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Friday, November 22, 2013

Thirds cage MOB; Prems & 1sts fall to Burnaby (UPDATE)

Thirds earn birth in bowl final—

The Rowers 3rd team battle the Chilliwack Crusaders earlier this year. The Squad earned
a birth in the  fall season's bowl final and face the Brit Lions Nov. 23 at Klahanie.
BROCKTON OVAL—The Rowing Club came away with one victory and suffered two defeats on their home pitch Nov. 16. The 3rds (4-4) were victories over SFU’s Mountain Old Boys, while the 1sts (2-3) and premiers (3-2) both fell to first place sides from Burnaby Lake RFC. This weekend, Nov. 23, will be the last weekend of games until the spring half begins Feb. 15 when the Rowers host the Meraloma Club at Brockton.

3RDS

The Thirsty Thirds scored six tries on the MOB, earning the squad a 34-14 win and a berth in the fall-season bowl final at Klahanie Park this weekend. They’ll put their .500 record on the line versus the Brit Lions “B” team at 1 p.m.

“I’m super proud of the effort,” said coach Kelly Egilsson after the match. “Our rucking was greatly improved, and for the first time in weeks Chris Gaydon and Jesse Yanke had clean ball to work with.”

He noted the team played great defence and got really stingy in the second half when the MOB started to run hard off the sides of rucks. He added that a strong week of practice and a good pre-game workout helped kick-start the victory.

“I think yesterday showed the importance of having someone in the backline taking on the line straight, hard, and at pace,” co-coach Simon Taylor added. “Too often we continue to try to attack flat-footed out of frustration.”

Taylor said the squad has shown great improvement individually and as a group over the 2013 fall season and the semi-final double-u showed that. He added that despite the strong performance the squad will need to improve its positional play – down to the man – if they hope to beat the Brit Lions.

The Brits (2-3) nearly doubled up on the Surrey Beavers last week running out a 37-22 victory at John Oliver Park.

1STS

The Rowers Firsts got off to a poor start at home against Burnaby Lake, surrendering two tries early on. The squad’s tackling, defense, and rucking left much to be desired as a well-drilled Burnaby side controlled the game at will. The Rowers managed only two penalty kicks in the first half while surrendering three tries.

An obviously disappointed coach Jeremy Sabell told his charges at the half they plainly lacked passion. Some frank and forthright talk from substitute 8-Man Michael Jordan seemed to bolster the lackluster side with some renewed focus as they trotted out for the second frame.

A chippy, physical second half saw substitute fly half James Roughan and flanker “Gentleman” Jim Corbet both score tries. Roughan slotted both conversions. Final score: 41-20 for the visitors.

Despite the second half’s renewed focus, it was evident the Rowers will have to improve their scrummaging, conditioning, and defense if they are going to compete Nov. 23 against James Bay in the Ferguson Cup. JBAA are (2-3) after losing 35-19 to the Caps last week.

PREMIERS

First-place Burnaby Lake side, with a smattering of former Rowers and some members of team B.C. in the lineup, looked terrific in their solid 47-19 victory over the Red and White at Brockton Oval.

The Rowers top side did not loose for lack of effort, maintaining characteristically strong play, both in tight against the breakdowns and outside in open field play, as they stood up to the Lakers’ power runners. Burnaby played at an exceptional pace and flawlessly executed their set pieces and set plays.

Bright spots in the losing effort included: Caleb Hansen playing the inside-centre position and streaking for several long runs through traffic, including scoring a try; and full-back Kevin “The Knack” Gurniak and winger Billy Newman carrying the ball well all afternoon, each smudging the green for tries.

It was no coincidence the fastest Rowers were the only ones to find the in-goal as the visitors displayed an ample measure of speed. Substitute scrumhalf Henry Recinos kicked an impressive conversion from the corner on Hansen’s try. (Starting scrumhalf Darren Harris slotted one previous conversion.)

The Rowers battle for the Cox Cup with James Bay (the current holders) when they meet at MacDonald Park on Saturday. The Cox Cup is one of Canada’s oldest amateur challenge trophies, rivalling the Yates Cup (1898) and the Challenge Trophy (1913), and perhaps this country's oldest rivalry game.

JBAA are 3-2 after dropping their match 14-7 at Klahanie Park last week. That game, was featured on the BCRU website. Anyone who can’t travel to Victoria to support the club can get a look at the competition the VRC will face Nov. 23 by clicking here.

NOVEMBER 23

12:45 p.m. 1sts @ James Bay AA (Ferguson Cup - McDonald Park)
1:00 p.m. 3rds vs. Brit Lions “B” in bowl final (Klahanie Park) (John Oliver Park)

2:30 p.m. Premiers @ James Bay AA (Cox Cup - McDonald Park)

FULL 3RD DIV. SCHEDULE NOV. 23 AT KLAHANIE PARK

Games have been switched to John Oliver Park

See here for more info:
1:00 p.m. Rowers vs. Brit Lions “B” – Bowl Final
1:00 p.m.  Capilano “A” vs. Brit Lions “A” – Plate Final
2:30 p.m. Capilano “B” vs. Kats – Cup Final

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