CW Consolidates Form Over Hapless Rowers

VRC started with great élan, their forwards showing intent not to stand down from a more vaunted pack.  At the first set, perhaps a portent of things to come, saw one of the front row players on the floor.  In fact, CW’s FRF, mostly “International” by birth only, with Jake Ilnicki having a cap to his credit, Chapman, Braddock and Ilnicki, was the platform for the day’s victory.  The return of “Waldo” O’Toole was noticed very early, when he stole the ball at the breakdown, burst forth and fed #13 Henderson on a good line at pace.  He slipped it to Hearn who only had to finish.

It was again, soon after, with O’Toole, full of running, feeding a speeding Horton for a 60m chunk of territory.  At about twenty minutes the pin went into the pre-game balloon for Rowers when T.H. Chahwau (??) at prop was forced to leave the fray. Thence a tight head scrum to CW and good service to Hearn who had some work to do.  He showed us the first of a number of huge, world-class side steps on the day for his brace, 12 – 0. [Quoth one wag; “As wide as the Sydney Harbor Bridge, eh Ruggernut?”]  Play became somewhat static with increased inclemency of the weather.  It was left to Hearn to brighten the sky with another massive jink, turning on the “speed” switch, fending and swatting off three “would-be’s” with sheer strength for an individual hat trick.  Hearn 19 – VRC 0. Hearn was soon to add yet another.

The CW pack had a definite sniff of the opposition’s inability to handle their united power and they mauled possession twenty five meters for Captain Buydens to cross and a 29 -0 lead.  Scoring for the first stanza was not finished and Rowers’ Gurniak ran a great line from #15 for a well deserved try.  And so the curtain fell. 

The second stanza was only five minutes old when Kehoe fell on the ball for a “pushover” tally.  CW pressure continued but the continuity marginally went missing with liberal substitutions for the Home team (“go, Hodgey”!)  At fifteen minutes with six or seven phases of retention, Buydens broke and fed Henderson for another good try and 39 – 5 lead.  It was Gurniak again for Rowers giving hope with a good break only for the ball to be lost and Northcott and Horton countered with interest.  The Rowers did come again but another O’Toole steal saw the ball interpass numerous times before Horton finished with and “easy” forty meter scamper and an end to the scoring parade, a 44 – 5 line.

This pundit thought Gurniak and Seyler (#2??) were good value for Rowers but it is hard to say much with such ball deprivation and smothering defense when the red and white did have possession.  Ne’ertheless, kudos to Rowers for not throwing in the towel.

For Ceedub, Hearn was clearly MoM but Riley Ilnicki and Jordan Henderson had outstanding matches.  Morris had a good outing and Northcott was dangerous, despite a punctured tire.  The pace of Horton as a “mudder” was again noticeable and this UVic grad is becoming a valued acquisition for CW.  MacPherson and Armstrong pose a good dilemma for the coaching staff.  O’Toole, short of a trot, provides magic stuff at the breakdown.  Braddock had a good outing despite sans Dry Feet!  Chapman looked very comfortable replacing Tiedemann.  Phelan and Hubert toiled in the tight stuff.

No matter who is cobbled for the Burnaby Road Show, quiet confidence is building and it should be an interesting tussle.  UVic must have created some real doubt as they pressed for a W but BLRFC is a worthy league leader and did not succumb.  At last meeting, Dolesau scored a brace and The Lakers went on to win, 30 – 10.  They have beef and toughness in the pack and it is all very well orchestrated by #10, Ryan.  Again, we’ll see….cometh the hour, cometh the man?