BC Premier Week 1 Results: Ravens Top UBC; Vikes Outscore Caps; Lomas Defeat CW; Bays Sink Rowers; Seattle Edge Westshore; Pride Outlast Burnaby
It was a competitive Week 1 as the average point differential in the six games was 8 points, 13 being the highest and 3 the lowest. Week 2 sees some great matchups, four teams go into Week 2 tied at the top with bonus point wins, Ravens, Pride, Lomas and Vikes.
The BC Premier kicks off this weekend with 6 matches. It’s difficult to predict the opening weekend, the regional results don’t always provide a solid indicator as some teams didn’t use their full strength roster. Some of the teams are slowly adding in marquee players now that the main season has started. Last season the top four were UBC, Ravens, CW and Capilano. CW has had a slow start but the other 3 look on track to maintain their form. The Rowers have had a strong regional season, as did the Bays. The Week 1 results should provide some clarity on how the season will shape up.
UBCOB Ravens 28 v UBC 20 @ 14:30
Referee: David Smortchevsky AR1: Visiting Referee 1 AR2: Phil Webster
Venue: Jericho Beach Park
It’s not often that UBC are denied a bonus point but the Ravens look the team to beat early on. Next week the Ravens travel to the Island to take on a revitalized James Bay in what should be a top match. UBC will host Burnaby Lake.
PREGAME
It’s like alumni week in this match, last season UBC had all the Carsons (and won the title), this year it’s the Ravens with four Carsons in the roster and UBC with one. UBC have their 3 players back from the Canada ‘A’ tour, they just defeated Brazil on Wednesday. All three, Kelly, McMullin and McMullin are in the starting XV. UBC won their last match 27-22 over the Rugby Canada academy team, Pacific Pride.
The Ravens not only have Aaron McLelland back in the roster at #10 but they’ve added a top level fullback with Andrew Coe. Also missing from their last match, which they lost to Rowers 43-39, is Frank Carson, a big part of their engine room. The Ravens have also snagged Nick Allen, the former 7s player, who played for JBAA earlier in the season.
Last season this was a tight 27-26 win for UBC. Factoring in the Ravens home field advantage, UBC with 3 starters who just flew back from Brazil after a match on Wednesday, and the Carson/McLelland/Coe/Allen factor, we’ll say the Ravens have a slight edge. Prediction: Ravens by 1.
UBC
1. Koen Buckingham
2. Jacob Bossi
3. Payton Teneycke
4. Izzak Kelly
5. Caden Wilson
6. Sol Jacques
7. Joshua Downes
8. Relmu Wilson – Valdes
9. Jack Carson
10. Max Abercrombie
11. Jacob Bourne
12. Talon Mcmullin
13. Takoda Mcmullin
14. Alastair Marshall
15. Owain Cormack
16. Conor OFlaherty
17. Raymond Chou
18. Joe Mcnulty
19. Thomas Foote
20. Kieran Martin
21. Jared Andrews – Almack
22. TBA
23. TBA
Ravens
1 Connor Sampson
2 Jesse Mackail
3 Tom Kaijaks
4 Don Carson
5 Frank Carson
6 Trevor Helgason
7 Jake Ikeda
8 David Carson
9 Alex Ball
10 Aaron McLelland
11 Mark Wandeto
12 Noah Bain
13 Sean Pyle
14 Cole Keffer
15 Andrew Coe
16 Joe Sourisseau
17 James Carson
18 Matt Chan
19 Matthew Bluck
20 Nick Allen
21 Aga Ligamy
22 Harry Boyd
23 Marceau Bertin
Capilano 35 v University Of Victoria 40 @ 14:30
Referee: Bradley Schwalger AR1: Brett Hay AR2: Mark Abercrombie
Venue: Klahanie Park
Caps couldn’t shut down the expansive Vikes attack and came out on the losing end of the scoreline but picked up 2 bonus points. The Vikes are looking hot as the November University Championships loom on the horizon. Next week Caps travel to Westshore and the Vikes host Meraloma.
PREGAME
It has been a while since these two teams met. They didn’t face each other in the abbreviated 2022 spring season. The Caps made the semis that season only losing to the eventual winner, UBC. They’re a very strong team at home and feature a top level #10 and #15, have a solid set piece and have some exceptional loose forwards like Glenn McKinnon and Jordan Harvey. Johnny Franklin is always dangerous in the backline. Capilano’s last match was a 37-33 win over Burnaby on October 1st.
UVic will be looking ahead to the Canadian University championships next month, hosted by UBC. They qualified top in the West due to a slight point differential advantage over UBC. As usual the Vikes will excel in a wide open match, they’ll be running for the full 80, hoping to wear down their larger and older opponents. Gabe Casey is back from the Canada ‘A’ tour to South America but will come off the reserves bench as required. Logan Martin-Feek, the Arrows 1st round draft choice in 2021, will run the show from #10. Denver Fatt, the tighthead prop, was drafted by the Arrows this year as was Casey. Ethan Hager was drafted by the Dallas Jackals. UVic’s last match was a 35-26 win over TWU on October 22nd.
Caps haven’t played a match since October 1st, whether that means they’ll be well rested or a little rusty, remains to be seen. When the Caps control the tempo of the match and win the battle at the contact area, they’re very difficult to beat at home. Prediction: Caps by 3.
Capilano
1 Neil Courtney (C)
2 James Ritzema
3 Jesse Ryan
4 Jack Rainer
5 Nick Pearce
6 Glen McKinnon
7 Reid Brookes
8 Jordan Harvey
9 Johnny Adams
10 Jeremy Simon
11 Cam Waddell
12 Johnny Franklin
13 Eligh Papin
14 Kevean Pashandi
15 Mike Moloney
16 Rich Merinsky
17 Mackenzie Mills
18 Cori Hamill
19 TBA
20 Chris Robinson
21 Josh Wang
22 TBA
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 Tucker Nadeau – Flathead High School
7 Merlin MCloud – Montague Regional High
8 Muiredach Casey – St. Michaels University School
9 Ethan Smith – Carson Graham Secondary
10 Logan Martin-Feek – Claremont Secondary School
11 Lockhart MacGregor – Abbotsford Senior Secondary
12 Andrew Easson – Oakville Trafalger High School
13 Graeme Norris – Shawnigan Lake School
14 Shane Rikley-Krindle – Westwood High School
15 Ethan Hager – Brantford Collegiate Institute
16 Clayton Miller – Rockridge Secondary
17 Phoenix Moller – Robert Bateman Secondary
18 George Piper Arroliga – Robert Bateman Secondary School
19 Karl Hare – Aberhart High School
20 Marcus Lott – Okay Bay High School
21 Jenner Teufel – Shawnigan Lake School
22 Chris Gamage – Henry Wise Wood
23 Gabe Casey – Nepean High School
Burnaby Lake 24 v Pacific Pride 35 @ 15:00
Referee: Saro Turner AR1: Jamie Dopson AR2: Miriam Sobrino
Venue: Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
Burnaby were cruising 24-14 in the lead until the last quarter when the Pride started to see gaps opening up. The Pride scored the last 21 points including a highlight reel try by outside centre Ciaran Breen. It doesn’t get easier for Burnaby as they travel to UBC next week while the Pride host Seattle.
PREGAME
The last time these teams met was April 22 2022 and it was a narrow 33-32 win for the Pride. Burnaby’s last match this season was October 15th, a 23-22 win over Meralomas. The Pride played last weekend and lost to UBC 27-22.
Burnaby have Lucas Albornoz back at starting #8, David Dinbandhu is in the reserves. Reid Watkins, who played for the Seattle Seawolves in the MLR last season, is on the bench as the backup scrum half to Ezequiel Rossetti.
The Pride players who went on the Canada ‘A’ tour aren’t in the roster this weekend, Kyle Steeves and Matt Klimchuk. They’ve moved Reid Davis from second row to blindside flanker. Noah Flesch moves back to starting inside centre, outside centre Ciaran Breen has been lighting it up this season.
Comparing the two #8s, gives a good idea of each team’s style of play. Burnaby’s Albornoz, 2 caps for Canada, also plays second row, not as mobile but powerful. Pride’s Hancock a former 7s player, very mobile but not likely to run over people. It’s similar to the Caps v UVic match, whichever team can play their game will likely succeed. Burnaby will want to control the short game and win the contact area. The Pride Academy will want to run their larger and older opponents around the field for 80 minutes.
It should be a great match. Prediction: Pride by 2.
The live stream of match is on the Burnaby YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BurnabyLakeRugbyClub
Burnaby
1 Lalit Bharadwaj
2 Chase McCrum
3 Bryce Worden
4 Riley Fergus
5 Ethan Soden
6 Cooper Johnston
7 Connor McCann
8 Lucas Albornoz
9 Ezequiel Rossetti
10 Nolan Shelley
11 Jack Gelbart
12 Cole McQueen
13 Connor Byron
14 Jean Koorsten
15 Brian Fitzpatrick
16 Preston Petrovitch
17 Evan Mackey
18 Liem Jung
19 David Dinbandhu
20 Dom Baptista
21 Reid Watkins
22 Dean McMahon
23 Mohi Parata
Pride
1. Willem den Ouden
2. Austin Creighton
3. Dan Cooper
4. Karl Hunger
5. Alastair Bruce
6. Reid Davis
7. Cody Nhanala
8. Elias Hancock
9. Sam Reimer
10. Max Stewart
11. JC Venette
12. Noah Flesch
13. Ciaran Breen
14. Alan Berros
15. Oliver Mackenzie
16. Sione Fine
17. Liam Bolton
18. Sam Miller
19. Jaiden John
20. Zephyr Melnyk
21. Zack Pilgrim
22. Taylor Desouza
23. James Thiel
Meraloma 32 v Castaway Wanderers 19 @ 14:30
Referee: Ryan Alguire AR1: Thomas Cooper AR2: Johnny Bay
Venue: Connaught Park
The +13 win was the largest winning margin in a weekend of closely contested matches. Next week the Lomas travel to UVic while CW host the Rowers.
PREGAME
The last time these teams met was February 2022 and that was a resounding win for CW at home 47-26. That season CW went on to the finals. In their last match CW lost to Westshore 18-13, the Lomas last match was October 15th, a narrow 23-22 loss to Burnaby.
CW have made a few changes from last week, Nick Carson gets the start at #6 and Steve Pyke at #7. Jordan Tait returns from the Classics in Bermuda to take the #10 role, Schellenberger played well in that position last week. There’s still no sign of Grady Bowd in the CW roster. Ollie Nott takes the field at inside centre with Matt Sutherland at outside centre.
The Lomas tight five remains the same from the last match, their loose forward trio has been changed with Harry Elbrow and Evan Galvin getting the start and Jalan Farris moving from blindside to #8. Bayce Letherby replaces Paddy Kirwan at scrum half, the rest of the backline remains unchanged.
It should be a close match, CW missing a few key players like Grady Bowd, we weren’t able to get a full match 23 so the reserves are an unknown. The addition of Nick Carson and Ollie Nott to the starting roster is a boost from last week’s lineup, although Carson did play most of that match. Neither team did particularly well in the regional competition with Lomas at 1-4 and CW at 0-1-3. A toss up, going with the home side. Prediction: Lomas by 1.
CW
1 Gavin Kratz
2 Alex Clark
3 Jack Sponarski
4 Riley Ilnicki
5 Nat Dring
6 Nick Carson
7 Steve Pyke
8 Mike Finnemore
9 Ian Hickman
10 Jordan Tait
11 Pavlos Silvestros
12 Ollie Nott
13 Matt Sutherland
14 Gabriel Smith
15 Harry Elliot
Meraloma
1 Richie Barrett
2 Dan Aplin
3 Tom Dunne
4 Darragh Foley
5 Jim Mulvany
6 Harry Elbrow
7 Evan Galvin
8 Jalan Farris
9 Bayce Letherby
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 M Graham-Shoad
19 Jacob Bourke
20 Darcy Hinkley
21 S Ryan
22 D.W. van Niekerk
23 Jay Younger
Seattle 20 v Westshore 17 @ 14:30
Referee: Visiting Referee 1 (Pending)
Venue: Starfire Field
The ferry legs wore off in the second half but it wasn’t enough as Seattle built a 20-0 half time lead and held on as Westshore scored 17 second half points. Next week Seattle travel to the Island to face the Pride at Westhills Stadium while Westshore host the Caps.
PREGAME
Westshore were 0-7 in the abbreviated 2022 spring Premier season, Seattle weren’t in the league, so these teams haven’t faced each other in a while. Seattle’s last match, north of the border, was against the Rowers, a 38-24 loss for Seattle. Westshore played last weekend and defeated CW 18-13.
Westshore have made a few changes from last weekend. Missing are #8 Admir Cejvanovic and wing Peyton Eagar. It’s a new starting front row of Groenewold, Teft and Hagerty. Tyler Simon-Burke takes the #8 spot and Matt Weir replaces Tom Heuser at openside. Alex Mentiply starts on the wing.
Seattle lost to Capilano by a large amount on the 15th, likely with a depleted roster. They played the American Raptors last weekend, a strong squad out of Glendale, Colorado, and lost 19-13. We don’t have their roster for this week but posted their roster for the Raptors match last week. There were some new names on the bench, so we expect their playing strength will be bolstered for the start of the Premier. Going back to 2019-2020 season when Seattle were in the league, they were 6-6, winning most of the their home matches with the exception of the Pride and UBC. They split the games with Westshore that season, winning at home, losing on the road.
We expect Seattle at home to be a tough match. Prediction: Seattle by 4.
Westshore
1 Nathan Groenewold
2 Keating Teft
3 Neil Hagerty
4 Adam Beaupre
5 Aidan Holland
6 Quinn Ngawati
7 Tom Heuser Matt Weir
8 Tyler Simon-Burke
9 Rylen Waugh c
10 Nicky Mouret
11 Seth Recalma
12 Taylor McGuire
13 Alvin Otieno
14 Alex Mentiply
15 Braedan Bespalko
16 Parker Smith
17 Tobias Berg Simeon John
18 Ryan Waldriff
19 Gavin Kilpatrick
20 John Cox
21 James Sandifer
22 Josh Nordstrom
23 Liam Clark
24 Sawyer Shmyrko
25 Galen Potash-Kooyman
Seattle (roster vs American Raptors Oct 22nd)
1 Kellen Gordon
2 Alex Glover
3 Liam Noone
4 Jamie Demers
5 Tomasi Puletu
6 Matthew Potter
7 Aidan Carlisle
8 Adam Page
9 Jack Canon
10 Jonny Reid
11 Jordan Anderson
12 Matt Brennan
13 Joey Lincoln
14 Jeremiah Sio
15 Ian Wrigth
16 Halleluiah Tiauli
17 Lu Alainuuse
18 James Kuahiwinui
19 Sami Ma’afu
20 Zander Tkel
21 Oida Ryuhei
22 Cole Zarcone
23 Lopeti Aisea
24 Taniela Tupou
Vancouver Rowing Club 18 v James Bay 25 @ 14:30
Referee: Nathaniel Hight AR1: Shanda Assmus AR2: Fabiola De La Cruz
Venue: Brockton Oval
The Bays spoil the Rowers home opener and take the Cox Cup. The Rowers gain a bonus point in the loss. Next week the Bays host the Ravens while the Rowers travel to the Island to take on CW.
PREGAME
The Bays won the Barnard Cup on the Island this year, defeating CW and Westshore. Their last match was a 41-24 win over Westshore on October 15th. The Rowers last match was a huge upset over the previously undefeated Ravens, 43-39, on October 15th. These two teams last met February 2022 and the Rowers won that one 31-12 on the road.
The Bays are missing a few key players, Luke Campbell isn’t at #8, he’s replaced by Shea Wakefield. Is that an indication that Campbell is in the mix for the Canada tour to Europe, we’ll keep an eye on that. Conversely Kainoa Lloyd is in the roster as starting wing, otherwise the backline remains the same from last match as does the front row. There’s no sign of the super subs from the October 1st match, Nick Allen (moved to Ravens), Cooper Coats and Josh Thiel.
The Rowers had a couple of former Canada internationals in their roster last match Doug Fraser and Jordan Wilson-Ross. The fact they defeated the Ravens last weekend means they have a solid roster, although the Ravens were missing a few key players. We haven’t seen the Rowers roster at the time of writing so posted their last roster from October 15th.
Based on the result last season, the Rowers recent win over Ravens, and the Bays missing some key players, we’re going with the home team. Prediction: Rowers by 3.
James Bay
1. Andrew McPherson
2. Jake Slobonian
3. Blake van Heyningan
4. Andrew Montgomery
5. Jimmy de Goede
6. Pete Massimo
7. Tom Richardson
8. Shea Wakefield
9. Crosby Stewart
10. Mitch Sora
11. Kainoa Lloyd
12. Tom Burton
13. Mostyn Findlay
14. Isaac Gonevou
15. Craig Mitchell-Herman
16. Valentin Lalot
17. Peter Reyes
18. Wyatt Pilz
19. Teigan White
20. Ryan Boothroyd
21. Nate Tough
22. Mark Yuen
23. Henry Do
Rowers (Oct 15th)
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