Ravens Book Trip to White Rock with Defence and Second Half Surge: Ravens 45 – James Bay 5
Report by Peter MacDonald
While more than two months had passed since the last Ravens’ home game, the faithful turned out in good numbers to take in the BC semi-final on a summer like day at Jericho. With memories of recent home semi-final losses to CW and the Lomas floating around in the back of their minds the home crowd were on edge during a first half display of equally good rugby by both sides. The 19-5 half-time scoreline flattered the Ravens.
James Bay were solid in the sets, perfect in the lineout and dangerous in the backs but were stung by two early opportunistic Raven tries. First, scrum half Billy Wickham from quick front jumper ball at the lineout, either by design or a good read, shot through the Bays’ lineout like a football running back through the line of scrimmage and into open space where he passed out of the back of his hand to centre Ethan Berry for the try under the posts. Berry then took the measure of a Bays’ first phase backline sequence and stepped in to pick off the wide pass after the dummy runners had passed through and he took it 50 metres to the house, 14-0 after 15 minutes.
The visitors turned it up from there with centre Henry Kirwan sending fullback Ty Driscoll into space but a saving tackle by fullback Jack Carson near the line and a Raven jackal kept the Bays out. Sustained Bays’ pressure near the Ravens’ line did pay off soon though as they went right from a 5-metre scrum and D’Shawn Bowen finished like a pro, diving in through a two-man tackle at the corner. Late in the half the Bays were knocking on the door again with a lineout 5 metres out. A Mike Nieuhuysen crash off the lineout came close but the Ravens turned the ball over at the tackle and held firm.
The half ended with another bit of Raven good fortune when a Lockie Kratz kick bounced nicely for Joe Locke who backhanded a long pass to Jake Tierney to take to the corner and send the Bays to the break perhaps feeling a bit unrewarded.
The second half was a different story with the Bays now having to cope with a headwind, a low sun and a slight slope. The Ravens picked things up by winning scrum penalties, kicking to touch and mauling in three tries and running in another. The Ravens won the turnover count as well with the strong backrow of Locke, David O’Donoghue and Reegan O’Gorman leading the way. O’Gorman, a big man rounding into full health, had a blinder, tackling, clearing out and catching in the lineouts.
Managing to hold back the Bays’ first half strength while defending the more difficult end set the Ravens up for the second half push. The size and experience of the Ravens pack went to work from there.
The Bays had a very good season and the Ravens now move on to the final to face a UVic team still getting better. With a recent tour to Portugal under their belts and convincing playoff wins over Westshore and UBC, UVic are in fine form as are the Ravens. Should be a good one.