Ravens Improve but Fall to Westshore: Westshore 29 – Ravens 26
by Peter MacDonald
On a cool windy day at Jericho that felt more like rugby weather the home side put in a hard shift of rugby but just fell short against a talented Westshore team.
The visitors put the Ravens on notice early that they had come to play. After a powerful run by winger Kyle Tremblay showed off some of their backfield quality, prop Simeon John peeled off a maul at the line, boshed a tackler and dove in at 4 minutes. Then, at 15 minutes, from a penalty tap an inside pass to hard charging lock Joe Kingham opened a gap for a second tally, 14-0 Westshore. Just as thoughts of a blowout began to surface the Ravens pack took things under control. Steady, tight drives and ball retention delivered tries from #8 Joe Locke and lock Don Carson, tying things up at 14-14 at 30 minutes.
The Ravens’ pack was bringing it now with Cole Keffer running things from #9. But as the half was approaching a Raven kick failed to find touch and Westshore fullback Rhys James laid down a 50/22 kick pinning the Ravens back to their 10 metre line. A few phases later captain Kane Perrett punched in for a 19-14 halftime lead.
The early stages of the second half saw each team score from big overlaps which surprisingly materialised from ball moved wide from set scrums, 26-19 Westshore. A Mark Balaski penalty goal put Westshore up by 10 with 15 minutes to go but the Ravens answered with an impressive maul try to close the gap to 29-26. Ravens phases at the end put Westshore under pressure but a Raven knock-on ended the threat and the game.
Westshore has a well-balanced squad with multiple threats in the backs and a deep bench. The Ravens pack was very good led by the tireless Joe Locke. His backrow partners Sean Beckett and Louis Kasssapian brought a hard edge too. The Carson brothers at lock were a force and it was nice to see hooker Riku Konrad back in the team. Andrew Coe at fullback was looking good and kicked very well from the tee.
The Ravens picked up two bonus points and should feel good about their trajectory despite having three players leave the game through injury. The decision to pass on a makeable penalty kick at goal just before the half and to opt for a kick to touch and lineout that didn’t pan out might rankle but coach Taylor’s take was a version of “fortune favours the bold”.
Next week it is back at Jericho hosting the Caps.
What has happened to the Raven’s? Their women’s team has folded and they have been unable to field two senior men’s teams. This is not good for rugby.! Capilano’s are scheduled to play 3 games against Raven’s this coming Saturday and it looks like there will only be a Premier Men’s game. A sad state of affairs!
I’m not sure why you think you’re only getting one game can you please elaborate?
@ john langley – don’t be too quick to judge classic pre christmas ravens, Langara Airlines must not have arrived from Sydney via Auckland yet.
@John
If the women did fold, my feeling is because women rugby players have integrity, most women players come up through their clubs system. The women rugby players from Cap, Westshore, etc adhere to the Buz Moore principle, Clubs send their best and brightest to University to Learn and develope as players and go back to their clubs, (John you know that). No matter what some club may imply or say they are affiliated to a university that is bull…t and John you know it.
Women players have integrity, loyalty and great character, they see through the $$$ and Langara Airline. $$$$ may work short term but it does not build character.
Canadian Women rugby is built on strong character and they deserve it. For any women thinking just of the $$$ think of this from the words of a veteran, “the man beside me is my brother in the foxhole, he will give his life for me because there is a special bond, not a bond of money, but a bond of blood and the same share character.” Soldier are not mercenaries. Women players are soldier.
Update. I attended the Capilano practice tonight and the word is that Raven’s are putting together a reserve team for Saturday’s game. If they are successful good on them! Cap reserves other than some grizzled veterans such as Glen Mckinnon, Chris Robinson, Jessie Ryan and Mc Mills are very young and desperately need game experience. Last seasons semi finals saw the Ravens host Caps in a very close competitive game that Ravens won with a late try. My question is what happened to those Raven players? I was told many were disgruntled by the number of players brought in by the Premier side. Not that they were over the 7 permitted this season but many youngsters quit playing rugby as they felt passed over. This is all rumour but if correct that is why I support the 7 import limit. Canadian kids need to play rugby. We lose far too many that quit after high School. Caps have 82 U-18 players out and have managed to enter 3 teams in the league instead of one. We need to develop this talent. With respect to the Women, Ravens have defaulted and I understand they are not in the league. This raises an important question. I am told that the BCRU rules mandate that to be eligible for the playoffs Premier teams must have a Premier Reserve men’s side and a Women’s Program. Mark you probably know more about this than I do. If this is the case will the BCRU rules committee uphold their own rules? I enjoyed the comments about Women players and have always maintained that UBC, U-Vic and other University players Male or Female should return to their home club sides if they continue to play rugby following graduation. There may be some reason for them to join another club, for example if their home club is playing below their level and aren’t about to move up, but in general they should come home. These are my thoughts and many may agree or disagree but that’s what I think.
Mr. Langley I don’t know what you were talking about that you might only get one game vs Ravens, we fielded a competitive team of mostly local kids last week including 17-year-olds that came through our system last week versus the Axemen. Why were you in fear of having a default please elaborate?!!!
One of the mother of the 17 year old said to another mother that her son will get into UBC because he is a Raven and they are connected? WTF, what cool-aide is she drinking. My advice to the mother is get it in writing. BTW what are the name of the kids who come through the Raven system that plays on your Prem team?
I’m not really sure I understand what you’re posted about. Perhaps you can make it more clear., but the Ravens have three players in the Prem 23 who have come to the juniors ranks, Owen Kokan, Noah King, and Jacob Bourne, Hillyard Carson I was unavailable this week. Also played ravens juniors. I am not an ignorant person so I won’t make any claims or assertions, but I would be curious to know how many other clubs have four players in the prem 23 that have worn or come through the junior club system of their respective clubs.
@John Langley,
I hope Caps have a better success based on your comments, “Caps have 82 U-18 players out” than the Raven. If Ravens have as successful a youth program as the Caps, assume they get 82 out just like to the Caps, Raven success rate is 4.87%. that plays in the Prem! Wow, fantastic, long term success, Rugby Canada come check us out. (Sarcasm) I think Rugby Canada Head Coaches knows where the real talent are coming from. Also when L… Airline starts to fuel up, how many of the 4 will really be there in the end, just asking?
Also mother’s are starting to share their notes with other mothers and they do not like to be deceived.
@John
I am in 110% agreement with your comments below:
“ I enjoyed the comments about Women players and have always maintained that UBC, U-Vic and other University players Male or Female should return to their home club sides if they continue to play rugby following graduation. There may be some reason for them to join another club, for example if their home club is playing below their level and aren’t about to move up, but in general they should come home. These are my thoughts and many may agree or disagree but that’s what I think.”
Claiming a player as a “product” of your junior ranks when they were poached from other clubs at U16, spent a single season there, and were then straight into the U18 program with promises of guaranteed UBC entry because of connections…that’s been the Ravens junior program’s real selling point for years. Everyone in the Lower Mainland rugby community knows it.
For all the talk about the strength of the Ravens’ junior program, here’s a simple question: in their last Premier Final, how many of their starting XV actually came through their own junior program?