Ravens Play to Their Strength for Late Win Ravens 24 – UBC 23
Report by Peter MacDonald

On a wet day at UBC it was another great game between these two fraternal clubs and it was the big brother that came away with the win despite being clearly outplayed for the first 60 minutes.

When UBC centre Alistair Marshall from first phase ball easily passed through the Raven backfield at 3 minutes to score from 40 metres out UBC took a lead they did not relinquish till the game’s last second. Then, with the Ravens’ Jake Ikeda off on a yellow card, UBC at 15 minutes tallied again with Stephen Webb stepping in and wrestling the ball down from close range, 12-0 UBC. The students’ fitness, speed, structure and ball movement had the Ravens stretched and taking on water but with Joe McNulty off on a yellow the Ravens had a moment of sustained attacking pressure and hooker Jake Tieney dove in, and with the easy conversion missed it was 12-5 UBC at 25 minutes.

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BC Premier Week 12 Results: Burnaby 24 – CW 12, Pride 26 – Lomas 26, Ravens 25 – UBC 24, UVic 40 – Westshore 19, Bays 39 – Caps 17; Women’s Premier Thunderbirds 27 – Ravens 10,  Burnaby 22 – CW 14, Westshore 94 v Seattle 0, Lomas 61 – Abby 0

The Ravens have gone top of the table with a comeback win over UBC combined with a Westshore loss to the Vikes. The Vikes and Bays both won which keeps the race for 6th place, the final  playoff spot, within a fraction, the Vikes at 2.8 points per match and the Bays at 2.73. Each team has a 17 game schedule so most teams have 6 games left to determine their final standing, Burnaby and Lomas have 5 games left, UVic has 7.

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BC Premier Week 11 Results: Caps 53 – Pride 14, CW 14 – Ravens 29, UBC 34 – Bays 26, Lomas 19 – Vikes 31, Westshore 35 – Burnaby 34; Women’s Premier Westshore 39 – Burnaby 36, CW 27 –  Ravens 19

The spring season returned with some close matches. The Westshore v Burnaby Premier matches were decided by a total of 4 points, 1 point in the men’s match and 3 points in the women’s match. Both full match videos are posted below courtesy of the Westshore youtube channel. The Vikes win and the Bays loss sees the Vikes move up to 6th place, the important last playoff spot. Caps crushed the Pride by 39 points, a tough start to the spring season for the Rugby Canada academy team. Ravens and UBC, last year’s finalists, continue their winning ways and face off against each other next weekend.

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Ravens Pack Leads in Win Over Lomas: Ravens 38 – Lomas 5
Report by Peter MacDonald

A dry afternoon at Connaught with the busiest referee in Canada, Shanda Assmus, in charge brought the two west side rivals together again to see out the season’s first half. Early on the Ravens won a set decisively and that strength was a difference that served them well the rest of the way.

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BC Premier Week 10 Results & Rosters: Caps Top Burnaby, Pride Fall to Bays, Ravens Fly Past Lomas, CW Edged by Vikes

It’s the wrap up of the fall season, the last matches before the Dec/Jan winter break. Play resumes January 24th. UBC defaulted their match to Westshore, they’ve chosen to take a game in South Carolina versus USA #2 Life University. That puts Westshore top of the table going into the break, the Ravens have caught UBC in a 2nd/3rd place tie, Capilano sit in 4th place, Burnaby drop to 5th and the Bays claim 6th. The women’s Premier wrapped up their fall season last weekend.

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BC Premier Week 9 Results, Predictions & Rosters:  UBC Dominate Lomas, Vikes Edge Bays, Westshore Win at Burnaby, CW Topped by Caps – Women’s Premier Lomas Upset Thunderbirds, Westshore Fall to Burnaby

Week 9 in the BC Premier sees some Friday night matches, we’ve got both the Friday and Saturday predictions and rosters in now. The BCRU and universities have put some effort into promoting these matches so hopefully they’ll see some positive results in attendance. The BCRU write-ups are included below as well.

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Burnaby Second Half Keys Win Over Ravens: Burnaby 22– Ravens 20
Report by Peter MacDonald

It was a gumboot day for the fans but the pitch was in good shape for this anticipated tilt between two upper table hopefuls and long-time rivals. The first half was an even affair with the Ravens cashing in for tries at 15 and 18 minutes and the home team being held off the scoresheet. Ravens prop Louis Kassapian finished off a Billy Wickham quick tap and run for the first try and left winger Jean-Claude Koorsten put on a burst down the line after a long miss pass from Andrew Coe for the second score. Burnaby had its chances but after Napo Bolaca quick tapped and beat the line his long pass to send his support free was knocked on and at 40 minutes another threat ended with Wickham jackalling at the tackle near the Ravens’ line.

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BC Premier Week 8 Results: Ravens Grounded by Burnaby, Lomas Doubled by CW, Westshore Edge Vikes; Exhibition Pride Outscored by Chicago Hounds Development; Women’s Premier Burnaby Defeated by CW, Lomas Dominate Seattle, Thunderbirds Soar Past Abby

It was Week 8 of the BC Premier season with 3 matches on tap, plus an exhibition with the Chicago Hounds development team in town to take on the Pride. The women’s Premier also had 3 matches this weekend. A couple of upsets in men’s Premier with Burnaby taking down defending champs Ravens and CW getting their first win over the visiting Meraloma.

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Ravens Defend Home Turf: Ravens 36 – Pride 9
Report by Peter MacDonald

A soggy November morning gave way to a dry afternoon and some good rugby for the players and stalwart fans at Jericho. The Ravens dominated possession for the first 25 minutes tallying two tries the first through Noah Bain beating his man outside and sending a grubber across the line to be touched down by Mark Wandeto and the second a Joe Locke line break and pass to Jake Tierney who also grubbered and then jackalled to regain possession for Cole Keffer who jinked about and dove in for a 14-3 Ravens lead.

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BC Premier Week 7 Results: Pride Fall to Ravens, Lomas Dominate Bays, Caps Lose at Westshore, Burnaby Trounce CW; Women’s Premier CW Blank Lomas, Thunderbirds Outscore Westshore, Seattle Edge Abbotsford

Week 7 wrapped with Lomas finding their form at home and getting back in the win column after a four game losing streak. Ravens continue to excel as they look to defend their title. Westshore edge Caps in a close match and Burnaby dominate in road win at CW. In women’s Premier, Thunderbirds welcome return of uni players and establish their championship form, Abby keeps it close at home and CW hand Lomas their first loss.

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