BC Premier Week 2 Results: Pride Crushed by Ravens; Lomas Topple Bays, Westshore Edge Vikes, Burnaby Lose to UBC, Caps Topped by CW
The Ravens maintain their hold of top spot in the table with CW and UBC a point behind. Even though Week 1 matches were all close with an average +3 differential over the 4 matches, this week there were some blowouts with only the Vikes v Westshore game decided by 1 point. The average score differential this week was +24
UBCOB Ravens 60 v Pacific Pride 24 @ 14:30
Referee: Bradley Schwalger AR1: Joel Van Meer AR2: Mark Abercrombie
Venue: Jericho Beach Park
We thought it would be a close match and called it Ravens +1 after they just got past the Vikes last week +3. We got the right side winning but underestimated the +36 gap. The Ravens with Aaron McLelland at #10 are a different team and the new scrum half seems to have worked well as part of the combination. The Ravens top the standings with back to back bonus point wins for 10 points, the Pride start the season in 9th place, an unfamiliar situation for them. After the Thanksgiving break the Pride host CW and the Ravens travel to Capilano.
PREGAME
This should be one of the top matches this weekend, the undefeated Rugby Canada academy, Pacific Pride, vs last year’s Premier champion UBCOB Ravens. The Pride have a 4-0 record in the Coastal Cup already this fall but this is their first Premier match, the Ravens struggled to get by the Vikes last week who have lost to the Pride and UBC in the Coastal Cup.
The Ravens have some new and returning faces. One of their new players is Gaspard De Ligault at scrum-half, from France, this is what we found on the internet from last year, “After winning the French Under-21 championship title with Bourg-en-Bresse, Gaspard de Ligault will return to the CSA (CS Annonay) to become an alternative to Victor Clément and Matthew Doyle at scrum-half.” With Aaron McLelland moving back to #10 for this match this could become a top halfback combination, time will tell. Grant Crowell returns to the roster from last season, but he’s moved from blindside flanker to hooker. It was Jake Thiel, not Josh, who moved to Vancouver to play for the Ravens. He started at #12 last week, this week he’s in the reserves and Ethan Berry gets the start at #12.
The Pride have moved some players around, Josh Halladay starts in the second row, Evan Logan starts at blindside flanker, Jean-Louis Descoutte gets the start at flyhalf and James Thiel gets the start at fullback with Rhys James moving to the wing. This is the first start for Descoutte at flyhalf, his usual starting position is fullback. Going up against a veteran player and one of the top #10s in the league, McLelland, will be an interesting matchup.
It’s a tough one to call, the Ravens weren’t great last weekend but it was their first match so they haven’t hit full stride. The Pride have four matches under their belt so will be hitting top form. The halfback matchup looks intriguing and the Ravens are a different team with McLelland starting at #10. I’m going with a slight edge to the home team based on the fact they won the Premier title last season. Prediction: Ravens by 1.
Ravens (Sept 28th/current)
1 Josh Tweed
2 Isaiah Harrison / Grant Crowell
3 Owen Kokan
4 Donald Carson
5 Iwan Shenton / Frank Carson
6 Sean Beckett / Iwan Shenton
7 David O’Donoghue
8 Joe Locke
9 Cole Keffer / Gaspard De Ligault
10 Santi Guadarrama / Aaron McLelland
11 Mark Wandeto / Cole Keffer
12 Jake Thiel / Ethan Berry
13 Hamish Janes
14 Tsugunosuke Harai / Mark Wandeto
15 Noah Bain
16 Chris Taylor / Joey Sargeant
17 Kaleb Whitelaw
18 Frank Carson / Joshua Christy
19 Hilyard Carson
20 Marceau Bertin / Sean Beckett
21 Aaron McLelland / Marceau Bertin
22 David Thompson / Jake Thiel
23 TBD / David Thompson
Pacific Pride (Sept 28th/current)
1 Justin Tasse / Sam Miller
2 Neil Trainor
3 Tyler Matchem
4 Jaden John / Josh Halladay
5 James Stockwood
6 Braden Bruce / Evan Logan
7 Taine Clague
8 Charles Taimani / Braden Bruce
9 Jesse Kilgour
10 Tiarnan Neville / Jean-Louis Descoutte
11 Liam Poulton / Rhys James
12 Noah Flesch
13 Kyle Tremblay / Liam Turnbull
14 James Thiel / Andrew Cooper
15 Rhys James / James Thiel
16 Cole Harris
17 Sam Miller / Conor Williams
18 Greg McDowell
19 Josh Halladay / Jaden John
20 Noah Kyneston
21 Mitchell Buie
22 Andrew Cooper / Liam Poulton
23 Jean-Louis Descoutte / Kyle Tremblay
James Bay AA 8 v Meraloma 43 @ 14:30
Referee: Doug Thorpe AR1: Martin Thornton (Pending) AR2: Dan Cvitanovich
Venue: James Bay AA- MacDonald Park
We called Lomas by +6 and it was an emphatic +35 win. It was a first look at the Bays and even though they had some high profile players in the roster this week, there’s still work to do. The Lomas rebounded after that opening round loss to CW with a strong win on the road. The Lomas take hold of 5th spot with 6 points, the Bays anchor the table in 10th place. After the Thanksgiving break the Lomas will host Burnaby while the Bays host Westshore.
PREGAME
The Lomas lost in Week 1 on the road to CW while James Bay had a bye.
The big change for the Lomas is at halfback where they have a new 9/10 combination. Luc Thompson moves from #10 to #9 and Mike Dabulas makes his debut at flyhalf. Dabulas is an American flyhalf who plays for Old Glory DC in the MLR, maybe a bit of a Doug Fraser connection there. Jordan Wilson-Ross is out and Ben Shaw starts on the wing. Brian Hayden is out and Noah Glanville starts in the second row.
The Bays are a bit of an unknown as they had a bye last week. They have Callum Botchar in the roster at second row, that will give them a boost. D’Shawn Bowen is returning from last year at wing. Taylor DeSouza moved over from the Pride, formerly Nanaimo. Tom Richardson is another player who has moved from flanker to hooker. A lot of new faces, Spike Street the new scrum-half seems to be from the UK. Brendyn Beck the new openside from Ontario. We’ll see how they go after Week 1.
The Lomas as last year’s finalists will go in as favourites against a Bays team that is a bit of an unknown, they didn’t win any matches last year but they’ve got some big names like Botchar and Bowen, at least for the fall season, so you don’t count out the bear. Prediction: Lomas by 6.
Meraloma (Sept 28th/Current)
1 Geoff Brooks
2 Gil Cann-Vaana
3 Tom Webb
4 Brian Hayden / Giovanni Guizzetti
5 Giovanni Guizetti / Noah Glanville
6 Corne Ludick
7 Ethan Jaques
8 Jalan Farris
9 Paddy Kirwan / Luc Thompson
10 Luc Thompson / Mike Dabulas
11 Keith Graham
12 Doug Fraser
13 Jad Hamade
14 Jordan Wilson Ross / Ben Shaw
15 Rory McParland
16 Cian Cunningham
17 Scott Bowers
18 Mark Rickard / Conor Turley
19 Noah Glanville / Conor O’Brien
20 Eliot Ogbemudia / Connor Redmond
21 James Frankenberger / Paddy Kirwan
22 Kenny Saito
23 Ben Shaw / Tyus Dimbleby
James Bay (April 13th/Current)
1) Moe Steves / Julian Gauld
2) Wyatt Pilz / Tom Richardson
3) Aiden Vachon / Wyatt Pilz
4) Andrew Montgrand / Asfi Saeed
5) Asfi Saeed / Callum Botchar
6) Tyler Grom / Alex Jordan
7) Tom Richardson / Brendyn Beck
8) Jake Thiel / Mitch Young
9) Crosby Stewart / Spike Street
10) Mike Newenheusen
11) Keegan Neary / D’Shawn Bowen
12) Mostyn Findlay / Taylor DeSouza
13) Tom Burton / Mostyn Findlay
14) Malik James / Craig Mitchell-Hermann
15) Anton Ngongo / Tom Burton
16) Luke Feraco
17) Tony Ng / Steve Stadnyk
18) Travis Best / Daniel Toga
19) Pete Masimo / Austin Hutchcroft
20) Isaac Gonevou / Tyler Grom
21) Kai Khan / Crosby Stewart
22) Joeli Gonevou / Hayden Jenkins
23) Beau Boheme / Malik James
University Of Victoria 31 v Westshore 32 @ 14:30
Referee: Cole Pedrick AR1: John J De Goede AR2: James Roszel
Venue: U Of Victoria- Wallace Field
We called Westshore +5 and it ended Westshore +1. Vikes went up 5-0 seven minutes into the match, their scrum dominated Westshore and with some go forward ball after a few phases, #8 Adam Doane crashed over, 5-0. At 10 minutes Westshore salvaged a scrum going backwards and got the ball into the hands of Kenyan 7s sensation, Nelson Oyoo, who weaved his way through tacklers to score under the posts, 7-5 for Westshore. At 15 minutes a chip kick from scrum-half Grayson Perry was mishandled by UVic defenders, the ball was turned over and #6 Brian Waraba powered his way over, 14-5. At 18 minutes the Vikes again set a solid platform off their scrum and a solo, first receiver run, by Morgan di Nardo sliced through the Westshore backline as he was tackled just short of the goal line, #6 Muiredach Casey picked the ball up from the ruck and dove over the line, 14-10. Thomas Isherwood at #10 set up the next try for Westshore after a cheeky chip which he back slapped in the air and #11 Alex Mentiply crossed over the line, 19-10 at 26 minutes. At 34 minutes UVic mauled a try over from a lineout, from outside the 22, that’s an accomplishment, #6 Muiredach Casey again scoring the try, 19-17, and that ended the half with Westshore holding a slight lead.
UVic scored first in the second half at 53 minutes, replacement scrum-half #21 Reece Thompson dove over the line from a ruck near the goal line, the referee originally called it held up but the touch judge intervened and a try was awarded, 24-19 for the Vikes. Westshore tied it up at 60 minutes with some prolonged pressure inside the Vikes 5 metres, the forwards couldn’t push it over so it went wide to #14 Nelson Oyoo for his second try, 24-24. At the 75 minutes mark Westshore slotted a penalty by Mark Balaski, 27-24. At 79 minutes a break by #15 Mark Balaski got the ball inside the 5 metres, from the ruck some quick ball to the outside where Westshore had the overlap and #8 Elias Hancock dotted it down, 32-24. The Vikes scored at the whistle to earn the double bonus point in the loss, 32-31.
The result sees Westshore in 4th place with 7 points, the Vikes are in 7th place with 3 points. After the Thanksgiving break the Vikes will host UBC and Westshore travels to James Bay.
PREGAME
Westshore drew with Burnaby last week, the Vikes narrowly lost to the Ravens.
Westshore have some players returning in Week 2, the Kenyan 7s players are back after missing Week 1. Their NZ prop, Kane Perrett, is back. There’s few changes to the starting roster with Daragh Carroll starting at loosehead prop and Nelson Oyoo starting on the wing. The bench looks loaded with Jeff Oluoch, Johnstone Olindi and Kane Perrett likely making an impact when they come on.
The Vikes bring the following players off the bench to start this week Jordy Auger at hooker, Merlin M’Cloud at lock, Dane Seibens at lock, Chris Gamage at wing, Spencer Cotie at wing. Alex Gamage moves from fullback to #10. The danger players for the Vikes are their centre combination of Sion Griffiths and Morgan di Nardo.
The Westshore achilles heel may be their engine room at set piece time which Burnaby exploited last week for the draw but in open play they have a top side. The Vikes are known for their open play, they won’t dominate too many teams in the set piece. Vikes have more games under their belt, their result last week against the Ravens was encouraging but Westshore have too many outside weapons with the return of the 7s players. Prediction: Westshore by 5.
Westshore (Sept 28th/Current)
1 Nathan Groenewold / Daragh Carroll
2 Zephyr Melnyk
3 Simeon John / Nathan Groenewold
4 Brian Ndirangu
5 Seth Recalma
6 Brian Waraba
7 Jade Billington
8 Elias Hancock
9 Grayson Perry
10 Thomas Isherwood
11 Alex Mentiply
12 Darian Morrison
13 Jimmy Wilson-Bishop
14 Payton Gibson / Nelson Oyoo
15 Mark Balaski
16 Matt Evans
17 Daragh Carroll / Kane Perrett
18 Meshack Tunnechi / Simeon John
19 Reuben Davis / Aiden Holland
20 Matt Weir / Josh Nordstrom
21 Josh Nordstrom / Jeff Oluoch
22 Liam Clark / Johnstone Olindi
23 Jake Brown / Payton Gibson
UVic (Sept 28th/current)
1 Liam Bolton / Phoenix Moller
2 Phoenix Moller / Jordy Auger
3 Nic Willey
4 Alex Gordon / Merlin M’Cloud
5 Brendan Kim / Dane Seibens
6 Muiredach Casey
7 Sully Curran
8 Adam Doane
9 Reece Thompson / Chris Gamage
10 Angus Boyd-Porter / Alex Gamage
11 Ethan Smith / Spencer Cotie
12 Sion Griffiths
13 Morgan Di Nardo
14 Josh Ketch
15 Alex Gamage / Ethan Smith
16 Jordy Auger / Annan McAllister
17 Moe Steves
18 Brighton Feldman / Liam Bolton
19 Dane Seibens / Alex Gordon
20 Josh Petrov
21 Chris Gamage / Reece Thompson
22 Merlin M’Cloud / Gareth Sandner
23 Spencer Cotie / Mason Levin
Castaway Wanderers 53 v Capilano 24 @ 14:45
Referee: CLINT LEMKUS AR1: Juan Pablo Rey AR2: Claude Paterson
Venue: Windsor Park
We called CW by +3 but it was a whopping +29 win. Last week Capilano kept UBC off the board for over 60 minutes with tenacious defence but this week was a different story. The win puts CW in 2nd place, tied with UBC at 9 points, Capilano are in 8th place with 2 points. After the Thanksgiving break CW will take on the Pacific Pride while the Caps will host the Ravens.
PREGAME
Another tough one to call, the Caps just narrowly lost to UBC and should have won the match except for a last minute try by UBC. They played tough defence limiting the UBC team to 2 tries in the match. CW defeated last year’s finalist, Meraloma, in a tight match at home.
The Caps are missing Jacob Bossi this week and Pete Ingoldsby starts at hooker. They’re also missing their outstanding Georgian openside, Saba Shubitidze. Flynn Heyes moves to openside and Reid Davis moves from lock to blindside flanker. Also missing this week their standout backline player, Johnny Franklin. Ben Taylor gets the start at fullback. Veteran Chris Robinson is in the reserves to backup Sam Reimer at #9.
CW have Ayo Ogunlabe back and he gets the start in the second row. Ethan Hager starts at outside centre moving Jordan Tait to inside centre to work off of Gradyn Bowd at #10. Mike Fuailefau returns to action and is in the reserves.
The Caps looked good last week, particularly in defence, but they’re missing several key players. CW rarely lose when Gradyn Bowd is starting at #10, especially at home, that would be a good stat to look up. Prediction: CW by 3.
Capilano (Sept 28th/current)
1 Ed Wallin
2 Jacob Bossi / Pete Ingoldsby
3 Arsalan Schaigan
4 Izzak Kelly / Nick Pearce
5 Reid Davis / Izzak Kelly
6 Flynn Heyes / Reid Davis
7 Saba Shubitidze / Flynn Heyes
8 Austin James
9 Sam Reimer
10 Mike Moloney
11 Cam Waddell
12 Bailey Bocock
13 Eligh Papin
14 Jack Adams / Charlie Huntingford
15 Johnny Franklin / Ben Taylor
16 Pete Ingoldsby / James Ritzema
17 James Ritzema / Mackenzie Mills
18 Jesse Ryan / William Manulelia
19 Riley Canning
20 Nick Pearce / Colin Mitchell
21 Charlie Huntingford / Jack Adams
22 George Wallin / Chris Robinson
23 TBD / Matt Nicol
CW (Sept 28th/current)
1 Gavin Kratz
2 Antonio Corbin / Jack Wallace
3 Denver Fatt
4 Conor McKenzie / Ayo Ogunlabe
5 John Humphries / Nat Dring
6 Gord Kehoe
7 Steve Pyke
8 Ollie Nott
9 Zech Pilgrim
10 Gradyn Bowd
11 Rio Apt / Gabriel Smith
12 Matt Sutherland / Jordan Tait
13 Jordan Tait / Ethan Hager
14 Hugh Mager
15 Theo Thardiff
16 Jack Wallace / Antonio Corbin
17 Jace Peters
18 Nat Dring / Alex McCullum
19 Damien Grelier
20 Dafydd Thomas
21 Will Daniel / Matt Sutherland
22 Ethan Hager / Mike Fuailefau
23 Gabriel Smith / Keegan Hall
UBC 48 v Burnaby Lake 31 @ 14:45
Referee: Saro Turner AR1: Nathaniel Hight AR2: Kevin Heieis
Venue: UBC- Gerald McGavin Centre
We called UBC +4 and it was UBC +17. After being held to two late tries last week, UBC found the right combinations this week to earn a bonus point win. That gives them 9 points in the standings, right behind UBCOB Ravens who are a perfect 10 points from two matches. Burnaby will get a bonus point in the loss putting them at 4 points and 6th place in the standings. Next week teams have a bye due to Thanksgiving Weekend, on the 19th Burnaby travel to the Lomas and UBC visit the Island to take on UVic in a match that will not only count towards the Premier standings but also the University rankings.
PREGAME
UBC struggled to cross the line last week against a pressure defence from Capilano. Burnaby relied on their set piece to get the draw against Westshore.
UBC missing their #8, Relmu Wilson-Valdes, this week which means some shuffling of the loose forwards. #6 Liam Kinghorn moves to #8, #7 Sandon Gupta moves #6 and Elijah McQueen comes off the bench to start at #7. There’s a change at scrum-half with Jacob Bourne replacing Stephen Webb in the starting roster.
Burnaby missing one of their players of the match from last week, Kimi Vunituraga, but they have a top replacement with Guiseppe du Toit who has come over from TWU. The only other change is Woods Sharman starting on the wing with Brian Murphy not in the roster this week. Lalit Bharadwaj returns to the match 23 as reserve prop.
Another tough match to call as all the games look to be competitive. Will Burnaby be able to flex in the set pieces as they did last week or will UBC hold their ground? The McMullin brothers weren’t able to kick it into gear last week against a tough Capilano defence, will they find more time and space this week against Burnaby? Lots of questions, not so many answers. I’m thinking UBC pack will hold their own and the UBC backs will find more space. Prediction: UBC by 4.
UBC (Sept 28th/current)
1 Koen Buckingham
2 Emmett Allen
3 Payton Teneycke / Graeme Francolini
4 Caden Wilson
5 Joe McNulty
6 Liam Kinghorn / Sandon Gupta
7 Sandon Gupta / Elijah McQueen
8 Relmu Wilson-Valdes / Liam Kinghorn
9 Stephen Webb / Jacob Bourne
10 James Biss
11 Max McGavern
12 Talon McMullin
13 Takoda McMullin
14 Niko Andrianos
15 Ben Beauchamp
16 Tate Hartley
17 Graeme Francolini / Payton Teneycke
18 Jacob Blackwood / Charlie Clark
19 Charlie Clark / Kevin Griffiths
20 Elijah McQueen / Stephen Webb
21 Jacob Bourne / Marco Mitchell
22 Marco Mitchell / Liam James
23 Liam James / TBD
Burnaby (Sept 28th/current)
1 Luka Bradley
2 James Kelly
3 Bryce Worden (c)
4 Karl Hunger
5 Andrew McIntyre
6 Todd Bullions
7 Jonah Fridfinnson
8 Dylan Horne
9 Ezequiel Rossetti
10 Brendon Mcaskie
11 Brian Murphy / Hayden Mulgrew
12 Kimi Vunituraga / Guiseppe du Toit
13 Hayden Mulgrew / Woods Sharman
14 Kyle Corrigan
15 Ethan Turner
16 Dylan Vermette
17 Cass Kocevar
18 Iain Kennell-Webb / Lalit Bharadwaj
19 Nik Hildebrand
20 David Dinbandhu
21 Reid Watkins
22 Woods Sharman / Dan Josok
23 TBD / Mohi Parata