MONDAY's MUSINGS - HARDWARE GOES WEST

(Honest toil from two deservees. Credit, Norm Le Bus)

Westshore were loaded for bear and although the contest was bookended by CW scoring from Easson and Fatt, it was all Westshore in between, comprehensively compiling 43 points primarily earned on the back of Isherwood who chipped in a hattrick and four converts for 23.  The word “debacle” comes to mind to describe a very lack-luster performance by the hosts.  They were not given any slack by Westshore.  As predicted; as per their selection, so goeth their performance, and it was an All Star cast on Saturday that pilfered a brace of trophies from the shelf!

TALE OF THE TAPE

5 Min. Easson penalty following a CW territory edge to open.

15 Min.  Oyoo elusive shake and bake for 20m to Isherwood, 7 – 3.

Shortly after.  Olouch break for 30m and dish to Perry, 12 – 3.

CW did earn some go-forward metres and hopes to rise. Penalties and possession loss at breakdowns were responded to by some willing bursts from Westshore’s Perrett, Kingham and the pacey, Sager, causing absolute headaches for CW.

33 Min. An alert Isherwood was over for his brace, 17 – 3.

There was an effort in response only for yet another unforced error.  Westshore ran rampant in possession, led by a lively #6, Otieno who finally broke some insecure tackles, and he fed #9, Perry for a 24 – 3 lead at the interval.  Westshore had put the ball in the hands of their speedy strengths and were certainly good value for the lead.

Second Stanza

3 Min. After the ball was stolen by N’dirangu, CW was immediately under the cosh and when presented with a yellow card, their task became impossible.

8 Min. Isherwood had his hattrick, 31 – 3.

Shortly after.  This same man sent Groenewold on a 40m run, breaking tackles and he took the return pass and gifted the tally to a teammate, 38 – 3.

10 Min. My pen went to my pocket, and it became a game of grief!

#15, Wison-Bishop (I think), took a pass from a break by a sub, 43 – 3.

37 Min. Denver Fatt deservedly, put an exclamation mark on his untarnished performance, 43 – 8.

In a match that was “all Westshore” there were many standouts.  Isherwood was “la Premier Etoile” and Otieno was the pick of a fine trio of loose forwards.  CW had no answer to the pace, with NSMT 7’s standouts, and commitment to defense of the visitors.  Perry, Sagar, and Oyoo in the backs and Kingham, Hancock and N’dirangu in the forwards all deserve honorable mention.

For CW, there were few who were untarnished.  Fatt (M-o-M), Finnemore, and Wallace in the forwards, and Pilgrim and Hager, in the backs gave a non-stop effort.  CW gets next weekend off before a final home game miracle against a tough UBC opponent.  Then they will have to ponder a way to harness this team at the Shore in a playoff rematch.

Thanks to the three match officials with Nathan Hight, M-i-M. The assembled crowd of devoted followers enjoyed the encounter, and it will be interesting to see if this Westshore selection can be retained for their final games.

                                       Every picture tells a story - Nott urges Johnny onwards

The day began with great hope when a partisan crowd was on hand, hoping for an upsetting of their perennial foes in the women’s Premier match. And so, it came to pass in a very good game of rugby.  Early play ebbed at centerfield.  Around ten minutes, a missed tackle gave Westshore a good impetus. A resultant penalty and ball won from a ruck saw a thirty-meter break for the lead to the visitors, 7 – 0.  It only took CW five minutes to respond when from a series of recycles, a wide pass saw Hill-Huse dummy and thrust over the line, 7 – 7.  Westshore’s handling and retention asked some questions which were more than answered with a 30m break by CW’s Hilton. It was around 25m when Westshore’s #15, Poetker made a 55m break, supplemented with a couple of jinks, her sheer speed had spectators agog, 14 – 7.  CW was not to be deterred and stuck to the task with strong carries from Pusch and Skakun keeping the affair tight.  Their efforts were rewarded at 30m when Adberg confidently stroked a trey, 14 – 10.  And so, the first half ended.

The second stanza opened with a strong break by CW’s Casey.  CW maintained pressure from this field position, and it only took five minutes and Aberg broke a tackle and with brute strength, she crossed the line.  To add to this insult, she casually converted for the 17 – 14 lead.  Next it was CW’s Perdomo for the break and on to Pusch for forty metres.  CW’s confidence was visibly growing but not capitalized on due to some indirect passing and flat-footed attack lines. Westshore was next to roll the numbers when a favorable bounce ended in the hands of Douglas for the score, 19 – 17.  CW responded with a good interchange, only for Currie to be held up.  McKinnon and Edwards were on the field and provided determined charges, McKinnon also being deemed “held up”.  Aberg was almost over again and there was still plenty of time remaining.  CW maintained their position and possession and put Westshore under the cosh for a long period.  Finally, the pressure was rewarded and the lead re-taken with 6/7 minutes remaining, 22 - 19. (Apologies to the try scorer!) Maddy Aberg was noticeable again, but a proud Westshore defense held.

This was quite the game and one of several memorable encounters this pundit has had the good fortune to witness.  All the participants deserve bouquets.  The head-to-head competition between the UVic women was intriguing.  On a day such as this, it is hard to delineate any one player.  For Westshore, I give #15, Poetke my W – o – M with honorable mention to MacPherson, Courtney Sims, and captain, Minter.  For the Tricolors, in a wonderful team performance, I thought Adberg was a shade ahead of Currey, Casey, Pusch, and Skakun.  It is difficult to assess just what this means to table standings in what is a confusing situation to this pundit.

Big thanks to the officiating trio, with Juan Pablo M-i-M.

There were two earlier games.  I give a shout out both clubs for mustering a men’s 3rd Div engagement for their youth and has-beens. The other match, a 1st Division men’s game was for League points and the Shore with a #3 rank, playing CW with a #16 rank, were heavy favorites and they did not disappoint their followers, winning the match 47 – 12.  CW Divvies host Cowichan this coming Saturday and Port Alberni the following to close their campaign.  Thanks to M-i-M, Brown for adjudicating this one. Finally, to the BCRRS for providing some ten officials for Windsor Park alone this weekend.  Whilst on the thanks topic, thanks to those women who helped Joe, Spice and Bogie with grounds set-up on Saturday, not to forget Gord and Peter on the “gate”. To ‘The Faithful’, here’s hopes for better days ahead!