Thirds Beat Caps, Top Teams Lose Close

The Rowers Third Division turned in a convincing 24-11 win this past Saturday against the Capilanos at Klahanie. Short numbers all week, and without the benefit of having drilled together, the Thirds leaned on experience. They ran the ball in space and remained physically dominant in tackles and at the breakdown. Centre back Evan Hughes had a great game, featuring a few good long runs and two tries. Hughes’ speed and a talent for tackling make him the type of standout that the Thirds risk losing to a higher division. Brian Andrerson’s Rowers resurgence continued as he scored a try off of a between-the-legs feed from Godfather Steve MacGillivary. Anderson was also carded (yellow) for a high tackle, which put him an injury short of the “Patty O’Gorman Hattrick”.

Brian Anderson - File Photo

MacGillivary Executes a more conventional pass
File Photo

Fullback John O’Brian, who suffered a bad concussion the last time he played at Klahanie, played with great class, hitting 2 of 4 conversions. Eighth man Will Andreucetti scored a beautiful try picking from the base after a hard charge by 2nd Row Brett Illing, who had a characteristically strong, physical game. The try capped a drive that went the length of the pitch, and began with a quick jackal by an opportunistic Brian Andrews while the Rowers were backed up against their own goal line.



The Rowers Firsts (Library Square Division) lost a very physical game to the Caps by a score of 29-20, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort. The Rowers showed tremendous defense against a physical and hard running Caps team, and declined to sink to retribution in a decidedly dirty game. Outside center Adrian Meiring filled the score sheet for a second straight week, tallying a try on a beautiful give and go with inside centre Luke Baker, two conversions and two penalty kicks. Baker had several punishing tackles that may have been audible from the top of Grouse Mountain. Club newcomer, flyhalf Rory McClennan, set up the third try with a lightning quick pass to the blind side from the base of the ruck. Young Brendan Balon, playing his first game at fullback, took the pass at pace and continued on through to the end-goal. Captain Brendan Fagan praised his squad after the game for showing emotional and physical toughness on the road against a team that out-weighed them considerably. This Firsts team is showing a lot of talent and a lot of guts. The Ruck Muck predicts that the success will come as experience playing together stitches them tighter as a unit.

The Rowers Premier Team (Mainland Cup Division) lost yet another heartbreaker to a very physical and talented Capilanos Team by a score of 32-30 in the last minute. Irish hooker Jason Carton scored 2 great tries in an excellent effort and spearheaded a technically proficient scrum that performed very well against a Caps pack that had a distinct weight advantage. Caleb Hansen scored a try off the wing from a beautiful inside feed by fullback Ben Harris. Centre Brian Durham played a phenomenal game, converting all three tries, adding three successful penalties for good measure and having what would have been a sure try off of turnover ball called back for being offsides, which he clearly was not.

Coach Jeremy Sabell will be expecting the Prems to be more physical and defend better than they have been this coming Saturday at home against the Maralomas. Despite losing key individuals to injury, this squad is playing good rugby and has been a solid contender in every game they’ve played so far.


All three teams are at home at Brockton against the Maralomas this coming Saturday. Come on out and show your support!