Fight Night 4 punches its way to major success

Sixteen fighters brawl at the Greek Hall--

Ian "Jaimo" Jameson battles Ben "The Babymaker" Walker in the Main Event
at the VRC's Fight Night Four. Jaimo won the bout on a split decision.

Billed as "The Brawl at the Greek Hall," the amateur fighters battling it out in Fight Night 4 certainly lived up to the hype. Sixteen pugilists fought with pride, displaying skill and courage June 2, as they stepped into the ring to support their clubs.

Co-hosted by the Vancouver Rowing Club and the UBC Old Boys, more than 350 people attended Vancouver rugby's night at the fights at the Hellenic Community Centre on Arbutus.

"The evening was a huge success," said Braden Maccke, the event's promoter. "We had eight great fights." He added that most matches were close, even though five bouts had unanimous decisions, noting the boxers, "left it all in the ring."

Maccke also co-organized FN4 with Marcus Schaper-Kotter, the Rowers' treasurer. Maccke said Schaper-Kotter worked many tireless hours setting up the event and that FN4 wouldn't have been successful otherwise. "He's the reason we made money," he said.

Model Christine Mercedes strolls through the ring
during the main event to announce the last round
of boxing for the night.

Maccke also thanked FN4's sponsors. "I can't say enough about - the Manchester Pub, Labbatt's, RUCKwear, Gainline Africa - but especially our title sponsor: Sugarrays boxing gym. Sugarrays made the night by supplying all the fighters with all new gear, they took care of wrapping every boxer's fists, and they made us look like a professional event." He added the crew that set up and tore down the squared circle also deserved a few pats on the back.

"Congrats to Marcus and Braden for putting on a great Fight Night," remarked Rowers' head coach Jeremy Sabell. "Well done to all the fighters! Thanks very much for the entertainment. Getting in the ring is harder than it looks and it doesn't look easy, so well done all of you."

Most of the matches were close fights and three of the contests ended in split decisions, including the main event.

Winners and losers
Here is a breakdown of the results:

Fight 1 – Jamie Ruel defeated Henry Recinos part way through the third round when the referee stopped the fight.

Fight 2 – Dillon "Weasel" Debono defeated Maverick "Shootin" Seed by a unanimous decision.

Fight 3 – Liam "Young Buck" Hunter beat Tom "The Iceman" Winter by a unanimous decision.

Fight 4 – Connor "High Tower" Dunne beat Colin "Jon C" Robinson by a unanimous decision.

Fight 5 – Jamal Perez defeated Nick Labelle in a split decision.

Fight 6 – Zack Myers defeated Dan Sutton by a split decision.

Fight 7 – Joey Alexis beat Nick Waggott in a unanimous decision.

Main Event – Ian "The Orange Bastard" Jamieson defeated Ben "The Babymaker" Walker in a split decision.

Dan Sutton just misses Zack Meyers' head with a right-cross in fight
number 6. Myers won the bout amid some controversy.

The Under-card
In the first split decision of the night, Jamal Perez and Nick Labelle showed their mettle as they boxed each other into a very close match. Their battle was a "pick 'em" bout as the fight could've gone either way.

After the contest, Carlin "Chuck" Wilkin, one of the Fight Night 4 judges, said, "I gave two out of three rounds to Perez. He won the second half of the third round - that gave him the bout."

There were two "hiccups" over the course of the night in an otherwise flawless affair, one major and one minor, as the ring announcer misread the results after two of the fights.

The major hiccup occurred after the sixth fight when the announcer gave the victory to Dan Sutton in a blunder that reverberated in bewilderment throughout the Hellenic Centre. The mic-man announced Sutton had won on a split decision when, in fact, the judges awarded the double-u to Myers.

"The Sutton-Myers cock-up was pretty embarrassing," admitted Maccke. "Chalk it up to a miscommunication between the judges, the referee, and the announcer."

After Sutton and Myers exited the squared circle, the announcer called the boxers back so he could reverse the decision, as Myers narrowly defeated Sutton in another "pick 'em" bout. Myers gladly climbed back in the ring to get his arm raised, and to pose for a victory shot with professional model Christine Mercedes.

Minutes after the misread, Chuck Wilkin again clarified, "The announcer read the results card wrong. That's all. The judges did not make a mistake."

Main Event
The main event promised to be intense as both Jamieson and Walker -  a couple of tough, sinewy brawlers - looked like natural-born fighters as they strode out to the ring to do battle in the sweet science. After Jamieson marched out, led by a piper, the excitement hit a crescendo for the last fight of the evening.

In round one, Jamieson burst out of his corner and attacked Walker with a flurry of jabs and hooks. Jamieson continued to bounce around throughout the opening round, throwing head and body shots as Walker held on. Near the end of the round, Walker clawed back a few points by landing some solid punches of his own.

It was Walker's turn to shine in round two as he started strong and put together some combinations of his own. Walker's punching persistence gave him a big wave of momentum in the round and he looked great going into the third.

As round three began, the fight was either pugilists' to win. Trading blows to the body and head, both fighters battled hard and danced around the ring, despite the intense beating each boxer was taking at the fists of the other. Toward the middle of the final round, Jamieson seemed to get a second wind and returned to the attack. Forcing walker to play defence, Jamieson out-punched The Babymaker in the final seconds, ultimately garnering the split decision win.

The main event also suffered a minor hiccup when the announcer misread the judges' score cards again. This time the announcer declared Jamieson a unanimous victor.  However, the three judges scored the bout: 29-28, 29-28, 28-29.

Fight Night 5

Fight Night 5 is now in the early planning stages and Maccke says a few bouts are already shaping up, including one with connections to FN4. "We're negotiating at least one rematch for Fight Night 5, but I won't say anything until it's all confirmed." Maccke added the timeline on confirmation for the rematch would take a few months.

Watch this space for that rematch information and other FN5 related news in the coming months.

Here are some more shots from the Main Event.

Walker wears the orange shorts with black trim, while Jaimo wears the
All Black rugby shorts.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 3.

VRC Fight Night 4: The Battle on Arbutus

Amateur boxers to punch it out this weekend--

J-Wo dances in Fight Night 2.

The fourth incarnation of the Vancouver Rowing Club's Fight Night hits Vancouver on Saturday. Hosted by the rugby section, the wildly successful event offers many bouts this year.

Fight Night 4 (FN4) will see 16 pugilists get in the ring June 2 at the Hellenic Community Centre in Vancouver.

Each year the evening produces some great entertainment and FN4 promises to live up to the success of those previous events.

"The night will be amazing," noted event promoter Braden Maccke. "This is, without a doubt, the best fight card at any Rowers' Fight Night to date."

Maccke's is promoting the event through his outfit Sportsdesk Promotions. "We've lined up eight strong fights, including the long-awaited Jaimo versus Ben Walker clash. You won't want to miss this one."

According the Maccke, the main event is likely to be the highlight of the night. The same match was cancelled from the card at FN3 after work commitments prevented Walker from scrapping last year. Now both pugilists are sharpening their skills for Saturday.

"I think it'll be a great fight!" exclaimed Maccke. "Walker's tough as hell, and fit, but can you really imagine Jaimo losing?"

He said the under-card promises to be exciting too. (Bout order is subject to change.) This year's line-up is billed as:

A ring girl from 2010. Braden Maccke says this
year's ring girls are professional models.

1. Henry Recinos vs. Jamie Ruel
2. Nick Waggott vs. Joey Alexis
3. Maverick "Shootin" Seed vs. Dylan "Weasel" DeBono
4. Connor "High Tower" Dunne vs. Colin "Jon C" Robinson
5. Dan Sutton vs. Zac Myers
6. Jamal Perez vs. Nic Labelle
7. Liam "Young Buck" Hunter vs. Tom "The Iceman" Winter
8. Ian "The Orange Bastard" Jameson vs. Ben "The Babymaker" Walker


Maccke cautioned fans of the sweet-science against waiting to buy walk-up tickets on Saturday night. "The event is almost sold out and there'll be no guarantee anyone will be able to buy tickets at the door."

He noted that tickets are available through the Rowing Club website. To buy tickets, visit this webpage.

Maccke also said the ring girls this year are professional models.

FN4 is being presented by the Vancouver Rowing Club Rugby Section in association with the UBC Old Boy Ravens.

Ian "Jaimo" Jameson's arm is raised in victory after FN2. Jaimo takes
on Ben "The Babymaker" Walker in a much anticipated bout June 2.

Tickets are $50 for ringside seats, $35 for second tier seats, and $20 for general admission.

The Hellenic Community Centre is located at 4500 Arbutus Street in Vancouver. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the fights start at 8 p.m. For some great video from FN3 see this YouTube feed.

WE WIN!

Rowers fight out victory in 1st div; seconds lose heart-breaker in OT

The Rowers win the Okanagan Spring Brewery League One
championship game 36-24 over Bayside.

The Vancouver Rowing Club are provincial champions.

Despite some early adversity in the 1st division championship game May 5 at Klahanie Park, the Rowers successfully mounted a second-half comeback to emerge victorious in the Okanagan Spring Brewery League One provincial championship final, downing the Bayside Sharks 36-24.

The Rowing Club 2nd division team also fought a hard battle with Bayside in the Okanagan Spring Brewery League Two final, but ultimately came up short in overtime, losing 41-24.

2nds
In the first championship final of the day for the Rowing Club, the Super-Twos played an evenly matched, seesaw type of game, with the Sharks. They traded leads and tied three times during the game: 7-7, 17-17, and 24-24. Nothing was resolved after 80 minutes and the teams took the 24-all score into extra time.

The Super-Twos get a team photo after their extra-time loss to Bayside
in the 2nd div provincial title game, 41-24.

In the extra frame, the Sharks managed to capitalize on some VRC errors and ran in three tries, ending the Rowers’ hope for victory. Bayside outscored the Rowers 17-0 in extra time. Final score: 41-24.

VRC try scorers: Lucas Clark, Karl Mudzamba, and Simon D’Agrosa (2).


1sts
In a pre-match message to the team, head coach Jeremy Sabell encouraged his players to put in the “biggest, 80-minute effort” of their lives. “Don’t wait for anyone else to stand up and be the one,” he wrote. “Make it start with you.” Taking his advice, the team started strong and played well in the opening quarter of the game.

Before kick-off.

The Rowers scored very early in the match when Duncan James intercepted a Bayside pass, touching it down under the posts. Bayside replied about 10 minutes later and the match was even, 7-7.

But the Rowers then faced some adversity when two key players were injured. “Matt James and Doug Crowe were both knocked out of the game with injuries,” Sabell said. “I think our young guys lost a bit of self belief.”

That’s when young Henry Recinos stepped in and played fly-half, covering Crowe’s position, and covering for James’ kicking duties. Sabell was confident Recinos could “stand up” and play and Recinos rose to the challenge. “Henry took us home,” Sabell added.

The teams continued to trade blows. Graham Keane punched one over for the Rowers and Bayside answered right back. After the injuries though, Bayside seemed to capture the momentum. They added a try and a penalty to take a 17-12 lead into the half-time break.

Michael Jordan runs into two Bayside tacklers early
early in the game.

Bayside extended their lead early in the second half with a converted try to go up 24-12.

But then the Rowers began mounting a comeback. Steve Craig ran in a try to close the gap to seven points. Then Recinos tied the game, scoring in the corner and converting his own try. Next up, the forwards too control when front-row Noah Barker pounded one in. Late in the game, the Rowers were up by seven, 31-24.

It was still anyone’s game until Craig connected with Karl Mudzamba around the Bayside 22. The play developed after some tight forward play near centre when Craig took a pass and zig-zagged down the pitch past three Bayside defenders.

“As soon as we got the ball wide, I knew we were going to have a chance,” Craig said. “The support was great.”

Steve Craig on one his many rambles during the match.

After Craig raced down the field, he found Mudzamba streaking near him in support. “Steve beat three guys and set me up through the gap. All I had to do was catch the ball and finish.” said Madzumba. “He gave me the ball, I scored, and we sealed the game.”

Clawing their way back from a 12-point deficit, the Rowers scored 24 unanswered points to put an exclamation mark on their victory.

Karl Mudzamba races down the pitch.

Pat Kearney, head coach for Bayside, said the match was full of dramatic ups and downs. “You have to give credit to Jeremy Sabell and the Rowers because their bench was better than our bench. Their speed was better than our speed and so was their decision making.”

Noah Barker scores a try.

Sabell added that the first and second team squads were a pleasure to coach this year. “Your efforts on the field, in both games, were the most inspiring I have ever seen in 25 years of playing and coaching rugby.”

VRC try scorers: Duncan James, Noah barker, Graham Keane, Steve Craig, Henry Recinos, and Karl Mudzamba.
--with files from Braden Maccke.

 All photos, except close-up picture of the Cup, by Attilio Mastrota.

Rowers cruise to victory

First division team advances to final
Photos: Malin Jordan

Steve Craig leaps over the try-line for the second Rowers' try in their 42-15
semi-final victory over the Seattle Rugby Football Club April 28 at Brockton
Oval. The Rowers face Bayside in the final May 5.

The Vancouver Rowing Club's 1st division squad cruised into the Okanagan Spring Brewery League One championship final on the back of a six-try performance April 28, downing Seattle 42-15.

The 1sts now face the Bayside Sharks in the final May 5. The Rowers split their two regular season matches with Bayside, winning the first tilt 37-35, while losing the second one 50-26.

April 28

Seattle travelled up to the Rowing Club's home ground in Stanley Park last weekend for the semi-final match, pitting second place versus third place. The Rowers snatched an early lead in the game immediatley after the kick-off when Kevin Gurniak jumped over the try-line and scored in the corner - roughly a minute or so into the contest. Matt James added the convert and the Rowers took an early 7-0 lead.

Matt James converts Steve Craig's first try of the match April 28. James
went six-for-six on convert attempts in the game.

A few minutes later, Steve Craig reeled in pass at the 20-metre line and raced towards the in-goal area, leaping over the try-line from five metres out. Soon after, Craig quickly ran in another tally and touched the ball down under the posts. After Matty James converted all three early tries, the Rowers were comfortably in control early into the first half, 21-0, and they never looked back.

Seattle played well and had some good chances, ultimately notching two tries, but they were no match for the faster running Rowers.

May 5

Both the 1sts and the 2nds play Bayside in both championship finals this weekend. The seconds kick-off their match against the Sharks at 1:30 at Klahanie Park, while the firsts battle Bayside at 3:30 at Klahanie.

Here is an excerpt form the match report written by Andrew Smith from the BCRU's communications department. The original article is here.

"We came out strong in the opening ten minutes going up by three tries. Seattle definitely suffered from their 'bus-legs' and the trip up here," Rowers head coach Jeremy Sabell said, alluding to the benefits of home field advantage. "You have to give them credit though because they didn't go away and kept fighting through to the end."

Seattle were stiff competition for the remainder of the opening half and trailed 21-3 at the break. The second half saw the visitors building momentum as they had much of the possession in the opening 15 minutes. The two sides traded scores throughout the second frame with the Rowers winning the try count 3-2.

By the final whistle Rowers tries were notched by Graham Keane, Matt James, Kevin Gurniak, Dave Hall and two were scored by Steve Craig. James put on a flawless kicking display converting all six tries for the extra 12 points.

Nate Olsen scored Seattle's two tries with Eric Forner kicking a conversion and a penalty.

"I'm very pleased with today's result," Sabell added. "I thought our wingers made good use of the ball and our forwards, especially Connor Dunn and George Richmond really led the pack. And of course Matt James showed he was a world class kicker today."

During the regular season, the Rowers defeated Seattle in both their meetings coming away with a 36-7 win on March 31st, and a 56-10 decision on March 3rd.

In other playoff action today, the Bayside Sharks defeated Richmond RFC 16-15 in the Okanagan Spring Brewery League Two semifinals. Bayside will now advance to the provincial final against top-seeded Vancouver Rowing Club. Tier Two playoffs will see Bayside versus Rowers match-ups in both Okanagan Spring Brewery league finals on Saturday, May 5th. 

Playoffs kick-off at Brockton Oval April 28

The Rowers host Seattle in the 1st div semi-final--

Wade Moore runs at a Seattle defender March 31. The Rowers cruised to a 36-7
victory in the contest at Seattle's Magnusson Park. Photo: Malin Jordan

The Rowers' first div squad faces Seattle this weekend in a semi-final match in Stanley Park. The Mighty-Firsts beat Seattle in both regular season match-ups, 56-10 and 36-7, but Seattle has recently looked stronger than those scorelines dictate. Kick-off is 2:30 at Brockton Oval.

Here's and in-depth look at the match from the BCRU site:


By Andrew Smith, BC Rugby Communications
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Rowing Club will battle Seattle at Brockton Oval on Saturday for a berth to the 2012 provincial final of the Tier Two Okanagan Spring Brewery League One competition. The two sides are looking to secure the second seed and advance to the May 5th final against the top-seeded Bayside Sharks of White Rock, BC.
 
After missing out on qualification to the 2012 Premier League, the Vancouver Rowing Club turned their focus to developing a young squad and regrouped with an impressive season in the Tier Two Okanagan Spring Brewery League competition. The Rowers wrapped up the season  in second place with a 9-1 record, averaging a second-best 30.4 points per game in offence and led the league defensively allowing just 16.7 ppg.

"After missing out on the [Premier] league, our plan was to make this season about development and getting better in every game," said Rowers head coach Jeremy Sabell. "We have got a lot of young guys coming through our academy system we founded in 2008 and we have a mix of some very good veteran players. About half of our top two teams have come through the system. In my mind we have exceeded expectations a little bit this year."

The Rowers have seen a number of blue chips rise to the challenge including loose head prop Noah Barker and Gradyn Bowd, two players called up to the Canadian Under-20 national team for their exhibition series against Romania this past March.

Excelling in the back line, Matt James finished second overall in league scoring (65 pts) with three tries, six penalties and 16 conversions to his credit. The Rowers have also benefited from some strong leadership through the play of scrum half Duncan James.

"We like to think of ourselves as a very balanced team and we are able to attack from anywhere on the field," Sabell added. "We play a very up-tempo style of play and we have done well because at the foundation we are very organized on defence."

This weekend the Rowers will play host to Seattle RFC (6-4), a team that won three games at home, but struggled on the road during 2012 competition.  The Rowers defeated Seattle in both their meetings coming away with a 36-7 win on March 31st, and a 56-10 decision on March 3rd.

"Seattle are very unpredictable and they have the ability to draw on players from Super League side Old Puget Sound Beach," Sabell added of this weekend's opponents. "They have certainly improved throughout the season and we aren't taking them lightly."

Key offensive contributors for Seattle include Nate Olsen and centre Casey Cronk.  Saturday's match is scheduled for 2:30pm at Brockton Oval.

Rowers fight for win

Thirds end season with well-deserved victory--
Photos: Malin Jordan

Colin Robinson picks the ball from the back of a scrum in 3rd dive action
versus the Surrey Beavers April 21. The Beavers had to play in T-shirts for
the first half until their kit arrived.

The Thirsty-Thirds managed to end the 2012 spring campaign on a high note by topping the Surrey Beavers 38-24 on April 21 at Brockton Oval. The Rowers' win gives the squad a lot to build on for next year as many of the players who contributed to the victory, with solid tackling and some great running, were rugby newcomers.

Surrey started the game strong and scored an early try. The Rowers played the opening part of the match on the back foot, but they were able to hold Surrey outside the VRC 22-metre line for most of the opening half. They stayed in the match with some good set play and counter-rucking at the breakdowns.

The Beavers seemed to control all of the games' momentum until Jakey Curtis manhandled a Beaver near the 40-metre line. Curtis helped put the Thirsty-Thirds back in the match when his key tackle forced a turnover. The Rowers successfully converted the opportunity into points and the turnaround ensured the squad was firmly in the game.

Jakey Curtis gets ready to make a pass to Tugboat in the first-half against
Surrey April 21.

Thirsty-Thirds stalwart Robin Mallinder rushed onto the pitch in the second frame and rambled 40 metres for a try in the first five minutes of the half. He pulled off the exact same feat in the Richmond game earlier in the season, only this time he did not separate his shoulder diving across the line.

The game was tight in the second half as both teams traded a few converted tries. But 24-24 was as close as the Beavers got as David Hill and Alex Ackerley added late scores to put the game out of reach for Surrey.

Attilio Mastrota pops a pass to Alec Morrison.

Alec Morrison passes off to a racing Atillio Mastrota.

Regular season ends Saturday

Two games at Brockton Oval this weekend--

The regular season closes with two matches at Brockton Oval April 21. The 3rds play the Surrey Beavers and the 1sts and 2nds play an inter-squad touch match.

3RDS
The Thirsty-Thirds -- already out of the playoffs -- look to finish the season on high note by ending with a win. They could also spoil Surrey's chances at a playoff round birth in the process.

The Beavers, currently in 4th, need a big win as only the top three teams make the playoffs. Though they need to combine this with a Capilano 'a' loss to Richmond, which seems unlikely. So the die may already be cast for the Beavers' silverware bid this year.

The Thirsty-Thirds kick-off against the Beavers at 1 p.m. on Brockton Oval.

2NDS

The Super-Twos have a bye this weekend and -- regardless of the outcome of any other games -- finish alone in first place. With the first place finish the squad gets a bye into the championship final on May 5. Location and start time TBA.

(According the BCRU site, as of today, 4th place squads do not make the playoffs in the Okanagan Spring Brewery Leagues. Last week the site noted that 4th place squads did make the playoffs.)

1STS

The Mighty-Firsts also have the weekend off after the Cowichan Piggies RFC defaulted their scheduled match at the Oval. The 1sts get a bonus-point win out of the disappointing turn of events. They finish the regular season with 44 points and are alone in first until Saturday when Bayside faces the Velox Valhallians in South Surrey.

If Bayside downs the Victorian squad, and captures a bonus point in the process, they will again be tied with the Rowers for first overall -- each at 44 points. If that scenario works out, which seems likely, then first place will be determined by the tie-break process.

A muddy Braden Maccke enjoys 1st div action from
the sidelines earlier this year. Maccke is set to start
against the Surrey Beavers April 21.
Photo: Malin Jordan

I'm not sure how the tie-break works, but if the BCRU bases it on wins and losses, the Rowers would end up in first with a 9-1 record, while Bayside would be second at 8-2. If they base it on bonus points, Bayside would go through by virtue of 12 points against 8. If the process is determined by points-for, then Bayside would go through as they have (as of April 19) 397 points-for, to the Rowers 284. 

(As mentioned above, according the BCRU site, as of today,  4th place squads do not make the playoffs in the Okanagan Spring Brewery Leagues. Last week the site noted that 4th place squads did make the playoffs.)

CAPTAIN'S RUN & BBQ @ THE OVAL

The 1sts and 2nds play an inter-squad touch game Saturday morning, kick-off is at 11:15 a.m. The game offers players an intense run to help the team stay focused and match-fit.

"The run is non-contact, but (it will be) a vigorous touch rugby session that will keep up our fitness and help keep us sharp," noted team coach Jeremy Sabell.

The Weather Network forecasts Saturday to be a fair day with a lot of sunshine. The Rowers are inviting fans, families, and alumni down to have a BBQ at the pitch and soak in some citizenship in the VRC Nation.

"It will be a sunny day. I can guarantee that," said Duncan James. "(It's) a great chance for us to get together ... throw the ball around, and -- for a change -- be the social voice and support for the 3rds."

Two more wins for The VRC Nation

Rowers win on the road in Victoria, but lose in North Van--

Justin Parlato spoils a Capilano line-out throw in one of the
few highlights for the Thirsty-Thirds April 14.

It was a tale of two cities for the Vancouver Rowing Club April 14 as the 1st and 2nd division teams slotted two solid wins in Victoria, while the 3rd division team suffered a sound defeat in North Vancouver. 

3rds
The Rowers' 3rd division squad (2-5) took on the Capilano 'a' team (5-2) at Klahanie Park on a sun-drenched rugby day last weekend.

Unfortunately it was the worst of times for the Thirsty-Thirds as the Capilanos outpaced the Rowers and coasted to an easy victory.

The Caps started with two quick tries and the game didn't get any better for the Rowers from there. Missed tackles, knock-ons, and errant kicks compounded over the opening half to produce a 36-0 halftime lead for the Rowers' Lionsgate rivals.

Despite the lopsided scoreline, the Rowers fought hard in the second half and managed to piece together some good possession and running play. Notable second half performances: Justin Parlato and David Hill combined for some powerful tackling and breakdown turnovers; Nick Coles, Mike Santoro, Stu Holland, and Steve McGillivary put together some strong backline runs; and Jakey Curtis secured a lot of loose ball.

Despite the second half highlights, the Capilano try-parade continued and the game ended 70-0.

2nds
The Super-Twos (6-2) secured first overall in their division after beating the Velox Valhallians (1-6) in Victoria by a score of 29-19.

Dave hall and Steve Craig tore up the pitch with some energetic runs, forcing Velox to play on the back foot, which in turn produced a lot of missed tackles.

Stu Holland breaks a tackle for the Thirsty-Thirds
April 14 against the Capilano 'a' team.

"The pitch was a sandlot," noted front-row prop Braden Maccke. "We all looked like we'd been pressed through a belt sander." Maccke said the Velox side was young, fiery, and wouldn't quit. He also noted that the referee was filming the match. "The ref had a camera strapped to his head the whole time; that was weird."


With the win, the 2nds (who have a bye this weekend) finish the season with 30 points and lock down first place overall. Bayside has a game in hand, but they've only accumulated 21 points so far and can't catch the Rowers. 

1sts
In the last Rowers' match of the day, the Mighty-Firsts (8-1) topped Velox (1-8) by 20 points, 38-18.

The game started well for the Rowers when the forward pack stood strong early in a defensive battle, denying the Valhallians any easy points. In the second half, the Rowers' backs contributed to the victory with some experienced running and ball handling.

Mike Santoro spirals a pass to Nick Coles in 3rd div action April 14.

Late in the game the Rowers sealed the win when the sprightly, youthful Matty James popped a kick through for the rugged, experienced Karl Mudzamba. Mudzamba collected the arcing ball and crossed the try-line for 5 points.

A special mention goes out to Duncan James for a strong performance.

With the win the Rowers climb to 39 points overall and sit tied for first place.

On April 14 the Bayside Sharks (7-2) lost to Seattle 31-24, but secured two bonus points in the loss to remain tied with the Rowers for first place.

 The Rowing Club finishes out the regular season at Brockton Oval April 21 when the Thirsty-Thirds battle Surrey -- kick-off is 1 p.m. -- and the Mighty-Firsts battle Cowichan -- kick-off is 2:45 p.m.

We're on the road ...

All three squads play away April 14--

The Rowers soundly beat Velox at Brockton in
early February and will be looking to repeat their
success April 14 in Victoria.
Photo: Attilio Mastrota.

The Rowing Club is on the road this weekend as the 1sts and 2nds both travel to the Island to play the Velox Valhallians, while the 3rds drive across the bridge to face the Capilanos at Klahanie Park.

North Shore
The Thirsty-Thirds (2-4) haven't yet faced the Caps this season. Capilano 'A' (4-2) are holding down 4th place in the log and are on the bubble for playoff contention. The 3rds are currently in 7th and well out of the playoff hunt (only the top three teams make it). But playing the role of spoiler against an arch-rival should be enough to pump up the Rowers for "The Battle of Burrard Inlet." Kick-off is at 11:30.

Vancouver Island
The ones and twos catch the ferry early on Saturday morning for rematches against Velox. The Rowers firmly beat Velox the first time around at Brockton Oval, but Velox will be tougher at home.

The Super-Twos (5-2), still first overall, will need to shake the bus legs off faster than they did against Seattle if they hope to add a W to the win column. In their last match against Velox (1-5), the 2nds ran in 94 points.

The Mighty-Firsts (7-1) had a tougher match than the 2nds in their first game against Velox (1-7), garnering a 27-8 win. The Rowers are averaging about 31 points per game, while Velox is averaging about 13. Expect a tough match from Velox, but a similar scoreline to last time.

It's will be a big day of Rugby at the Velox ground as four games are on tap for the club, starting with two women's games in the morning. The club is hosting a pig roast after the matches for the visiting sides. 

Next week, April 21, all three Rowers squads play at home in the final weekend of the regular season. The thirds play the Surrey Beavers and the 1sts and 2nds play Cowichan.

VRC Nation: Photos of the Day

Arm tackle--

Gradyn Bowd makes a dash for Seattle's goal line March 31 at Magnusson Park.

The Rowers won the match 36-7.