Coastal Cup Results: Pride, Tide and Thunderbirds Prevail in Opening Week of Action
Pacific Pride 36 – Van East 24
Note: Match photos (37) at nationalrugbynews.com
This was a game of two halves and the fitness of the Rugby Canada Academy side was a big factor. Van East went up by 4 tries and it looked as if they would ride their forward power to a decisive win. The Pride however upped their tempo in the second half and Van East had nothing left in the tank by the last 20. The Pride ran in 5 tries, a couple of them jogged in on the outside when Van East ran out of defenders. It was a powerful reminder that full time players are usually a notch ahead in fitness and it shows in the last 20.
Scoring for the Pride:
1 penalty try (high tackle preventing try)
2 Ben Cameron tries
1 Ethan Fryer try
1 Isaac Olson try
Mark Balaski 1 penalty and 3 conversions
Scoring for Van East:
Tries
Brian Fitzpatrick (2)
George Daly
James Catterson
Conversion
Geoff Ryan (2)
Vancouver Island Crimson Tide 26 – UVic Vikes 22
The following is the UVic match summary, we don’t have the Tide scorers yet [UPDATED BELOW]. Tide scored on their last possession to steal the win. The match video should be archived on YouTube later, we’ll add the link when it’s available.
Tide Scorers:
Tries: Rylen Waugh, Zephyr Melnyck, Kyle Steeves, Crosby Stewart
Conversions 3x Gradyn Boyd
Summary from UVic
First Half
31 Minutes Remaining Tide 7, UVic 0
The visitors muscled through the Vikes to score the first try of the afternoon, and followed with a successful conversion.
23 Minutes Remaining Tide 7, UVic 5
A quick pass to Nicholas Carson allowed the fourth year to barrel through the Tide wall protecting the try zone for the Vikes’ first score of the game. The conversion attempt was not successful.
17 Minutes Remaining Tide 14, UVic 5
Breaking away from the Vikes, the Tide managed to extend their lead with another successful try and conversion.
Second Half
34 Minutes Remaining Tide 14, UVic 12
Opening the second-half scoring, Andrew Easson broke away from the Tide just behind the centre line, rushing up the right side. After quick back-and-forth passing with Carson, Easson got the ball over the line.
Christopher Gamage was successful on the conversion, bouncing the ball off the left post to secure the two points and pull the Vikes within two.
31 Minutes Remaining Tide 21, UVic 12
In similar fashion to Easson just a few minutes earlier, the Tide broke away and rushed down the field for the try, followed by a successful conversion to extend their lead.
15 Minutes Remaining Tide 21, UVic 15
Setting up for a drop goal, Gamage sailed the ball through the uprights for three points.
6 Minutes Remaining UVic 22, Tide 21
A Shane Rikley-Krindle try and Gamage conversion gave the Vikes their first lead of the game, putting the Vikes up by one.
Final Seconds of Play Tide 26, UVic 22
Down to their last run in the final seconds, the Tide managed to get the ball across the try line for the match-winning play.
UBC Thunderbirds 34 – Trinity Western 13
An expected result, perhaps closer than some pundits thought, our prediction was a modest +15 for UBC. The score was 20-8 at the half. The video is below and we hope to get match reports from the teams later on.
*Coastal Cup Kicks Off This Weekend with Three Matches: Predictions, Rosters and Players to Watch*
There’s 3 matches to kick off the Coastal Cup this week, the Vancouver Wave have a bye. Mark Janzen has written up a preview with rosters, take a look below. We’ll just highlight some key players and give our early predictions. Note that only one of the matches will be live streamed, the TWU @ UBC match, link to be added when available (see below).
UBC Live Stream: https://youtu.be/S4WuWp_YFhw
TWU @ UBC
This is the easiest one to put a prediction on, TWU just getting their program going while UBC have been finalists in every Canadian University championship so far. Based on previous results it should be UBC by double digits. However TWU have done some recruiting, they’ve got Guiseppe du Toit at centre and have two players from South Africa and one from Ireland, so it may get interesting. UBC have 3 Carsons in the forwards, including capped Donald Carson at openside. One of my favourite upcoming players, expecting big things from him in the future, big Izzak Kelly in the second row is one to watch. Prediction: UBC by 15
Island Crimson Tide @ UVic
This one is more difficult to predict with no form for either team from recent weeks. A new season for UVic and the Tide a rep team that’s new every season. Looking at #10 may give a hint, UVic missing Logan Martin-Feek due to injury, he recently signed with the Toronto Arrows, the Tide featuring Grady Bowd a capped international coming back to competitive rugby after a sabbatical. He earned 8 caps for Canada in 2016-2017, most at flyhalf. He certainly has the talent to make another run at the national team or an MLR contract, if he so wishes. That head to head tips in favour of the Tide but how do the forwards match up? UVic have future Canada player Nick Carson at #8 but Tide has Zephyr Melnyck who showed very well at the recent Canada U21 camp at #8, maybe a slight tilt towards UVic but add in Ollie Nott (2 caps Canada 2017) at openside for the Tide and it goes in favour of the Tide. It may come down to the engine room and big Mike Finnemore for the Tide is one standout name at second row. Clayton Meeres, Canada A experience, on the bench for the Tide backline is also an influencer. Prediction: Tide by 5.
Van East @ Pacific Pride
This may be the matchup of the weekend. The Pride, the Rugby Canada Academy under coach Phil Mack, has some of the best young talent from across Canada. Van East, basically the Burnaby club, perennial BC Premier contenders who feature two capped players in the forwards, Reegan O’Gorman and Lucas Albornoz. I like the matchup at hooker, both players could make a run for the national team or earn a contract with an MLR club. Van East with James Kelly, former flanker with the grit of a hooker and the Pride with Dewald Kotze, unlucky not to have made the Canada squad this year. The #10 matchup is intriguing as well, Van East with proven veteran Geoff Ryan and the Pride with a new face, Mark Balaski, from the Connacht Academy in Ireland but Canada-eligible. Late word from the Pride camp is that Cody Nhanala is out and Matt Klimchuk moves to #8, Ethan Fryer moves to #6 and Gabriel Smith moves into the reserves. That could be a key factor, Klimchuk at 19 will be going up against Albornoz, the 30 year old capped international who plays for Houston in the MLR. A big ask for the youngster but a huge learning experience for a player many pick to be a future fixture with the national squad. Another exciting player to watch is David Dinbandhu for Van East, effective as a #10 but moved to outside centre in this match. The Pride have a couple of strong prop replacements with Liam Murray and Nik Hildebrand, both playing in the MLR. James O’Neill, the openside with the Pride, recently signed with the LA Giltinis, the MLR champs. An intriguing matchup but I think Van East have that little bit of extra grit in the veteran forwards like Albornoz, O’Toole, O’Gorman, Kelly, McCann, Longbone, it will be a tough matchup for the Academy youngsters. However if it’s an up tempo game, the Pride fitness may be a deciding factor in the last 20. Either way it’s great to have rugby back in BC. Prediction: Van East by 1.
Rosters and preview written By Mark Janzen
VANCOUVER The inaugural campaign of the Coastal Cup kicks off Saturday with three matches, launching the seven-team high-performance league based in British Columbia.
The weekend sees a fascinating first-ever meeting between long-time rugby power UBC and relative newcomer Trinity Western University, who relaunched their varsity program in 2019. The contest, which sees a traditional Lower Mainland university rivalry find its way onto the rugby pitch, starts at 2:30 p.m. (PT) at UBCs Gerald McGavin Centre.
The other two matches of the opening weekend are both on Vancouver Island, with the UVIC Vikes hosting the Vancouver Island Crimson Tide at 2:30 p.m. (PT) at Wallace Field and the Pacific Pride welcoming Van East Rugby to May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park for a 3 p.m. (PT) kick-off.
The Vancouver Wave is the lone club not in action on the opening weekend, as they open their season Oct. 2 at UBC (2:30 p.m. PT).
September 25th
Trinity Western @ UBC | 2:30 pm | Gerald McGavin Centre
TWU will have a collection of both strong local talent, including captain Caleb Gerth, who hails from Langley, B.C., and an international flair, which includes South African flyhalf Keegan Marengo and Irish winger Tamilore Awonusi. The Spartans will also be buoyed by Canadian international and Toronto Arrows centre Guiseppe du Toit, who is moving from a coaching role to a playing role with the Spartans, as he works towards his Masters degree in Leadership at TWU.
As for UBC, its yet another strong Thunderbirds side that will run out on Saturday. While Jack Carson is off this weekend playing with Canada on the World Sevens Series in Edmonton, the Carson name will still be well-represented with Donald Carson, who represented Canada during this summers UK Tour, joined by David Carson and Frank Carson. Amongst others who already have distinguished age-grade resumes, UBC will have Bryce Worden, who was selected by the Toronto Arrows in the 2021 MLR Draft, in the front row.
UBC Thunderbirds Match Day Roster | Sept. 25
1. Connor Sampson, Vancouver, BC
2. Jacob Bossi, Victoria, BC
3. Bryce Worden, Saint John, NB
4. David Carson, Victoria, BC
5. Izzak Kelly, White Rock, BC
6. Frank Carson, Vancouver, BC
7. Donald Carson, Delta, BC
8. Alasdair Bulman, Guildford, England
9. Jacob Bourne, Vancouver, BC
10. Takoda McMullin, Surrey, BC
11. Evan Norris, Montreal, QC
12. Ethan Berry, Vancouver, BC
13. Connor Byron, Abbotsford, BC
14. Landon Clironomos, Vancouver, BC
15. Dillon Hamilton, Vancouver, BC
16. Iain Mctavish, North Vancouver, BC
17. Joshua Tweed, Surrey, BC
18. Flynn Heyes, North Vancouver, BC
19. Joshua Downes, Chelmsford, England
20. Kilick Saxer, North Vancouver, BC
21. Forrest Scarrwener, Vancouver, BC
22. Tom Abercrombie, Victoria, BC
23. Jared Andrews Almack, North Vancouver, BC
TWU Spartans Match Day Roster | Sept. 25
1. Ben Tindall, Sylvan Lake, AB, Red Deer Titans
2. Scott Bowers, New Westminster, BC, United Rugby Club
3. Josh Halladay, White Rock, BC
4. Erik Niebuhr, Surrey, BC, Bayside Sharks
5. Tinashe Chirara, Harare, Zimbabwe, Old Georgians RFC
6. Caleb Van Til, Tsawwassen, BC
7. Nate Schroeder, West Kelowna, BC
8. Caleb Gerth, Langley, BC, Surrey Beavers / Langley Rugby Club
9. Jan Lourens, Smoky Lake, AB, Clansmen RFC
10. Keegan Marengo, Johannesburg, South Africa, Xerox Golden Lions
11. Tamilore Awonusi, Dublin, Ireland, Clontarf RFC
12. Guiseppe du Toit, Maple Ridge, BC, Toronto Arrows
13. Sam Wegert, Langley, BC, UBC
14. Lynden Duggan, Burnaby, BC, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
15. Matthew Willemse, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Langley Rugby Club
16. Seth Klassen, Surrey, BC, Bayside Sharks
17. Favour Olaniyan, Gibsons, BC, Capilano Rugby Club
18. Grayson Hardie, Chilliwack, BC
19. Kyle Morfitt, Langley, BC, Langley Rugby Club
20. Wikus Kreil, Beaumont, AB, NorWester Rugby Club
21. Fynn Murphy, White Rock, BC, Bayside Sharks
22. Isaiah de Peiza, Edmonton, AB, NorWester Rugby Club
23. Collin Lagat, Dallas, TX, Dallas Reds RFC
Vancouver Island Crimson Tide @ UVIC | 2:30 pm | Wallace Field
The long tradition of the Crimson Tide returns to the field with Nanyak Dala and Sean White coaching a talented side. The 23-man roster selected for Saturdays contest features no fewer than three Canadian internationals, including three-year Seattle Seawolves centre George Barton, alongside loose forward Ollie Nott, who plays with the Toronto Arrows, and flyhalf Gradyn Bowd.
On the other side of the ball is a UVIC team steeped in rugby pedigree. Coached by Scott Manning and captained by Logan Martin-Feek, who was a Toronto Arrows draft pick this past summer, the Vikes will be keen to get back on the pitch this fall. While Martin-Feek isnt slotted into the 23-man roster for this weekend, UVIC will have a veteran starting unit made up entirely of athletes in at least their second year at the school.
UVIC Vikes Match Day Roster | Sept. 25
1. Denver Fatt. Vancouver, BC
2. Carter White, Victoraia, BC
3. Spencer Cooper, Vancouver, BC
4. Ayo Ogunlade, Calgary, AB
5. Benjamin Newhook. St. Johns, NL
6. Henry Down, Victoria, BC
7. Nathan Yue, St. Albert, AB
8. Nicholas Carson, Victoria, BC
9. Chris Gamage, Calgary, AB
10. Andrew Easson, Oakville, ON
11. Shane Rickley-Krindle, Montreal, QC
12. Jonas Robinson, Victoria, BC
13. Gabriel Casey, Ottawa, ON
14. Noah Bain, Abbotsford, BC
15. Ethan Hager, Brantford, ON
16. Owen Kokan, Vancouver, BC
17. George Piper Arroliga, Abbotsford, BC
18. Asfand Yar Saeed, Victoria, BC
19. Nathan Bice, Comox, BC
20. Zarija Djurickovic, Victoria, BC
21. Ethan Smith, Vancouver, BC
22. Alex Mentiply, Kelowna, BC
23. Austin Pinnell, Edmonton, AB
Crimson Tide Match Day Roster | Sept. 25
1. Andrew MacPherson
2. Antonio Corbin
3. Kyle Steeves
4. Mike Finnemore
5. Aiden McCleary
6. Alex Jordan
7. Ollie Nott
8. Zephyr Melnyck
9. Rylen Waugh
10. Gradyn Bowd
11. Henry Do
12. George Barton
13. Tom Burton
14. Isaac Gonevou
15. Mostyn Findlay
16. Jake Slobodian
17. Jake Sponarski
18. Conor Turner
19. Matt Weir
20. Makz Foot
21. Clayton Meeres
22. Owen Brombal
23. Crosby Stewart
Van East Rugby @ Pacific Pride | 2:15 pm | MacDonald Park, Victoria
The much-anticipated debut of Van East Rugby will see a team largely built from Burnaby Lake Rugby Club players take on the Pacific Pride. Like many of the sides in the Coastal Cup, the Van East Rugby team will include Canadian internationals, with Reegan OGorman of the Austin Gilgronis and Lucas Albornoz of the Houston Sabrecats both starting in the forward unit. The team will be captained by Mike OToole, as the former UBC Thunderbird sets up at blindside flanker.
The Pacific Pride return to the competitive pitch this fall and will once again be loaded with young talent intent on showing well. With the success of the program in developing pros and internationals, the team will of course be one to watch with familiar names like James ONeill, Cody Nhanala and Sion Griffiths all in the opening day 23-man roster.
Pacific Pride Match Day Roster | Sept. 25
1. Morgan MacIntyre, Summerside, PEI, UPEI Panthers
2. Dewald Kotze, Edmonton, AB, Strathcona Druids FC
3. Blake van Heyningen, Courtenay BC, JBAA
4. Tom Davidson, Chelsea, QC, Toronto Scottish RFC
5. Callum Botchar, Vancouver, BC, UBCOB / JBAA
6. Matt Klimchuck, Regina, SK, Regina Rogues – Ethan Fryer in
7. James ONeill, Cochrane, AB, Calgary Canucks / UVIC
8. Cody Nhanala, Ottawa, ON, Ottawa Opreys Matt Klimchuck in
9. Sam Riemer, Pickering, ON, Oshawa Vikings
10. Mark Balaski, Castlebar, Ireland, Buccaneers RFC
11. Oliver Mackenzie, Victoria BC, Queens Football / JBAA
12. Ben Cameron, Townsville, Australia, Capilano Rugby Club
13. Sion Griffiths, Cowichan, BC, Cowichan RFC
14. Jarvis Dashkewytch, Victoria, BC, Castaway Wanderers
15. Dawson Fatoric, Ottawa, ON, Barrhaven Scottish
16. Emerson Prior, Brockville, ON, Perterborough Pagens
17. Liam Murray, Langley, BC, JBAA
18. Nik Hildebrand, Nanaimo, BC, Burnaby Lake Rugby club
19. Ethan Fryer, Issaquah, WA, Eastside Lions – Gabriel Smith in
20. Taylor Desouza, Ladysmith, BC, Nanaimo Hornets
21. Caleb Barker, Victoria, BC, JBAA
22. Lucas Scheck, Cactus Lake, SK, Macdowell Rugby
23. Isaac Olson, Vernon, BC, Okanagan Coos
Van East Rugby Match Day Roster | Sept. 25
1 Adrian Longbone, Hull, UK, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
2 James Kelly, Surrey, BC, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
3 Daniel Cooper, Sunderland, ON, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
4 James Catterson, Omagh, Northern Ireland, Omagh RFC / Burnaby Lake
5 Reegan OGorman, Vancouver, BC, Austin Gilgronis / Marist Albion RFC
6 Mike OToole (C), Vancouver, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
7 Connor McCann, Belleville, ON, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
8 Lucas Albornoz, Burnaby, BC, Houston Sabercats / Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
9 George Daly, London, England, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club / University of Bath
10 Geoff Ryan, Limerick, Ireland, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
11 Jack Gelbart, Berkhamsted, UK, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
12 Neil MacLaine, Omagh, Northern Ireland, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
13 David Dinbandhu, Suva, Fiji, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
14 Darren McCrory, Tyrone, Northern Ireland, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
15 Brian Fitzpatrick, Tipperary, Ireland, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
16 Dylan Vermette, Surrey, BC, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
17 Juan Videla, San Juan, Argentina, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
18 Cooper Johnston, Burnaby, BC, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
19 Doug Breadon, Burnaby, BC, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
20 Austin James, Paris, France, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
21 Kimi Vunituraga, Suva, Fiji, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
22 Sean McKeown, Cork, Ireland, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
23 Lee Sandberg, Stockholm, Sweden, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
Vancouver Wave | Bye
While the Wave have a bye this week, they will certainly be a force in what will a hotly-contested Coastal Cup campaign. The extended roster for the Wave includes a variety of players with age-grade international experience as well as Canadian international Sean Ferguson.
Vancouver Wave Extended Roster
Jake Schwartz, Aylmer, QC, Vancouver Rowing Club
Mattias Suez, Buenos Aires, Argentina, UBCOB Ravens
Neil Courtney, North Vancouver, BC, Capilano RFC
Jalan Farris, Wainuiomata, NZ, Meraloma Rugby Club
Jake Ikeda, Vancouver, BC, UBCOB Ravens
Brian Moylett, Ballina, Ireland, UBCOB Ravens
Jeremy Simon, Bayonne, France, Capilano RFC
Adam Mcqueen, Canmore, AB, UBCOB Ravens
Johnny Franklin, Bowen Island, BC, Capilano RFC
Isaac Winter, Palmerston North, NZ, Meraloma Rugby Club
Colby Mason, Clermont, Australia, UBCOB Ravens
Phil Lelievre, Thames, New Zealand, Capilano RFC
Josh Powdrell, Cape Town, SA, Scribes RFC
Tom Ruffalls,North Vancouver, BC, Capilano RFC
Matt Chan, Vancouver, BC, UBCOB Ravens
Mike Moloney, Lyndoch, Australia, Capilano RFC
Jesse Hocking, Wellington, NZ, Scribes RFC
Chris Knopf, Vancouver BC, Capilano RFC
David Thompson, Vancouver, BC, UBCOB Ravens
Matt Nicol, Ottawa, ON, Capilano RFC
Robbie Jones, Vancouver, BC, UBCOB Ravens
Spencer Scholnick, Vancouver, BC, Meraloma Rugby Club
Pat Zuk, Grande Prairie, AB, Meraloma Rugby Club
Alex Carmel, Montréal, Québec, Meraloma Rugby Club
Liam Doll, North Vancouver, BC, Capilano RFC
Devon Singh-Parhar, Hamilton, NZ, Meralomas Rugby Club
Dave Matthews, Ottawa, ON, Meralomas Rugby Club
Wes Lee, Vancouver, BC, Meralomas Rugby Club
Vassili Miroslaw , Vancouver, BC, UBC
Matt Holt, Vancouver, BC, UBCOB Ravens
Sean Ferguson. Bearspaw, AB, UBCOB Ravens
Pete Ingoldsby, Totnes, Devon, England, Capilano RFC