Kamloops Match Reports by William Shaw: Women Draw with Caps at Klahanie, Men Defeat Kats
The last early morning of the regular season, saw the KRC Senior Ladies leaving Exhibition Park at 5:30am this morning for Capilanos. After weeks of rain and water logged pitches, it was sunny skies and a relatively dry playing surface at Kahlanie Park.
The hosting Capilanos kicked to an awaiting Mya Giardullo who fielded the kick cleanly and the Raiders went on the offensive. After both sides swapped possession for the first 5 minutes, the Raiders started advancing into the Capilano half. Thea Flundra was playing like a women possessed and carried the ball strong and aggressively into the Capilano defenders. Clean rucking from Jordan Kay , Lindsay Stobbe and Keisha Henry provided Emily Lindsay a great platform for distribution. Kelsey Meryl was back at fly half and pulling the strings for the always dangerous Raider backline.
As the play progressed into the Caps 22m following strong carries from Milena Chambers and the KRC pack, the Raider backline moved the ball wide with Lily Watkinson getting caught by the scrambling Cap defender just short of the try line. Aliyah Rodominski was in a great supporting position and was able to pick up the ball at the breakdown and touch down the first try of the game, unconverted 5-0 KRC.
The Capilano women responded with great effect and quickly had the Raiders pinned deep in their 22m, the Raider ladies defended relentlessly, cutting down the charging Capilanos and holding them when they broke the goal line. Keisha, Thea and the rest of the forwards caused the Caps continual problems at the breakdown, while all the ladies defended with immense aggression.
The effort on display showed the pride and passion these ladies have shown all season, laying their bodies on the line for their teammates, the name and the flower on the front of their jerseys.
After 8-10 minutes of continual Capilano attack, they infringed at the breakdown and the Raiders were able to clear lines and get themselves into great attacking position, which Caleigh Silversides was able to convert into another 5 points as she was on the finishing end of some slick hands by Kelsey and Aliyah saw her touch down the near sideline adding to the Raiders score, 10-0 Raiders.
Rhayna Silversides gave Callie Harder a breather and provided strong running and defending on the far wing throughout the game. The Capilanos pushed back into the Raiders 22m, and again the ladies stepped up to the task and defended with heart. Carrie Lange and Kayla Comeau (making her forward debut) gave Jordan Klaws and Keisha Henry a break respectively, after a solid performance and continued the strong defensive effort.
The Raiders defence again stepped up to the challenge and held off the ensuing Capilano push. The Raiders were again able to exit their 22m with Mel Melissa Davies and Aliyah punching hard put of the Raider 22m along with the strong carrying Raider forward pack and fantastic ruck support from Charise Overhoff-Coutu.
Caleigh Silversides was able to cap the half off for the Raiders as she streaked down the near sideline and scampered under the posts, Aliyah notched the conversion and the Raiders took a 17-0 lead into half.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, this match was a story of two halves. Lizzy Gotuaco replaced Emily at 9 to start the second half. As the Capilanos also rolled their bench and brought another level of intensity to their game play and punched in an unconverted try, 17-5 KRC. The Capilanos then had to serve a 10-minute period down to 14 players when a yellow card was served due to a dangerous tackle on Caleigh Silversides, unfortunately the Raiders were unable to capitalize on this advantage. A high note for the Raiders in the second half was to see Anya Borowski come on partway through the second half and make her KRC Senior Women debut, as she helped hold down the wide channels for the Raiders.
The Raiders continued to defend with intensity but we were not able to hold out the Capilano long phases of attack and after long defensive stands the game was 17-10 KRC. The wind was strongly in the Capilano sails at this point, and they continued to attack aggressively. The Raiders were next to see a Yellow Card when Riley Halvorson was pinged for an intentional knock-on as she attempted to intercept a Capilano slow ball. The Caps continued to push and were subsequently awarded a scrum in front of the Raiders posts. Down to 14 players the Caps got the scrum wheeling and the KRC defenders committed a professional foul on a try scoring opportunity and the ref awarded them a penalty try, the score leveled at 17-17.
Both squads pushed for the final minute score, with neither being successful.
This was the entertaining match the fan at Klahanie Park expected with both sides leaving everything on the field and showing immense skill and dedication.
Forward of the Game – Riley Halvorson
Back of the Game – Emily Lindsay
Hardest Worker – Keisha Henry
While the ladies were down on the coast, the KRC Senior Men hosted the first home game of the second half of the 25-26 season as they played host to Kats.
The Kats opened the scoring, but were unable to add the conversion and took a 0-5 lead. KRC responded, and through the hard running Trevor Jensen leveled the score at 5 points a piece, the cool nerves of Daniel Turvey then stepped up and added the conversion and KRC took the lead 7-5.
The Kats added the next score and took a 7-10 lead as the convert was missed. The hard running and tackling center pairing of Cameron Graham and Wes Van Camp linked up for the next KRC score. With Wes crossing the white wash for the Raiders and young Turvey notching another convert, placing KRC back ahead 14-10.
The Kats were able to add a penalty as KRC infringed and they narrowed the gap to 14-13 for KRC as the sides went into half time break.
The Kats were first to open the scoring in the second half with another unconverted try, 14-18 Kats. Daniel Turvey responded for the Raiders with a penalty kick as the Kats were caught for illegal play and the gap was narrowed 17-18 Kats.
The ageless and constant grafter, Nick Smith punched in another score for the Raiders on a driving lineout, 22-18 Kamloops. With the forward pack rolling, the hard running back rower Austin Comeault punched in another for the Raiders, Turvey added the convert and the Raiders pulled ahead 29-18. The Kats rallied and notched another unconverted try before the final whistle, however they couldn’t overcome the Raiders, final score was 29-23.
Forward of the Day – Austin Comeault
Back of the Day – Daniel Turvey
Raider of the Day – Charith Dep
One In, All In