Coastal Cup Week 1 Results: UBC Dominate TWU, Pacific Pride Edge UVic
The Coastal Cup kicked off this weekend with two matches. The BC Premier starts in two weeks. The Dunbar Keg men’s U20 and CanWest women’s university competition also have matches this weekend. Goods news for BC rugby fans is that both Coastal Cup games are available online, details below.
University Of Victoria 17 v Pacific Pride 33 @ 15:00
Referee: Nathaniel Hight AR1: James Roszel AR2: Martin Thornton
Venue: U Of Victoria- Wallace Field
The Pride opened the scoring 15 minutes in with #6 Braden Bruce capping off some prolonged pressure inside the Vikes 5 metres, converted, 7-0. Pride scored again at 25 minutes off a counter attack with flyhalf Ty Driscoll scoring from 50 metres out, he caught his breath and converted his own try, 14-0. At 32 minutes Morgan di Nardo the Vikes winger darted through the defence and offloaded to a supporting Chris Gamage for a score, unconverted, 14-5. The half ended at 14-5 with the Pride ahead.
Off the kickoff the Vikes openside flanker, Adam Doane, surprised everyone by taking the ball in the air and sprinting down the field. He was tackled at the Pride 22 but quick ball to outside centre Lockart MacGregor saw him out leg the defence for a try in the corner, unconverted, 14-10. The Vikes scored another try 10 minutes later when a blocked clearance kick caused the Pride to scramble, they were caught infringing at the breakdown, a quick tap by UVic saw the ball go wide to Ethan Smith who scampered in for the try, converted, and the Vikes had their first lead, 17-14. That lead didn’t last long as a few minutes later Noah Flesch broke through the line and offloaded to his centre partner, Liam Turnbull, for a try, converted and the Pride took back the lead 21-17 with 20 minutes to go. The Pride scored two tries in the last 5 minutes to deny the Vikes the bonus point in the loss, the first a strong run by Noah Flesch, perhaps player of the match, and the second a lineout and maul off a penalty.
PREGAME
The Pride won the match ups last season so this will be a good opening test of where both programs are to start the season.
The Pride missing a couple of players who are in Japan with the men’s senior squad, James Stockwood and Rhys James. A number of new faces this year Justin Tasse from Westshore starts at loosehead, Josh Halladay from TWU at second row, and Taine Clague from UVic at openside flanker. A U20 pairing at halfback with Chris Rose and Ty Driscoll, Noah Flesch and Liam Turnbull in the centres. A chance to get a look at flyhalf prospect Tiarnan Neville who is in the reserves. The Pride have gone a 4/4 split in the reserves perhaps marking their intention of playing a high tempo, expansive game.
The Vikes have Canada U20 player Brighton Feldman starting at tighthead, the 300 lb 6’1″ prop did a number on the opposition in the Canada v USA U20 series in the summer. The rest of the tight five returning from last year and the second row of Brendan Kim and Merlin M’Cloud were outstanding last season. The halfback pairing of Chris Gamage and Angus Boyd-Porter continuing on from last season. The Vikes have added Sion Griffiths to the centres and that’s a big plus, he was selected as the Highlanders player of the match when they went up against a Canada XV last month. Morgan di Nardo on the outside is one to watch.
Historic records would indicate the Pride are the favourites going into the match but a new season with new faces changes the formula plus the Pride are missing two Canada players. Both teams with a number of U20 players in key positions. The Vikes actually look the more experienced team at key positions, the #10 matchup should be interesting, the Vikes second row pairing and the insertion of Sion Griffiths into the centres may be the key.
Going out on a limb on this one but thinking an upset with the home team for the win in a close match. Prediction: Vikes by 1.
Live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/@VikesMensRugby
UVic (March 16th/current)
1 Brent Hamberg / Phoenix Moller
2 Phoenix Moller / Jordy Auger
3 Owen Kokan / Brighton Feldman
4 Josh Petrov / Merlin M’Cloud
5 Brendan Kim
6 Sully Curran / Muiredach Casey
7 Jaxson Jones / Adam Doane
8 Muiredach Casey / Ryder Heaney-Corns
9 Chris Gamage
10 Angus Boyd-Porter
11 Dylan Cleaver / Ethan Smith
12 Josh McIndoe / Sion Griffiths
13 Lockart MacGregor
14 Morgan Di Nardo
15 Ethan Smith / Alex Gamage
16 Jordy Auger / Moe Steves
17 Nic Willey / Liam Bolton
18 Brighton Feldman / Nic Willey
19 Alex Gordon / Dane Seibens
20 Lukas Okano / Josh Petrov
21 Lachlan Crooks / Sully Curran
22 Matt Bennett / Lachlan Crooks
23 Marcus Lott / Matt Bennett
Pacific Pride (April 13th/current)
1 Griffin Phillipson / Justin Tasse
2 Neil Trainor
3 Conor Williams
4 James Stockwood / Josh Halladay
5 Jaiden John
6 Ben James / Braden Bruce
7 Matt Klimchuk / Taine Clague
8 Charles Taimani
9 Brady White / Chris Rose
10 Mark Balaski / Ty Driscoll
11 Andrew Cooper
12 Kyle Tremblay / Noah Flesch
13 Liam Poulton / Liam Turnbull
14 Jamie Armstrong / Liam Poulton
15 Rhys James / James Thiel
16 Sam Miller / Theo Espagnol
17 Noah Kyneston / Cole Harris
18 Tyler Matchem / Greg McDowell
19 Theo Espagnol / Ben James
20 Von Richardson / Jean-Louis Descoutte
21 Paddy Kirwan / Mitchell Buie
22 Tyler Buchanan / Tiarnan Neville
23 Ty Driscoll / Rowan Closs
Trinity Western University 18 v UBC RFC 61
Referee: Shanda Assmus AR1: Benjamin Lambrick AR2: Phil Webster
Venue: Langley Events Centre
UBC were up 10-0 fifteen minutes into the match with an opening penalty and a converted try. TWU kicked a penalty to bring it to 10-3 at the water break. Stephen Webb kicked his second penalty a few minutes later set up by a nice line break by inside centre Demetri Patterson, 13-3. Matt Willemse the TWU fullback slotted his second penalty at the 25 minute mark to make it a 13-6 match. A minute later UBC were in for their 2nd try when they selected to kick for touch on a penalty and set up an effective maul that sliced through the TWU defence, converted by Webb, 20-6. At 33 minutes UBC scored their 3rd try when the forwards set up shop inside the 5 metres and pounded ahead with pick and goes to finally cross the line, unconverted, 25-6. With two minutes left in the half, the two South African players on TWU connected for a try, Keegan Morengo at #10 chipped the ball over the defence and fullback Matt Willemse ran onto it and touched it down in goal, converted, 25-13. Just before the halftime whistle the UBC forwards again flexed and won a scrum penalty, it was kicked for a lineout and then the forwards just battered forward with pick and goes until they crossed the line, Webb converted, 32-13 at the half.
TWU opened the second half with a try, #10 Keegan Morengo spied a gap with some slow moving forwards defending and darted through, he was caught short of the line but scrum half Jan Lourens picked up the ball and claimed the try, unconverted, 32-18. A few minutes later UBC struck with a run by outside centre Alastair Marshall who sliced through the TWU defence, unconverted, 37-18. At the 50 minute mark UBC added another 3 points, they were starting to find space out wide now and playing the game inside the TWU half, 40-18. At the 60 minute mark the UBC backline again sliced through the TWU defence and crossed the line, converted, 47-18. UBC would add two more converted tries to finish off 61-18 winners.
Match archive: https://www.therugbynetwork.com/video/f448890e-15c2-4bf1-a65c-08dcc1e75959
PREGAME
UBC have owned this matchup and are defending national university champions. How much will they miss the McMullin brothers on tour with Canada in Japan and big Izzak Kelly in the second row?
UBC have almost an identical lineup that made it to the semi-finals of the BC Premier last season. The absence of the McMullin brothers is the big difference. They’ve gone for the traditional 5/3 split in the reserves. Relmu Wilson-Valdes looked sharp with the Highlanders this summer and #10 James Biss is one to keep an eye on.
TWU have 10 of their starting 15 returning from their spring roster in April. The South African #10 Keegan Morengo knows how to control the match and David Wegert is one to watch in the second row.
I think UBC will keep the streak alive, they’ve started slowly the last couple of seasons so we’ll see how their form is out of the blocks. Prediction: UBC by 7.
Live stream at: https://www.therugbynetwork.com/
UBC (April 27th/current)
1 Koen Buckingham
2 Emmett Allen
3 Payton Teneycke
4 Hilyard Carson / Caden Wilson
5 Caden Wilson / Joe McNulty
6 Sol Jacques
7 Callum Arnesen
8 Relmu Wilson-Valdes
9 Stephen Webb
10 Jacob Bourne / James Biss
11 Jared Andrews-Almack
12 Talon McMullin / Demetri Patterson
13 Alastair Marshall
14 Niko Andrianos
15 Takoda McMullin / Ben Beauchamp
16 Graeme Francolini / Kevin Griffiths
17 Tate Hartley
18 Thor Noble / Charlie Clark
19 Joe McNulty / Sandon Gupta
20 Ethan Lee / Elijah McQueen
21 Lenny Bonduau / Jacob Bourne
22 Caleb Seumanutafa / Max McGavern
23 Kieran Martin / Marco Mitchell
TWU (March 16th/current)
1 Ethan Jurgeneit
2 Josh Olafsen / Riku Konrad
3 Tim Zimmer
4 David Wegert / Sam Tsoi
5 Tinashe Chirara / David Wegert
6 Josh Halladay / Caleb van Til
7 Sam Tsoi / Genaro Gandolfo
8 Genaro Gandolfo / Josh Olafsen
9 Brady Howlett / Jan Lourens
10 Keegan Morengo
11 Isaiah de Peiza / Connor Gibbons
12 Josiah Levale / Collin Lagat
13 Fynn Murphy / Josiah Levale
14 Connor Bernardin / Lynden Duggan
15 Matt Willemse
16 Joe Goroza / Seth Klassen
17 Ben Graci
18 Grayson Hardie / Joe Goroza
19 Martin Zubiri
20 Kyle Finan / Ty Dayton
21 Jan Lourens / Brady Howlett
22 Ken Paul
23 Connor Gibbons / Connor Bernardin
Dunbar Keg
Vancouver Rugby Union Wave 31 v Vancouver Island Tide 25
Referee: Bradley Schwalger AR1: JT ZHANG AR2: Sam Klein-Laufer
Venue: Connaught Park
Fraser Valley 55 v TORA 5
Referee: Kristine Lovatt AR1: John Cameron AR2: Brittany Blackford
Venue: Langley Rugby Club
CanWest XVs
University Of Victoria 22 v UBC Thunderbirds 17
Great detailed match summaries, Mark!