Kamloops Match Reports by William Shaw: Senior Women Secure Road Win in South Surrey Against the Sharks
The early morning travels have started for the Senior Women from the Kamloops Rugby Club.
A 5:30 am meet up saw the Raiders load up and head to the South Surrey Athletic Park to go Shark hunting. The Bayside Sharks kicked off to the awaiting Raiders, and for the opening 5 minutes the two sides traded possession. This was due to a combination of great tackling from Kayla Comeau, jackling from Thea Flundra and poor execution at the hands of both squads.
The Sharks capitalized on a Raider hiccup and found themselves knocking on the Raiders tryline. The clinical Bayside forward pack showed their strength and grounded the first try of the game, just left of the Raiders uprights, the convert was successful and the Sharks took a deserved 0-7 lead.
A quick regroup was needed by the Raiders, decision making was on point, but their execution needed to improve. On the ensuing kick off, Mel Davies gave the chasing Raiders forwards and winger Rhese Johnson a great ball to contest. With pressure bearing down, the Sharks were unable to contain the ball and the Raiders were back on the attack.
Scrum half Emily Lindsay utilized the mobile KRC forwards, who were working hard through the middle of the field. This resulted in the strong carrying loose head prop Riley Halvorson notching the first try for KRC, Jess Oldenburger slotted her first of many conversions for Raiders and tied the score at 7-7.
Emily was the next to notch one for the Raiders as she ran a great supporting line, the conversion was added as KRC established their lead, which they would not give up for the rest of the game, 14-7 KRC.
The pressure continued, and the Raiders backline was rewarded with their first opportunity to test the Sharks defence. The women moved the ball through the hands of Kelsey Harpman, Caleigh Silversides and Callie Harder, shifting the ball into the wide channel and finding the younger half of the hard running Silversides sisters who worked hard to fend off the Shark defence. Rhayna streaked to the tryline and notched the 3rd Raider try, Jess added another conversation as the Raiders moved ahead 21-7.
Rhayna added a second try in a performance that saw her named back of the match. She carried with great aggression and helped counter the Sharks kicks with the Raider back three all day, 26-7 Raiders.
The Raiders had a lapse on their defense assignment, this resulted in Bayside taking full advantage and breaking through the middle of the field, and eventually streaking into the Raiders try zone, 26-14 Raiders.
Not to let her sister have all the highlights, Caleigh Silversides notched the next try seeing KRC take a 31-14 lead into the half-time break.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, they lost flyhalf Kelsey Harpman early into the second half as she was shown a Yellow Card. The Sharks then narrowed the gap due to the Raiders lack of discipline and giving up a penalty in front of their uprights. The Sharks notched the kick and brought it to a two score game at 31-17 KRC.
The always potent KRC backs were getting quick ball from replacement scrum half Lizzy Gotuaco, and Callie Harder was terrorizing the Sharks midfield with her powerful carries. The Raiders responded quickly with Mel Davies scoring the next try following elusive carries from Erin Jenson with the strong support from Iliza Sargent and Mya Giardullo in the middle of the field. The Raiders took a 38-17 lead following the successful conversion from Jess Oldenburger.
The hosting Sharks had one last scoring effort in the middle of the second half seeing them bring the score to 38-22.
From that point it was all Raiders, off an ensuing penalty due to an illegal tackle on the strong carrying Milena Chambers, the Sharks defence had no response for the powerful Tian Wiens who ran in untouched, Oldenburger added another conversion, 45-22 KRC.
As the Raiders looked to close out the game, the backs continued to take advantage of the space in the wide channels that the hard working forward pack was giving them. Eva Fuller secured a Raiders lineout and the pack mauled the ball into Shark territory. Following the forward pressure, the backs moved down the near sideline, with slick handling and great support from the Raiders backline, saw Mel Davies pick up her second try of the day, conversion was added, 52-22 KRC.
The Raiders were not done, with Ava Morris and Hanna Philip bringing fresh legs and energy into the back three of the forward pack, Rhese Johnson came back onto the field to give Casper a break in the front row and new KRC speedsters KK Toering and Maggie Beaudoin providing pace and pressure in the outside channels.
The Raiders kicked deep into the Sharks end and Caleigh and KK contained the waiting Sharks and the Raiders were quickly back in possession. Taylow Lawson who had been carrying powerfully down the far wing throughout the second half, was rewarded for her efforts and scored the final try for the Raiders. Oldenburger having recently celebrated her birthday, added her 7th conversion on the day as the Raiders won 59-22.
Forward of the Match – Tian Wiens
Back of the Match – Rhayna Silversides
Hardest Worker – Callie Harder
Kamloops Rugby Club wants to thank Bayside for a great game and great hosting afterwards. The Senior women were especially thankful to have gotten the game, as the KRC Senior Men had another home fixture cancelled as we continue to see conceded and defaulted matches occurring across the BC Rugby Union.
The Senior women now have a few weeks off with the Thanksgiving Holiday and Langley having dropped out of Women’s Division 1. They now wait till October 24th for their next game vs the Kelowna Crows, in Kelowna.
One in, All in