Monday's Musings

November 24, 2025 Posted in News / Victoria BC / Rugby Club / Game Reports / Minis / Prems / Giving Back / CW Rugby / Juniors / B.C. Rugby / Refereeing / Fifteens / Senior Women / Boys U18 / Boys U14 / Senior Men

SPARSE CROWD WITNESSES WINS

A Pair for Prems- Home Cooking Does the Trick!

The table was set with the women’s team. Burnaby and CW brought two very different approaches to determine the outcome in a most entertaining match. The outcome had the fans biting their nails. The Lakers focused on using hard-running big units. Difficult to name credit as jersey numbers were out of synch with names and positions! The remainder of the attack centered around a talented and aggressive #10, Naiobasali. CW focused on a more expansive game, moving the ball wide from the hard-hitting defense. This was the right idea, but unforced errors were to make it tough sledding.

CW opened the scoring with #8 Corbett crossing, picking up where she left off last week. Next, Currey filled in from #15 and it was 12 - 0 after fifteen minutes, CW appeared to misread the danger of their opponent. Burnaby responded at 25 minutes after a series of good recycles. Burnaby then squatted deep in CW territory. A diagonal kick from #10 had all hands scurrying. From the recycle, #10 scissored with Hindley for a 14-12 lead. This was the score at the half, but it was only fortunate and sure defense that kept CW in the match, for Burnaby had position and possession.

CW opened the second stanza at five minutes after some sure interpassing set Samek on a 40-meter break, 17-14 CW. CW’s Branter who had come off the bench was evident, but it was all Naiobasali on offence and defense, along with former CW standout, #8 Okonkwo providing the danger for Burnaby. At twenty minutes, the #10 broke four tackles which were formerly resolute and converted her own try under the posts, 21-17 Burnaby. CW responded with a threat only to knock on. It took an alert Gwynnie Fry to tap a quick penalty, swerve, and outpace the defense, 24-21 CW. There was still ten minutes on the clock in an incredibly disjointed second half, not exactly aided by the whistle. Burnaby certainly did not fold but appeared to run out of gas for the effort needed to retake the lead. Thanks to a massive break by Remee Brown the pressure was relieved, and thus the clock ticked down.

For Burnaby, hooker, Bellanger Jones made some strong carries, as did Stephenson, and Okonkwo seemed to prove a point. Naiobasali was the Lakers W-o-M, although a couple of very marginal tackles tainted an excellent performance. For CW, I give #8 Corbett, W-o-M. All the backs had their moment. I thought #10, Kristianson read the play well and Fry’s alertness was the key play of the game. Branter and newcomer Astridge, off the pines, stood out. Congratulations ladies.

A sleight of hand ‘out the back door’ from Hager. Some magic.

To the men……

Grady Bowd was quick to put his mark on the day, when at five minutes, he took an alert tap penalty, a chip and chase, two recycles and Humphries was over, 7-0. CW had early field position and next it was a Rinkley-Krinkle dangerous break, and CW recycled. Another quick tap and alert initiative saw Gamage look up, dummy, and go blind side for the try, 12-0. The Faithful really came alive when quick hands saw Hager desperately halted. Déjà vu, Gamage went blind side for his brace and 19-0 at the midpoint.

Lomas finally threatened when #11 Graham “filled”, only for it to end in a five-meter scrum. Lomas stayed in the red zone for a long time, but it was against-all-odds that a tight head scrum saw a swift 70-meter breakout by CW. This was followed by a perfectly disguised inside ball to Finney who showed clean heels, was barely felled. CW probed, Gamage to Hager and finally, the TSN Turning Point. It was pure champagne when Bowd timed a perfect diagonal kick to Rinkley-Krinkle and a 24-0 half time lead.

The second half had barely begun when a lineout steal saw Finney for 30-meters, feeding Thomas for 25-meters, and it was 31-0. CW followed this with a lengthy period camped in the 22 meters, but no more points were forthcoming. Lomas came alive. They made some dangerous forays, a result of quick ball and good hands, added to this were two ground gaining mauls. From the second one, quick ball went across the line and Graham finished with the first points, 31-7 and the mid-mark. Kosemple and Regan made good yards, and it was another Bowd “moment of magic” with a silky pass to Humphries for his brace, 38-7.

The locals substituted liberally and an unfortunate injury to Thomas halted the flow, giving some Divvies good minutes. Lomas’ final brace was earned, not gifted, in somewhat of a fiasco as knock-ons and advantages, possibilities and haste became error advantages for the visitors. Still, the bonus try was not permitted 38-19. Bagel broken!!

Thanks to referee Horton, a good job, accurate decisions and advantage calls made it enjoyable, and kept the wags quiet.

Not too many shining lights for Lomas, in fact, surprisingly dull. The forwards made some inconsistent yards and surprisingly to this pundit, failed to have the hammer in the sets. I give my M-o-M to #10 Charlie Greaves. #11 Keith Graham on attack was reminiscent of days of yore, when Lomas reliable, Courtney Smith (circa 1995), was always dangerous on the wing.

For CW where does one start? I must go to the halves, Gamage to Bowd as pre-match opined was primo. Bowd’s tactical kicking was a thing of beauty, saving the tight forwards for that extra effort. Front-foot ball showed the back line talent, led by Hager on this day. Finnie and Kratz were tireless, along with Regan and McCallum’s resistance highlighting the work of the pack. Next week it is off to Capilanos - no doubt bolstered by the return of NSMT members. Best wishes to Daf for speedy healing.

FROM THE SIDELINES

Women’s Divvies were scuttled due to low Cowichan numbers. All ladies present chose sides for a game of rugby. Good spirit, ladies. Hang in there Piggies.

Shout out to John Morley who took his turn at the gate on a less than pleasant day. This, despite ailing health. Again, the rugby spirit. Thanks, John, for your dedication to duty.

Sunday Dawns – sunny, cold and a great day for 450 tykes to assemble for the CW Minis Jamboree.

Giving Back – Caroline wows the youngsters.

A tip of the Ruggernut’s cap to the Comox Rapids crew who must have been on the road awfully early with their large contingent. Cowichan, Westshore and James Bay rounded out the representation. Cannot laud enough praise on the organizers, coach/refs/parents and the many family supporters who boosted the girls and boys. Truly great stuff. Very noticeable was the positive attitude from parents with their verbal support. A well done to the clubs for inculcating this culture. Good work by coaches for teaching skills thoroughly.

I tarried around to catch the U14 Boy’s action between CW and JBAA and early snippets of boy’s U18 action between CW and Comox Rapids. Again, bouquets all round for some good rugby on display. Especially noticeable here was the correct and safe tackling skill and the excellent officiating, helping the lads understand the law. It was CW’s day but not all their own way by a long shot. onyas, all. Final, Crosstown at The Mac, the U16 boys toppled the Bays – twofer in the last two encounters.

(Today’s photos, credit Keith Wells.)

ONE CLUB