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.
The Ravens dominated the first half with four tries to one putting the Lomas under the cosh with chip kicks into corners, hard running by scrum half Billy Wickham and others, defensive pressure and set scrum superiority. Fly half Gio Sangiorgi played well, orchestrating the kicking and scoring the first try when a Loma defender at the line shot the gap looking for an interception leaving Sangiorgi the chance to scamper in on the angle under the posts. Wickham put his mark on the game early as well with a powerful quick tap run that set up the first try and then a dive in from close range for the second after the Raven pack won a set against the head. Wickham again and then Lucas Rumball scored from close range with low drives through bodies, Wickham coming in off a ruck and Rumball collecting a fly hack and punishing the mistake.
As the half approached, the Lomas picked up their game and the Ravens’ Giorgi was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on near the Raven line. The Lomas swung the ball left following the penalty to score in the corner, moving the score to 26-5 at the half and raising some hope for the second half.
It took a while but for much of the second half the Lomas took the play to the Ravens with long phases of possession, quick hands, players running off the ball putting the Ravens defence under pressure, keeping the ball on the ground and recycling it. But the Ravens’ defence didn’t break with the Loma attacks playing out mostly between the 22s and ending frustratingly short of the line on a couple of occasions. Finally, the Ravens’ set scrum strength reared its head again and at 63 minutes Wickham crossed easily for his hat trick try after a big Raven push and slight wheel. Then from another set a few minutes later the Ravens were walking in a likely try and referee Assmus awarded a penalty try for a Loma infringement. Hard lines for the home team after its spirited second half.
In the Lomas pack Ludick was active in attack, big prop Joyne Gaualofa showed great hands, and the locks Trimble and Matthews were strong. Fullback Malchi King and winger Keith Graham stood out in the backs. Prop Louis Kassapian led the tackling for the Ravens and stuffed the stat sheet with his all-round play. Isaiah Harrison at hook had the lineout ticking and he showed his pace on a first half break. Hillyard Carson at lock was ever present in open play and the back row of Ikeda, Locke and Rumball maintained a no-fly zone in the the middle of the pitch. Cole Keffer on right wing put on a tackling clinic in the first half efficiently putting big Keith Graham down every time he looked like getting away. Cole has Leo Fumano’s vote hands down as first half MVP in the Ravens’ backs. No argument here.
As the first half ends UBC has been the class of the league with a pack of four teams, Westshore, Caps, Burnaby and the Ravens in close pursuit. Each of the four rely on players of different backgrounds to some degree: Westshore with Kenyans, Caps with Kiwis, Burnaby a few Fijians and the Ravens with their “Gens Carsonia” a non-import group that originates in upland areas of Southern Vancouver Island. Hey, but who cares where the players come from, it’s all fun.