Seattle Seawolves Beat Pacific Pride 79-7: Canada Selects Match on Wednesday
A top MLR team vs an Academy team, it’s a good reminder of the difference in levels. The score was 50-0 at the half so the Pride can be credited with adapting a bit and making the second half 29-7. The Pride are always a level below their top form when the spring season begins and they bring in new players to replace those picked up by MLR or graduating after the fall season. Last season in February after the break they were beaten 48-10 by UBC.
One of the graduating Pride players was Reid Davis who started at second row for Seattle in this match. Analyzing the scoring and watching a brief video clip (posted below), it looks like the young Pride backline were outmatched. The first seven tries by Seattle were all scored by the starting backs (3 fullback, 3 wingers, 1 centre), the forwards scored the next three, before the replacement backs scored the last three. Looking at some of the talented backline players the Pride have graduated since the fall of 2022 Noah Flesch, Ciaran Breen, AJ Kosemple, Sion Griffiths, Lucas Scheck, Seth Purdy, Max Stewart among others. It’s a great learning experience for the new players as they adapt to the speed of the game at the next level.
What’s interesting now is who will be brought in to play for the Canada Selects on Wednesday to make it a more competitive match? The MLR level players have gone, which Pride players will retain their spot and which BC Premier players will be brought in to improve the performance? It also builds anticipation for the Highlanders season to start as they will represent a level between BC Premier and MLR.
Video credit Brooke Fern on Seattle Seawolves Fans facebook page.
Pacific Pride Visit Seattle for Preseason Match on Friday; Island Crimson Tide Development Match on Thursday in Colwood
There’s not a lot of rugby action this weekend, the Pacific Pride travel to Seattle for a Friday evening match against the Seawolves of the MLR. The match is at Starfire Stadium at 7pm. There’s no indication of a live stream. It’s the Seawolves first preseason match, they’ll play a Canada Selects side on the following Wednesday, the 21st, also at 7pm. The Canada Selects roster will likely include some of the Pride players from this match. The Seawolves kick off their regular season March 2nd against San Diego.
The following are the Pride players making the trip to Seattle. The Seattle roster hasn’t been named but this Wiki article lists their 2024 roster. Reid Davis, former Pacific Pride player, is on the Seattle roster as is Ravens hooker Jesse Mackail, likely both would be in this preseason match.
Pacific Pride v Seattle Seawolves
Crimson Tide Development Match
Referee: Malcolm Klaver AR1: Andrew Owen AR2: Cole Pedrick
Venue: Juan De Fuca
Thursday evening under the lights at 6:45pm there will be a Crimson Tide Development match at Juan de Fuca centre, White vs Red. Rosters are posted below.
Other matches listed on the BCRU site, a couple of 3rd division games on Saturday and a BC U19/U20 Blue vs Gold women’s match on Sunday. We don’t have any info on that but we’ll add rosters if and when they’re made available.
Saturday
Bayside v United RFC @ 12:45
Referee: Lance Davison
Venue: South Surrey Ath Pk
Comox Valley Kickers v Nanaimo Hornets @ 12:45
Referee: Dwayne Mills
Venue: Comox- Cumberland Village Park
Sunday
U19/U20 BC Blue vs. Gold @ 11:30
Referee: Saro Turner
Venue: UBC- Gerald McGavin Centre