike Street / Crosby Stewart
22) Taylor DeSouza / Mostyn Findlay
23) Josiah Morra / Craig Mitchell-Hermann

Westshore 29 v Capilano 18 @ 14:30
Referee: Chris Assmus AR1: Phil Webster AR2: Juan Pablo Rey
Venue: Juan De Fuca

A +11 win for Westshore, we called a +5 for the ‘Shore. Westshore go 2-1-1 in the table with 13 points, 3.25 points per match, which puts them in 5th place. Capilano remain in last place with a 0-3 record and 2 points. Next week Westshore host UVic and the Caps host the Bays.

Match Video (includes Div 1 match)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmmHL4BP7Nk

PREGAME

Westshore are sitting in 6th place with a win, draw and loss. Capilano are in 10th place with 2 losses.

Westshore for the first time have both their Canada and Kenyan stars in the roster. It’s good to see Mark Balaski get the start at #10, a position he’s hopefully being groomed for on the national team. It’s a potent backline with Spencer Jones, Gabe Casey, Thomas Isherwood and Nelson Oyoo.

The Caps have a good roster but have failed to deliver a win yet. They have a formidable engine room with Izzak Kelly and Reid Davis. Saba Shubitidze is a standout flanker. Their match last weekend was cancelled due to field closures.

It might be a case of a strong Capilano pack against a fleet footed Westshore backline. A lot may depend on how the Westshore forwards can match up. Prediction: Westshore by 5.

Westshore (Oct 19th/current)

1 Daragh Carroll / Kane Perrett
2 Matt Evans / Brian Waraba
3 Nathan Groenewold
4 Matt Weir
5 Seth Recalma / Brian Ndirangu
6 Zephyr Melnyk / Alvin Otieno
7 Jade Billington / Daragh Carroll
8 Matt Oworu
9 Josh Nordstrom
10 Thomas Isherwood / Mark Balaski
11 Alex Mentiply
12 Spencer Jones
13 Gabe Casey
14 Jimmy Wilson-Bishop / Nelson Oyoo
15 Mark Balaski / Thomas Isherwood
16 Meshack Tunnechi / Porter Cook
17 Porter Cook / Meshack Tunnechi
18 George Piper / Seth Recalma
19 Aidan McCleary / Robert Jones
20 Robert Jones / Jeff Olouch
21 Payton Gibson / Jimmy Wilson-Bishop
22 Darian Morrison / Johnstone Olindi
23 Braedon Bespalko / TBD

Capilano (Oct 19th/current)

1 Ed Wallin
2 Jacob Bossi
3 William Manulelia
4 Reid Davis
5 Izzak Kelly
6 Saba Shubitidze
7 Flynn Heyes
8 Austin James
9 Sam Reimer
10 Mike Moloney
11 Cam Waddell
12 Bailey Bocock
13 Ben Taylor
14 Charlie Huntingford
15 Johnny Franklin
16 Pete Ingoldsby
17 Mackenzie Mills
18 Arsalan Schaigan
19 Riley Canning
20 Nick Pierce
21 Melani Nanai / Colin Mitchell
22 Jack Adams
23 TBD / George Wallin

Burnaby Lake 14 v UBCOB Ravens 45 @ 14:30
Referee: David Smortchevsky AR1: Kristine Lovatt AR2: Toby Mustill
Venue: Burnaby Lake Rugby Club

The Ravens keep rolling along in top spot in the standings, a perfect 3 for 3 for 15 points and 5.0 points per match. We called a +8 win for Ravens but it was +31 for the Ravens. Burnaby go to 0-1-2 with 4 points, 1.33 points per match, and 9th place in the standings. Next week the Ravens visit UBC and Burnaby host CW.

PREGAME

The Ravens the #1 team in the standings with 2 wins, Burnaby sitting in 7th place with a draw and loss.

The Ravens now have 5 Carsons in the roster with Jack Carson now suiting up, Frank and Hilyard in the second row with David, Don and Jack waiting to come off the bench. The halfback pairing of Gaspard De Ligault and Aaron McLelland looks top shelf. Noah Bain starts on the wing, and is that Jake Thiel starting at fullback, a new position for him, how’s the kicking game I wonder?

The Burnaby game was cancelled last week but they have a number of changes to the roster. Most importantly their captain Bryce Worden isn’t in the roster at tighthead, a big loss for them. Karl Hunger and Reid Watkins are back in the roster.

The Ravens clear favourites going in as last year’s champions and undefeated this year. Prediction: Ravens by 8.

Burnaby (Oct 19th/current)

1 Luka Bradley
2 James Kelly / Dylan Vermette
3 Bryce Worden (c) / Iain Kennell-Webb
4 Dylan Horne / Karl Hunger
5 Andrew McIntyre
6 Todd Bullions / David Dinbandhu
7 Jonah Fridfinnson / Todd Bullions
8 David Dinbandhu / Dylan Horne
9 Ezequiel Rossetti
10 Brendon Mcaskie
11 Hayden Mulgrew
12 Guiseppe du Toit / Woods Sharman
13 Scott Barr
14 Kyle Corrigan
15 Ethan Turner
16 Dylan Vermette / Joel Adel-Barr
17 Cass Kocevar
18 Lalit Bharadwaj / Dan Clement
19 Cooper Johnston / Jonah Fridfinnson
20 Jeke Gotegote / Reid Watkins
21 Mohi Parata / Jacob King
22 Ethen Dromgool
23 TBD / TBD

Ravens (Oct 5th/current)

1 Josh Tweed
2 Grant Crowell
3 Owen Kokan / Joshua Christy
4 Donald Carson / Frank Carson
5 Frank Carson / Hilyard Carson
6 Iwan Shenton
7 David O’Donoghue / Sean Beckett
8 Joe Locke
9 Gaspard De Ligault
10 Aaron McLelland
11 Cole Keffer
12 Ethan Berry / Tsugunosuke Hirai
13 Hamish Janes
14 Mark Wandeto / Noah Bain
15 Noah Bain / Jake Thiel
16 Joey Sargeant / David Carson
17 Kaleb Whitelaw
18 Joshua Christy / Owen Kokan
19 Hilyard Carson / Andrew Crane
20 Sean Beckett / Don Carson
21 Marceau Bertin / David O’Donoghue
22 Jake Thiel / Jack Carson
23 David Thompson / Ethan Berry

Meraloma 26 v UBC RFC 10 @ 14:30
Referee: Nathaniel Hight AR1: Bradley Schwalger AR2: John Hight
Venue: Connaught Park

We said Lomas by +3 and it was Lomas +16. The Lomas go to 2-1 with 11 points, 3.66 points per match, which is good for 2nd place in the standings. UBC go to 3-1 and 14 points for a 3.5 points per match, putting them in 3rd place. Next week the Lomas host the Pride while UBC host the Ravens.

PREGAME

Meraloma sitting 4th in the standings with a 1-1 record, UBC are 2nd with 3 wins.

UBC have their eyes set on another University Championship in November, the tournament taking place Nov 13-17 in Ottawa. They have two tough games in preparation as they face last year’s BC Premier finalists, Lomas and Ravens, back to back. They’re rotating their roster a bit and making sure everyone gets a look and playing time before the uni championships. Tate Harley gets the start at hooker, Jacob Bourne starts at #10 with James Biss not in the match 23. Talon McMullin starts but Takoda isn’t in the match 23.

The Lomas had their game cancelled due to field closures last week and they name an unchanged side.

It should be a competitive match, last season in March, the Lomas won the matchup handily, 50-22 but it shouldn’t be as lopsided this time around. It’s difficult to know the UBC mindset as they focus on the university competition on the horizon. Players will be competing for a starting spot at the tournament. The Lomas were upset in their first match at CW but rebounded against a Bays team without their national team players. It’s still not clear their playing strength this year, this match should answer some questions. Prediction: Lomas by 3.

Meraloma (Oct 19th/current)

1 Geoff Brooks
2 Gil Cann-Vaana
3 Tom Webb
4 Conor O’Brien
5 Noah Glanville
6 Corne Ludick
7 Connor Redmond
8 Giovanni Guizzetti
9 Luc Thompson
10 Mike Dabulas
11 Keith Graham
12 Doug Fraser
13 Joe Wilde
14 Jordan Wilson-Ross
15 Rory McParland
16 Mark Rickard
17 Scott Bowers
18 Conor Turley
19 Fintan O’Sullivan
20 Ethan Jaques
21 Matt Roberts
22 Kenny Saito
23 Ben Shaw

UBC (Oct 19th/current)

1 Koen Buckingham / Graeme Francolini
2 Emmett Allen / Tate Hartley
3 Payton Teneycke
4 Caden Wilson / Sandon Gupta
5 Joe McNulty / Sol Jacques
6 Sol Jacques / Liam Kinghorn
7 Elijah McQueen / Callum Arnesen
8 Relmu Wilson-Valdes
9 Stephen Webb
10 James Biss / Jacob Bourne
11 Jared Andrews-Almack
12 Talon McMullin
13 Alastair Marshall
14 Niko Andrianos
15 Ben Beauchamp / Max McGavern
16 Tate Hartley / Elijah McQueen
17 Jacob Blackwood / Koen Buckingham
18 Graeme Francolini / James Noftal
19 Sandon Gupta / Ethan Lee
20 Ethan Lee / Callum Brown
21 Ben Martin
22 Max McGavern / Ben Beauchamp
23 Liam James / Demetri Patterson

Men Coastal Cup

University Of Victoria 27 v Trinity Western University 34 @ 14:30
Referee: Benjamin Lambrick AR1: John J De Goede AR2: Kenneth Yee (Pending)
Venue: U Of Victoria- Wallace Field

A huge upset which almost knocked the Vikes out of the University Championships. The Vikes won the first match +4 and TWU won the second match +7, initially we thought that meant TWU were advancing but it was the point totals between the three universities, UBC, UVic and TWU, that counted. UVic picked up an extra bonus point in their  losses to UBC so finish with 9 points, TWU with 8 points. If UVic didn’t get two bonus points in the loss today, then it would have likely come down to points difference in the home/away series between TWU and UVic.

UBC 61 – TWU 18
UBC 44 – UVic 33 (UVic 1 point)
UVic 40 – TWU 36 (UVic 5 points, TWU 2 points)
UBC 66 – TWU 35 (TWU 1 point)
UBC 26 – UVic 21 (UVic 1 point)
TWU 34 – UVic 27 (TWU 5 points, UVic 2 points)

Match Video

PREGAME

The most important game of the season for both these teams as they fight for the second BC spot at the national university championships. UVic won the first match by a slender +4 and TWU will be looking to better that.

Jaxson Jones returns at openside flanker with Adam Doane moving to #8. Matt Bennett replaces Sion Griffiths at fullback. Morgan de Nardo is the danger man on the outside and we’ve been told several times, by players, to watch Josh McIndoe who played some NZ Premier with Greerton Marist last season.

The TWU roster has a few changes from their Sept 21st roster, Grayson Hardie gets the start at tighthead, Sam Tsoi starts at second row and Fynn Murphy gets the start at inside centre.

UVic have never failed to make the university championships, they’re at home, very motivated. TWU are 0-5 in the Coastal Cup this year. Prediction: UVic +10.

UVic (Oct 19th/current)

1 Phoenix Moller
2 Jordy Auger
3 Liam Bolton / Nic Willey
4 Merlin M’Cloud
5 Brendan Kim
6 Muiredach Casey
7 Adam Doane / Jaxson Jones
8 Ryder Heaney-Corns / Adam Doane
9 Chris Gamage
10 Alex Gamage
11 Ethan Smith / Spencer Cotie
12 Josh McIndoe
13 Lockhart MacGregor
14 Morgan di Nardo
15 Sion Griffiths / Matt Bennett
16 Sully Curran
17 Moe Steves
18 Nic Willey / Dane Siebens
19 Alex Gordon
20 Jaxson Jones / Ryder Heaney-Corns
21 Reece Thompson
22 Matt Bennett / Angus Boyd-Porter
23 Spencer Cotie / Ethan Smith

TWU (Sept 21st/current)

1 Ethan Jurgeneit
2 Riku Konrad
3 Joe Goroza / Grayson Hardie
4 Josh Olafsen / Sam Tsoi
5 Martin Zubiri
6 Caleb van Til / Genaro Gandolfo
7 Genaro Gandolfo / Caleb van Til
8 Tim Zimmer
9 Brady Howlett
10 Matt Willemse
11 Connor Gibbons
12 Collin Lagat / Fynn Murphy
13 Josiah Levale
14 Lynden Duggan
15 Jan Lourens
16 Seth Klassen / Jose Maria Galacia
17 Ben Graci
18 Grayson Hardie / Joe Goroza
19 Dominik Krajsek / David Wegert
20 Ty Dayton / Josh Olafson
21 Wes Willemse / Connor Bernardin
22 Ken Paul
23 Connor Bernardin / Colin Lagat

Women’s Premier

Burnaby Lake 37 v Seattle Rugby 7 @ 11:15
Referee: Kristine Lovatt
Venue: Burnaby Lake Rugby Club

Now we know the baseline of playing strength for the two teams, even though Seattle ran up the score at home against a local side it was a different story when they encountered a stronger defence. Burnaby kept the visitors to one try while scoring a bonus point win. Next week Seattle visit Westshore and Burnaby host CW.

PREGAME

The women’s premier is off to a slow start with only one match logged into the BCRU system so far. It’s likely some teams are waiting for the women’s university championship to wrapup before having full rosters.

This is the first match for both teams in league play and not much is known about current form.

Burnaby just sent their starting XV and Seattle the full 23 which indicates Seattle is fully prepared to start the season. Seattle played a local team, the Emerald City Mudhens, last week and won by a lot, 83-7.

Seattle usually put in a strong team into the BC Premier, based on last week’s local result, they look strong again this season.

Difficult to give a prediction on limited info but Seattle are checking the early boxes. Prediction: Seattle by 10.

Burnaby

1. Payton McNeill
2. Jade Farhat
3. Jailee Mercedes
4. Natasha LaLonde
5. Kimberley Brown
6. Chelsea Rodgers
7. Gabrielle Hindley
8. Ada Okonkwo
9. Alayna Scramstad
10. Miriama Naiobasali
11. Natalie King
12. Carmen Duursema
13. Ava Van Santen
14. Jaidyn Mawhinney
15. Kaila France

Seattle

1. Lili Shi
2. Celine Liulamaga
3. Sydnee Kimber
4. Bee Blackmon
5. Jessie Eames
6. Taylor Pearson (VC)
7. Brooke Jackson
8. Alina Ampeh
9. Astrid Ramos
10. Noelle Heiser (C)
11. Sydney Colbern
12. Zyana Flores-Thomas
13. Kendra Young
14. PJ Tillmann
15. Madison Ray
16. Laurel Hendrickson
17. Hattie McKay
18. Hannah Kang
19. Tee Teaupa
20. Sho Markus
21. Pesi Taufa
22. Emily Barber
23. Katie Shadler

Castaway Wanderers 20 v Vancouver Thunderbirds 0 @ 12:45
Referee: Rachel Morrison AR1: Olivia Ross AR2: Al Humphries
Venue: Windsor Park

A 20-0 default win reported by BCRU.

PREGAME

The only game logged into the BCRU Women’s Premier is a 52-21 win by the Thunderbirds over CW in September, 52-21. This is the UBC second team so wait until the university championships wrap up and the Thunderbirds first team are in action. They’ll be title favourites, they won last season.

I understand the game is going ahead but has been conceded by UBC as they don’t have enough front row subs who are old enough. So it seems CW will log the points in this one regardless of the score.

Prediction: CW with the win.

Thunderbirds

1 Caitlin Pearce
2 Addy Oldfield
3 Tegan Jost (C)
4 Jenna Goeres
5 Maya Nowotny
6 Megan Leung
7 Meghan Lindsey
8 Mack White
9 Lanae Davenport
10 Chloe Bong
11 Catrin Taylor
12 Saylor Pickrell
13 Mary Sieker
14 Jaime Dickson (VC)
15 Skye Farish
16 Riley Willems
17 Kim Sinow
18 Kaitlyn Blair
19 Sofia Shortis
20 Anais Smart
21 Taylor Gotto
22 Ella Hudon

CW