Monday's Musings

STUDENTS SCHOOL CEEDUB

AND THEN THE SUN SHONE

The UVic Vikings have finally opened their 2023/24 Premier campaign after a win over CW.  It was an excellent setting for the occasion on Friday evening.  The grandstand was eight parts full, including a good sprinkling of The Faithful, has beens, and juniors amongst the crowd.  CW opened with their strengths of scrummaging and tight recycles, resulting in positional advantage in the opening minutes.  Turnover ball, the first of many, saw a wonderful UVic attack from Alex Gamage, speeding and swerving for 85m.  The pressure was maintained and following a blocked kick by UVic, the line was crossed.  CW’s Hager replied with a 60m break and possession was retained with willing carriers driving for 7/8 carries.  Eventually, Nott (a ‘Try-a-Game’ man), on a good shift of foot and a hard line, crossed under the posts for the 7 – 5 lead.

CW continued with promising build ups, only to frequently knock on.  Also, they dominated the set piece, only to be held up twice, which was ominously a costly failure.  UVic had little possession but when they did get ball in hand, they gained quality ground with speed and accurate transfer.  At the thirty-minute mark their efforts were rewarded with a 30m penalty and the lead, 8 – 7.  As the half drew nigh CW had further advantages which were not taken.  UVic had another dangerous 60m break only to be halted. The half finished with further errors and some whistles which seemed to pose questions for Captain Ollie.

The second half started well for UVic.  A good pick up saw #8 threaten. A quick recycle and crash over the line at five minutes and the Vikings extended their lead to 13 – 7.  CW did respond after a rare visit to the UVic half.  Much energy had been expended by the CW defense but alert breakouts by Graham, Nott, and Tardiff (with apologies for any errors here), saw Munoz run a good line for his first CW try.  Advantage CW, 14 – 13, with 25min remaining and perhaps flattering.  From the re-start CW got into all kinds of strife, touching the ball dead and then running the ball towards a goal-line dropout gave an unsighted referee cause to allow play to continue, resulting in near disaster.  UVic were the recipients of another penalty. This resulted in several recycles and a “try given” in the corner to Doane, on the advice of the AR, completed with a marvelous convert.

Things appeared as if an embarrassment might occur in the final quarter.  For UVic it was not to happen and in fact, CW had a couple of late breaks.  UVic was clearly the deserved winner, a point they emphasized with some late resurgence in the scrummaging department.  Previously close results for UVic had finally turned the corner.  There are no comments re players on the evening, apart from bouquets to UVic’s first half #15, Gamage who was a beacon and always a danger.  CW sinks into mediocrity for the Festive Break.

Never at a loss for opinions, I leave the report with some reflections.  Being visually challenged by the distance and the dark, there were a number of occasions in the contest when my assessment of events differed to referee Horton’s adjudications.   Still, a replay of the tape will tell.  I did find signals to be unclear from high in the stands.  One, occurred when CW totally splintered the UVic pack, retreating backwards at a rate of knots, however, this resulted in a penalty awarded to the home team.  Oh, just in case I am really at sea, an electronic scoreboard clock showing that forty minutes had concluded was proof enough for the game’s completion yet there were at least four interruptions, in particular, the sorting of a melee that should have added time.  Regardless, CW had their chances but were simply not good enough on the night.

                                                                   Photo - John Richardson Images


Saturday saw two senior teams in action, both resulting in victories.  First it was the women’s Div. 1 team who had a healthy 54 – 0 victory over visiting Abbotsford.  At the same time, the men’s Divvies visited Comox.  The Tricolors came away with a 22 – 10 win to buoy them for the second half of the season.


                                                     THENCE CAME THE SABBATH

CW was involved in four V.I. Age Grade Championships.  Our U14 girls lost 55 – 12 to James Bay.  I believe that no longer is a Provincial Championship played at this age level.  Action then switched to the House of Windsor.

 
U14 BOYS

In a game when thirteen tries were scored, the spectator was never left idle! The opposition was Salish Sea (a combination of Brentwood and Shawnigan students).  At this level puberty growth spurts play a part and although it was a contest of bigger and faster lads who were the scorers, all players played a role and the bravery of many smaller lads to make the tackle was outstanding in the eyes of this pundit.  The scoreline went back and forth; 0 - 5; 7 – 5; 14 – 5; 14 – 10; 14 – 15; 21 – 15; 22 – 15 at the break, tries under the posts being awarded with seven points as conversions were not part of the scoring.

 

First blood in the second half went to CW when #15 went on an eighty-meter break, 28 – 22; 33 – 22; 38 – 22; 38 – 27; 43 – 27; 43 – 34 final and V.I. Champs – CW!  I will only highlight one player who was a ‘difference-maker’, CW’s #15.  Well done all lads – a cast of many.  Plaudits to coaches and parents.

U16 BOYS

The first thing that caught my eye was how, suddenly, the kicking game became part of the strategy!  The crowd continued to be healthy as fans from different age groups exchanged places.  With some sharp handling and some diagonal kick success, CW went up 19 – 0 against opponents, Cowichan. There was much action, and my notes blended, but I believe it was 26 – 7 at the half.  Two more diagonal kicks produced tallies, and the scoreboard rolled to 43– 7.  Credit to the visitors, when they were rewarded for a good team try and the last say for a 43 – 14 final.

Both teams certainly had structure to their game, displayed a good level of skill with CW being livelier at the breakdown, earning more possession with some talented athletes capitalizing.  This game was expertly officiated by newcomer from Argentina, Juan Pablo.  He displayed a good empathy for lads of this age and kept the game flowing with suitably explained advantages, enabling the boys to play the game without constant stoppages.  Akin to the U14’s – hats off to an empathic and knowledgeable coaching crew and supportive parents and grandparents!  With the BC Final looming at Starlight Stadium this year, it will be interesting if CW can benefit from the travel “disadvantage", no doubt a 7:00 a.m. ferry trip and 10:30 kickoff vs Bayside last year will linger in the minds of some of last year’s 14 yr olds!  Congratulations and good luck in the BC Final. (Vs Abbotsford).

U18 BOYS

It was another CW/Salish stoush. The third of the day’s Finals, and it was most interesting to have observed the spectrum of skills, size and strategy from U14 – U18.  Salish had some very sizeable lads who were also willing ball carriers, really testing to see if CW would be committed to defense.  Rather against the flow of play, the CW right winger made a speedy break, burning his opposite number for the opening 7 – 0 lead.  CW was to break again and then blocked a clearing kick, won the ensuing scrum and fed an “unstoppable” center, 14 – 0.  Salish pounded away with pods really asking questions.  A clever shift and swerve from #10 put their first points on the board, 14 – 5.  The scoring was not done in the first forty.  CW moved the ball quickly and wide, with their winger seeing some light.  He had work to do but got the job done for 21 – 5 and the half ended.

 

The second half was most certainly a test of character for CW.  They played a man short for ten minutes, then two men short, after a further yellow and a red card for the last quarter.  The red card was warranted after a second yellow to the culprit and unfortunately, a hard lesson to be learned.  I was privy to an end-zone talking to his team by the captain, after Salish got the score to 21 – 10 and continued to hammer.  It was very inspirational, imploring his players passionately to maintain their discipline.  His players responded, mustering up amazing effort to prevent further scoring.  This was good stuff.  The referee’s decisions were correct.  I oftimes question just how the officiating at age grade levels should look.  I really do think that we should be always trying to keep players on the field.  However, the game is in accordance with laws for play and player safety and they must be adhered to, so sometimes hard lessons are given.

Thus, the trifecta of wins and Island titles was completed.  Again, to the coaching staff and supportive parents, a Ruggernut’s, ‘onya.  Well done.  I conclude by repeating my comments from last weekend, that it is a pity that it seems that early identification and tracking of this talent by Rugby Canada is non-existent.