Ravens Claim Premier Title and Rounsefell Cup: Ravens 30 – UVic 3
Report by Peter MacDonald
On a pleasant spring day at Bayside’s excellent two field venue the UBC Old Boys and the University of Victoria met for the second time in their histories to contest the Rounsefell Cup. Both teams had been building strength going into the final, with the classic student vs club team narrative waiting to play out on the big stage.
Through the first 35 minutes it was a hard-hitting defensive battle with the Ravens up 5-3 through a pushover try at 15 minutes and a well struck penalty kick from distance by UVic’s #10 Mike Oughtred. UVic’s defence led by Rider Heaney-Corns and Brendan Kim was more than up to the task of handling the big Raven forwards while Morgan DiNardo, David Richard and Reece Thompson in the backs were testing the Raven tacklers. But in the last five minutes of the half two Raven tries opened a half-time lead, 17-3 Ravens. First, a patient sequence of phases inside the UVic 22 culminated with Jake Tierney diving in from close range. Then, from a six-man lineout 30 metres out, the Ravens ran a set backfield movement to perfection. Centre Ethan Berry was first receiver and from there the ball moved quickly through dummy runners and hands to outside centre Hamish Janes whose final pass hit Cole Keffer in stride for a burst down the sideline and a diving try in the left corner.
The Ravens kept the pressure up in the early going of the second half. A scrum penalty added three points at 43 minutes and a pick and go try by Louis Kassapian at 50 minutes brought some comfort to the Ravens and the score to 27-3. It was a quiet from there with the only near try coming from a DiNardo break which led on to a scintillating run by Oughtred who was barely denied after a cut back near the line.
The club team won this day but not without a true test from the students. The Ravens never broke through the UVic defence. They did break it down though… three times… as they neared the line. No surprise there though as recently no team has been able to consistently contain the Ravens’ forwards in mauls and rucks in tight.
Tierney at hook stands about 6”3” and there are other tall timbers and strong men behind him in the pack. Brothers Frank and Don Carson at lock are like old growth… you can’t put your arms around them. They dominate the lineouts, drive the sets, drag the mauls on and play a simple, intelligent game. Joe Locke is a whirling dervish of energy, power and grit. Reegan O’Gorman is another big man (now following his father Pat in winning a BC championship). Props Owen Kokan, Seman Rezapour, Josh Tweed and Louis Kassapian are unheralded but have game. Finally, flanker David O’Donoghue is as fundamentally good and hard as any backrow player in BC. A tough lot to shut down.
The Raven backs bolstered of late by Lockie Kratz had a very good outing. Cole Keffer stood out among them on the day and throughout the season. Polished back play was not consistently on display throughout the season, but it came to the fore when really needed. Billy Wickham at scrum half was a driving force through the playoffs and he will be sorely missed as a player and long time clubmate as he returns home after five successful seasons. Andrew Coe was a steadying influence coming back from MLR and the national team and playing wing, fullback and flyhalf to suit the team’s needs as the season progressed.
UVic have come a long way from twelve months ago. They are a deep, fit, dangerous squad and were unfortunately without their leader Cooper Coats who had been injured in the semi-final against UBC where he controlled the game with his boot. But in Michael Oughtred they have a gem. For him to step in as a teenager at fly half in a BC final and show the confidence, poise, speed and skill that he did was impressive. He is a treat to watch. His grandfather Bob, with whom I played in high school, must be proud.
UVic coach Scott Manning and his staff did a great job this year with the squad improving steadily as the season progressed. Kudos and best of luck for next season.
Similarly, Ravens’ head coach Chris Taylor and his staff had another banner year. As he takes his leave, we tip our hats to a man who knows the game deeply, sets high standards and leads his players to achieve them. Chris has had a great run as a UBC player and then as a Ravens player and head coach. Tom Brady would be envious of his championship titles.
Thanks to referee Chris Assmus and the officials, to the BCRU for organizing and to Bayside for hosting. See you in September.