Burnaby Lake - March 2022

Burnaby Retain Palmer Cup with 3 Out of 4 Wins vs Meraloma: Match Reports and Videos

from Mike Devlin

The Palmer Cup is dedicated to the late, great Burnaby Lake Alum Doug The Bear Palmer. Doug tragically passed away in France while on tour with the guys, cheering on Canada at the 1999 World Cup. The Bear also had an affiliation to the Meraloma Rugby Club. The results of the regular season games between Burnaby Lake and Meraloma are tallied to crown the winner. The club with the most wins takes the cup. After almost a decade of dominance by the Lomas, the BLRC have had possession of the Palmer Cup since 2011. The results from the Fall season matches saw the BLRC up 2 wins to 1 draw, meaning that the first Blue + White win of the day would retain the Palmer Cup via tie while a 2nd would win the Palmer Cup and return it to the BLRC trophy case. Burnaby Lake took 3 out of 4 on the day.

BLRC 3rd Div Men 12 Meraloma 30

A tale of two halves as the BLRC 3rds were in charge throughout the first 40 minutes and led 7-5 with a try from Ezequiel Rossetti and a conversion from Eoin Reddington. The 2nd half saw injuries mount up and a lack of cohesion on defence that allowed the Meraloma 3rds to score out wide on quite a few occasions to take a commanding lead and hold it. Eoin Reddington would add a late try for the BLRC to save face, but the day wasnt off to a great start for the Blue & White.

Dillon Cusker tries to push through a tackle attempt. Photo by Zach Lattie

The full game can be seen here: https://youtu.be/mpKY9N6rEF0

BLRC Women 34 Meraloma 24

Burnaby Lake had all the momentum in the early going which saw Emily Van Gulik cross the paint only 8 minutes in. Chelsea Rodgers made the conversion to go ahead 7-0. Meraloma brought the pace of play up over the next 20 minutes and Maggie Ritchie scored in the corner after a series of plays inside the BLRC 22m for the visitors. 7-5 for Burnaby Lake.

The Blue & White answered at 36 minutes, Francesca Andreoli pushing through the defence from in close. Convert from Rodgers sailed over the crossbar, so the BLRC led 14-5. On the final play before halftime, the BLRC were threatening inside the Loma 22m, but a pass in the centres was a bit too predictable and the Meraloma winger took it back the other way at full pace. 85m for the try! She converted her own to make it 14-12.

The BLRC scrum were dominant all game. Photo by Zach Lattie

At the dawn of the 2nd half, the Meraloma Women had a scrum at the BLRC 10m. The 8 picked up and passed to the 9 who sent it to the FB who took it all the way to the house. The Lomas now led 17-14.

Burnaby Lake answered immediately with Gabrielle Hindley running a nice line through the Meraloma defence from the 50m and taking it under the posts. The convert was wide, but the BLRC now led 19-17. A few minutes later the BLRC were back on the attack, and it was Francesca Andreoli touching down her 2nd try of the game after taking a short pass from Hindley just outside the Loma 5m. BLRC lead 24-17.

The Meraloma Women tied the game with a great solo effort from their #13, taking the ball just inside the BLRC half through traffic and in under the posts. The conversion sailed between the posts, and we had a tie game. Santina Luti would give the BLRC back the lead, 29-24, with a pick and go from inside the Loma 5m. Captain Leyhana Van Vugt put the game out of reach with another pick and go try from in close. Final score 34-24 for Burnaby Lake!

The full game can be seen here: https://youtu.be/jdW8uAcwEpY

BLRC First Div Men 17 Meraloma 10

A close match, and a fun one to watch though both coaches would have been dismayed at the number of handling errors their teams produced. The BLRC got on the board first with Outside Centre Aidan Sarkozy chasing down and blocking a Meraloma clearance kick, grabbing the ball and diving over for a try! Nolan Shelley split the uprights to make it 7-0. Shelley would add 3 points after a Meraloma penalty just outside their own 22m just before the half ended.

Mike Gough trying to weave through traffic. Photo by Zach Lattie

The Meraloma Flyhalf would get 3 points back a few minutes into the 2nd half to make it 10-3. Off the kickoff, the BLRC got their hands back on the ball and Andrew Porter would send a grubber behind the Loma backline. Winger Jack Brady chased it down and dove in for a try out wide. Nolan Shelley made the difficult conversion to make the score 17-3.

Midway through the half the Lomas drew closer, their #13 breaking a tackle just outside the BLRC 22m and winning a footrace over the try line. The Flyhalf converted to make it a 7-point game. The last 20 minutes were fierce, and a few minor cards had some bodies given 10-minute rests but neither team added to the scoreboard. Full time: 17-10 for the BLRC

The full game can be seen here: https://youtu.be/KVxtB31rw8Y

BLRC Premier Men 21 Meraloma 12

The final game of the day kicked off a little later than anticipated. A beetle infestation to the main pitch at the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club has forced all games to be played on the traditional 3rd Division pitch back to back to back to back. Its not ideal (10am kickoffs/knock on effect of stopped time in numerous games) but with the understanding of our hosted clubs during this time, Capilano and Meraloma, we are making it work.

The Meralomas had the advantage in momentum early on but were unfortunate not to come away with points. The Meraloma kickers had an off day, connecting on just one of six attempts from the tee.

Lalit Bhardawaj showing some ball skills. Photo by Zach Lattie

It was Burnaby Lake who moved the scoreboard first. Fuku Vikilani with the ball inside the Meraloma 5m and popping to his backrow partner Connor McCann for the try. Brian Fitzpatrick converted. On the restart, the Lomas responded immediately, retaining the kick and systematically working the ball back down along the BLRC try line before flanker Jalen Farris was credited with a try. De Wet Van Neekirk made the extras to tie the score.

Just before the halftime whistle, a BLRC driving maul pushed the Meraloma defence back over the try line and Mike OToole touched down for 5 points. Fitzpatrick, was once again, good for the conversion to put the BLRC back in the lead 14-7 going into the break.

Midway through the 2nd half the Meraloma Hooker got the ball wide on a broken play near the BLRC 5m line and juked through 2 would-be tacklers on his way to a try. The kick was off, so the BLRC kept the lead 14-12. Burnaby Lake kept the lead and put the nail in the coffin shortly thereafter. The BLRC were rewarded with a lineout at the Meraloma 5m. The drive played and Connor McCann got his 2nd try. Fitzpatrick went 3 for 3 on conversions to end the game 21 -12 for the BLRC.

The win was needed to keep the BLRC Premier Men in the hunt at 2 and 2. Another lack of a bonus point might hurt in the long run, but a win is a win. Next week the team travels to Westshore in their 3rd of 6 consecutive weekends of rugby.

The full game can be seen here: https://youtu.be/EExgDp1fcno

Big thanks to all the volunteers who helped to make the day a great one!! The OTooles and the Houses who fed all the players, the field set up team and Tasi + Gilding who lined the field, the knockout who ran the club shop and Aaron Takel & Casey Brennan who joined me in the broadcast tent!