Boys BC U18 Final – Ravens Edge CW 19 – 14; Report by Peter MacDonald
On a cool, sunny December late afternoon at Thunderbird Stadium the champions from the mainland and the island entertained and engaged their fans in a game worthy of a provincial final. The Ravens came out on top but there was very little between the two teams and but for a slow start by CW there might have been a different result.
At the quarter mark the Ravens were up 14-0 as inside centre Liam James met little resistance on a simple first phase crash run from the first set of the game and not long after big #8 Alex Muir pounded it in despite the resistance offered. But the Castaway boys then settled down, raised their game and outscored the Ravens the rest of the way.
At 25 minutes the Ravens’ #10 had his pass hit the deck (both sides had problems with the slick ball picking up moisture from the turf). CW gathered the ball and countered through their outside centre who took it just to the line and from a quick ruck a fellow forward dove in, 14-7 Ravens, the score at half time.
The winning try came shortly after half time when CW were dinged for a high tackle and the Ravens quick tapped to Muir who powered to the 10 metre line. Outside centre and captain Liam Turnbull then drove low to 5 metres away. As scrum half Lucas Townsend considered his options, with the ball at the hind foot of the ruck, prop Ethan Booth made his decision easy as Booth curled at speed behind the ruck heading for the narrow blindside channel on the right. Turnbull indulged him and Booth finished things off with a hard dive into two tacklers who were firm in the tackle but just couldn’t deny the try, 19-7 Ravens.
CW made it a one try margin at the 3/4 mark when from an attacking lineout 10 metres from the Ravens’ line they swung it left to almost score and then moved it right to their #10 who went deep into the playbook and lofted a high sideways kick toward his right winger. It was anybody’s ball and it could have ended badly for CW but it was fielded by his mates and in due course the Castaway loosehead popped through the mass to score and a second CW line drive conversion made the score 19-14 Ravens.
Both sides had their moments as the clock wound down and both sets of fans were chanting support as play ebbed and flowed. The Ravens crossed the line but were held up. CW, playing with an extra man after a Raven player was yellow carded for a high tackle, were foiled by a knock on at an attacking lineout 20 metres out with 3 minutes to go. Ultimately a series of infractions in the dying minutes undid the visitors. They were free kicked for driving in early at a set scrum engagement and then penalized at two more sets, first for offside against the scrum half and finally for disengaging as the Ravens won the push. From there the Ravens tapped and punted to touch to end a very exciting game.
It was a hard-fought game with the intensity ratcheting up as time wore on. CW players that impressed were #s 5 and 6 in the pack and 12 through 15 in the backs. In addition to those mentioned, the Ravens #4 Brett Nash had two big runs, #10 Rob Jacques had a polished game and fullback Evan Palmer kept things in the pocket, running, passing and tackling as the situation called for.
Referee Katrine Lovatt from Saskatchewan handled the game elegantly, making the tough decisions that were presented to her down the stretch.
Congratulations to both teams on their excellent seasons and to their coaching staffs…….for the Ravens that would be head coach Graham Turner, assisted by Theo Sauder and Joe Locke. Age grade club rugby is becoming more important to the BC rugby community so keep up the good work.
Note: Video of match is on Veo
photo by BOLD Photos By Shelly