It was running, attacking rugby at its finest as the Highlanders backline players accounted for 10 of the 11 tries. It was no secret early on that the game plan was to spread the ball wide and the Highlanders did so successfully with outside centre Melani Nanai providing the key link to wingers Nico Leonard and D’Shawn Bowen. Between the three players they accounted for 7 tries. Mike Moloney was 11 for 11 on conversions.
It wasn’t expected but Canada upset #2 seed Australia, 21-12, to advance to the Gold medal match. Earlier in the quarter-finals they eliminated #3 France who were expected to medal as hosts. Canada couldn’t pull off one more miracle but gave #1 seed NZ a tough match only losing 19-12 to win Silver.
Seattle and New England will meet in the MLR final. Seattle won the first two years of MLR championships after the league started, 2018 and 2019. New England are defending champions, 2023. The other two title winners are no longer in the league, LA Giltinis 2021, and Rugby New York 2022. The 2020 season was cancelled due to Covid.
Canada completed the sweep at the Trans-Atlantic Quad Series with a comprehensive win against host Wales today. They previously defeated USA and England to top the competition.
If anyone had been to the James Bay clubhouse post match over the last several decades they likely met Lew Madley. He was President of the club for a period in the 80s but it’s his writing that gained him further recognition. He wrote a book on the history of the James Bay Athletic Association; his work on the history of BC Rugby in his book “Rugby Football in British Columbia 1876-1989” has become a well used reference on my book shelf.
The Fraser Valley won Gold in a come from behind victory over Vancouver Island who were leading 14-0 at the half with the Valley coming back to claim a 15-14 win. Fraser River won Bronze.
There were four conference semi-finals taking place over the weekend, 5 of the 8 teams have Canadian players in the roster with 20 players participating. New England Free Jacks have the largest number of Canadian players dressed with 9 representing, Dallas have 4, DC have 3, Chicago have 3 and NOLA has 1.
The Vancouver Highlanders defeated the German National Team 30-26 at the Burnaby Lake rugby club with an estimated 400 people in attendance.
BC claimed a four game sweep of the visiting Eagle Impact Rugby Academy (EIRA) with another set of wins on Saturday.
There will be 5 match days as the WXV 1 tournament comes to Vancouver in September and October. The tournament features the top women’s teams in the World, competing at the tournament will be #1 England, #2 NZ, #3 Canada, #4 France, #7 USA, #10 Ireland. There will be 6 games at BC Place and 3 games at Willoughby Stadium in Langley. Tickets go on sale on July 25th.