Rowers roped at Rodeo Sevens

Slowers live up to their name
By Braden Maccke

Chris Seyler at the Cloverdale Rodeo Sevens.

CLOVERDALE, B.C.--The Rowers entered two sevens teams into the second annual Cloverdale Rodeo 7’s tournament  May 17, but they were unable to repeat the victorious performance they put in at the event's inaugural running.

The Rowers’ elite squad started their defense of their 2013 title by besting the host Surrey Beavers in the opening game. They followed up with a win over Abbotsford and placed first in their division. The elite squad faced the Lighthouses from Burnaby in their next game, a playoff match, but lost a close one to a very strong team.

New sevens coach James “Jimmy 2” Roughan saw his charges execute a well-designed pattern with reasonable fluidity. Unfortunately the squad was on the wrong end of some tough bounces against Burnaby and the Lighthouses bounced them out of the tourney.

The social div squad, affectionately coined the “Slowers,” enjoyed good weather and great camaraderie during to the tournament. However, the team was unable to post any victories. But the boys represented their club formidably in the division.

Gregory “Gus The Bus” Crowe made the most of his final outing in the red and white before heading home to Ottawa to represent the Irish. Crowe scored one of his characteristic bus-like tries based entirely on forward momentum, considerable mass, and disrespect for would-be tacklers.

Front-row forward Brett Illing found a few extra games with a short-handed Prince of Wales High School Alumni squad, even as they were matched up against the Rowers. Scylar Dumas and speedy young winger Haden were standouts in all games.

The majority of the less-than-mobile Slowers side is looking forward to the Williams Lake 15s tournament, where there will be less open space.

The Vancouver Rugby 7’s tournament will be hosted at Connaught Park June 21.

Burnaby Lake will host their Lighthouse 7’s tournament July 12.

More pictures:

Gregory Crowe.

Scyler Dumas.