The GOOD, the BAD and the MONDAY!

THE GOOD

Amazing!  Boys’ youth rugby was on display at Windsor on Sunday.  The action was in the VIRU semi-finals.  CW was the victor in U14, U16, and U18 action.

U14 BOYS

It was CW with a healthy total vs a Comox team that battled bravely to score three second half tries.  This was a total reversal of a 17 – 31 loss to Comox last weekend at Comox.  Quite the reversal and a much greater commitment by the lads.  The boys will play Salish in the Final next Sunday at Windsor.

U14 GIRLS 

The girls had what was described as an “upset” 45 – 40 win over Westshore.  This game see-sawed back and forth.  Westshore jumped out to an early 14 – 0 lead.  CW replied with a hattrick before the half to forge ahead 19 – 14.  CW hung on to a 35 – 33 lead going into the final quarter.  It was 40 – 35 in Westshore’s favor with ten minutes to play.  CW finished with a brace and the “W”.  From the coaches; “Full commitment and engagement.  A great team effort.”

U16 BOYS

CW 57 – Comox 12.  The scoreboard tells the tale, however, in my eyes it was far from a whitewash.  Akin to the U14 match, Comox did not quit and there were lengthy periods of even play, despite the final score.  This match was wonderfully officiated by a youth referee, Carter Haddow.  It was also good to reunite with a former club senior men’s player, Pete Robb, father of player, Luka.  Rugby at CW is indeed a family affair.

U16 GIRLS

CW had a good win.  The opponent, North VIRU – a compendium of Port Alberni, Campbell River and Nanaimo.  CW was simply too strong on the day. 

U18 BOYS

The final score was again in CW’s favor by a large margin over Westshore.  Good minds are at work to find ways to decrease large differentials with more equitable competition.  Next week’s final promises to be far more competitive.  A shout out to former Premier players, Captain Ian Jones, Barnard Gerhardt, John Morris, and Clayton Thornber who are coaching the team. 

GOOD THINGS

There were many “GOOD” things on the day.  A myriad of supportive parents along the sideline.   Great refereeing.  CW Senior players coaching age grade boys’ and girls’ teams, as well as former players inculcating skills, teamwork and attitudes.  A great showing of CW gear, exposing the brand.  Youth trainee trainers, emphasizing the Club’s attitude towards player health.  Finally, the players – their skill and fitness, their teamwork, their sportsmanship, and attitude.  Well done, all! 

Oh, for Rugby Canada to observe, identify, and track this talent.  I watched a portion of today with a new senior, one-season player from Wales.  Said player was full of praise for programs, player size and skill, not known at home clubs near Swansea, particularly with girl’s rugby.  These winning teams will be on show again next Sunday in Island Finals, with the ante increased. 

THE BAD

Perhaps on the scoreboard Women’s Div I vs Abbotsford 29 – CW 10 looks lopsided.  As described above, in some of the losing causes, all was far from lost with coaches reporting “continued improvement”. 

PREMIER MEN.  CW 14 – Westshore (or is it VV?) 29.  Westshore opened the scoring at seventeen minutes.  It was simple enough following limited commitment from CW with a kick chase, Westshore broke away downfield, retained possession at the recycle, 7-0.  CW tied matters, 7-7 at thirty minutes.  An exchange of kicks late in the half saw CW deep with possession from penalties and three or four superior scrummages.  Eventually, referee Asthmus was left with no alternative and a penalty try gave the visitors the lead at the half.  Play from both teams had been sloppy for Premier level.  CW had stayed relatively close to the game plan and arguably, the interval favor was correct.  The departure of Captain Nott in the centers gave the observer a fright as to how matters had the prospect of unraveling.

And thus, it came to pass!  Westshore showed patience and with good retention got the ball in the hands of the Kenyan Connection – a cadre of talented players, now in their second year in Canada.  The adroit running of these boys soon found the holes and although the scrummage remained in a pickle, enough good possession was earned by the Westshore forwards to do the damage.  CW did not hunt the loose ball in numbers and was tangled up on defense.  I was surprised that there was not greater judicial reward for the scrum superiority but time between the mind and the whistle will always vary.  The same decision disparities can also occur at the breakdown.  As has been mentioned before, it is impossible to identify the numbers of the players for this club as the colors seem to be cleverly camouflaged!  Oh well, there were four tries – 12-14; 17-14; 24-14, when any thread of hope was lost with a kick in front of the posts for a ‘one-score game’, going awry for CW.  For good measure the VV added an exclamation mark, 29-14.  For many, not an upset.  For others, a BAD result. 

There was also an Ugly result.  The Men’s Divvies collapsed in the second half.  It was 24-12 at the half.  The second half produced forty-four points for the hosts to nil against – UGLY.  No opinions from this writer except “it did not look like a disaster all of the time”.  A big thank you to all of Saturday’s and Sunday’s many officials.

THE MONDAY

Let’s start with massive bouquets to CW “connected” players, Olivia Apps, selected on the World Rugby 7’s Dream Team of the Year and to Sophie deGoede selected on the 15’s Dream Team of the Year.  We add other Canadian players, Alex Tessier and Laetitia Royer. 

Some time back we mentioned the plight of our off-field home, Discovery Sports Club.  Much water has passed under the bridge.  Recently some amazing windows have opened.  There will be more forthcoming.  Suffice it to say, back in 1911 the Clubhouse of Oak Bay Wanderers was the rooms of the Balmoral Hotel in Oak Bay.  Historical reports of the Clubhouse since then are many, from the President’s basement to at least four different locations during the Ruggernut’s time and Castaways’ history is not dissimilar. Since amalgamation we have had one such Clubhouse – ‘The Temple’, Discovery Sports Club.  The time has come to move on in one way or another.  I dream of today’s age grade players enjoying the relationships they made today as Oak Bay residents at a rugby club in their neighborhood.  Stay tuned.