Burnaby Split Matches with Bays: Win in Reserves; Loss in Premier: FULL MATCH VIDEOS
by Mike Devlin
BLRC Premier Reserve Men 45 JBAA 19
The BLRC Premier Reserve Men are on a roll, going 5-0 in the Regional Pre-season tourney and 3-0 since the season began. The squad, led by Tom Menzies, has been undefeated and have shown the ability to put points on the board and play some stingy defence. Theyve had some lop-sided victories and had to hold on to close out tight games. On Saturday, the BLRC ran rough-shod over a young James Bay team. The BLRC were just too big and too fast for James Bay to stop. Nolan Shelley was 100% from the tee, making all 6 conversions and one penalty. The trys were distributed evenly, 3 from the forwards and 3 from the backs.
All credit to the James Bay players, they never gave up and fought until the final whistle, scoring 2 late trys (albeit with the BLRC down to 12 men after a flurry of cards) and never saying die. The peskiest of opponents.
BLRC Tries: Dylan Vermette, Eli Bialowas, Dean McMahon, Trent Shelley, Eoin Reddington, Fuku Vikilani
BLRC Conversions: Nolan Shelley – 6
BLRC Penalties: Nolan Shelley – 1
This week the boys travel with the Premier team over to Oak Bay to take on the 0-2 Castaway-Wanderers. Well see how the team competes with the ferry legs.
The full game can be seen here: https://youtu.be/FcfvT_chWvY
BLRC Premier Men 17 JBAA 22
Saturday marked the 3rd week in a row that the BLRC Premier Men would take a lead into the 2nd half but let it slip away. Whether fitness is the issue or perhaps mental complacency? Maybe a drop off in quality between starters and finishers is the answer? I havent a definitive answer. Each squandered 2nd half has looked vastly different with fitness looking the answer vs the Pacific Pride in week 1. Versus UBC in week 2, the BLRC let the students run in 5 trys to open the 2nd half but dominated the final 20 minutes vs what is arguably the 2nd fittest team in the competition. On Saturday it was perhaps too many spares that may or may not be up to the challenge or at least not able to make an impact. I noticed in watching the video that James Bay played 16-man rugby to gain the lead and hold the win while the BLRC emptied a fresh bench but couldnt find any success in their search for 2nd half points. Something for the coaching staff to consider when planning the trip across the Strait of Georgia this weekend to face CW.
Saturday was uncharacteristically dry for Vancouver in November, and cold. Virtually no wind made for a pleasant day for all spectators with foresight to bring a toque or scarf. I brought neither. What became obvious early was that James Bay had a superior game plan, Flyhalf Mitch Sora and #12 Tom Burton would use the boot to drive the ball into the BLRC 22m anytime they got their hands on the ball. It made for a game where Burnaby Lake controlled most of the possession, but the game was usually played in the BLRC end. It was just that sequence of play that led to the first points. Burnaby Lake found themselves with a lineout at their own 22m which they executed cleanly but were penalised for not releasing at the ensuing breakdown. Burton split the uprights to take an early lead. Roughly 15-minutes into the game Burnaby Lake would take the lead. David Dinbandhu quick-tapped a James Bay scrum penalty and the ball was worked wide to winger Brian Fitzpatrick who scored in the corner to go ahead 5-3.
James Bay Hooker Jake Slobodian gave his team back the lead after a strong James Bay maul took a lineout at the BLRC 5m over the try line. 8-5 for James Bay. With 10 minutes to go in the half, the BLRC were making yards in the James Bay 22m and it was Flyhalf Neil MacLaine who saw a gap in the JBAA defence and strolled in untouched. Brian Fitzpatricks conversion made it 12-8 for the home side. Just before halftime Brian Fitzpatrick scored his 2nd try, taking a tight pass from MacLaine and streaking down the sideline to end the half, Burnaby Lake 17 James Bay 8.
Tom Burton opened the 2nd half with a try. James Bay was threatening with a series of pick & goes and the ball went to the backs where Burton found a gap for 5 points. His conversion made it 17-15 for the home side.
With a little more than 10 minutes to go James Bay would retake the lead. A driving maul from outside the BLRC 22m pushed almost to the BLRC 5m before the ball was swung wide and eventually went into the hands of Tom Burton who scored and converted his own. To put the visitors up 22-17. Though the BLRC put up a great effort until the final whistle, and got as close as the James Bay 5m, they just couldnt put it all together to move the scoreboard, and time ran out.
Anther frustrating loss for the Blue & White. Man-for-man they are as good as any team, but they are having trouble putting it all together for 80 minutes.
Men of the Match according to my broadcast partner Pat OGorman were Jim de Goede for James Bay and Ezequiel Rossetti for the BLRC. I concur though would give special mention to James Bays Tom Burton and Burnaby Lakes Bryce Worden.
The full game can be seen here: https://youtu.be/FfQH5IdFfMw