BC Rugby was at UBC with a full production crew yesterday, as the Ravens and the Rowers kicked off the second half at UBC. The Rowers Ruck Muck was on hand to bring you the blow-by-blow.
Prems
The VRC Premiere Division side started the second half of
the season looking prepared and serious as they turned out a high-tempo victory
against the UBC Old Boys Ravens by a score of 18-10.
The Rowing Club got on the board first as French fullback
Roman Plantey slotted a penalty kick from around the 20 meter line. The Ravens
were able to answer with a penalty kick of their own to tie the score early.
From there, the teams traded hard phases and solid defense around mid-field.
Wet conditions made for more direct tactics and difficult handling. Both packs turned
out strong set pieces early, despite soft ground. The 3-3 deadlock was broken
in the first half when fly half Henry Recinos found enough space along the
outside to get loose just inside the Ravens’ half and was able to show off his
speed all the way to the end goal. Plantey slotted the conversion to make it
10-3, and another penalty kick to make it 13-3 for the Rowing Club at the half.
The Ravens didn’t quit easily, scoring another converted try
in the 2nd half to make it 13-10, but the Rowers defense held
strong. Team tackling was very good, several strong open-field tackles by
Brandon Kaye were audible on the sidelines. Substitute flanker Scylar “The
Salmon Arm Charm” Dumas put in a well-earned insurance try to seal it.
The pack looked very strong in an exceptionally physical
game, with new hooker Jason Carton and 8th man Lockland Campbell
showing that they are integrating well with their new club.
1st Division
The First division also got off to a strong start against
the Ravens, beginning their season with a 15-11 win. Young fly half Trevor
Canton opened the scoring by taking advantage of a penalty opportunity 25 yards
out and giving his team a 3-0 lead. The Ravens were able to answer with a
penalty of their own, but had trouble moving the ball against a well-drilled
Rowers defense that was executing well, and making strong tackles behind the
gain line. Blind side winger Kevin Gurniak carried one in along the touch-line
to put the visiting side up 8-3 on the neutral UBC pitch (both Brockton Oval
and Jericho were deemed unplayable by the Parks Board). Andrew Meakin made good
on a beautiful corner conversion to give the Rowers a 10-3 advantage. Shortly
after the Gurniak try, fullback Liam Carter put an exclamation point on a
strong run, finding the mud of the end goal and extending the Rowers lead to
15-6 at the half.
The Rowers 1sts held on through both mental and
technical errors in the second half. The Ravens looked stronger and ended up
playing more of the rugby and moving in a positive direction for much of the period.
The Rowers conceded a late try but held on strong for the victory. Hard forward
play and fundamental defense were clearly the 1sts strong points. They’ll be
looking to improve of those aspects through the break.
The scheduled Third Division game against new league entrants
Squamish was called off due to poor pitch conditions. The Ruck Muck is tracking
chatter that the game is to be made up on February 14 at Brockton, as the rest
of the league takes a break for the Las Vegas 7s tournament, but have been
unable to confirm with BC Rugby.
The 1st Division and Premier League
are next scheduled to be in action February 21st at home against the
Castaway Wanderers. The Third Division is away that weekend against the
Capilanos at Klahanie.
Original reporting by Braden Maccke
Highlights courtesy BC Rugby
