TRICOLORS WIN ICE-BREAKER

                  Gabe on the go, (with the Three Wise Monkeys onlooking!). 

                                                       Credit, John Richardson.

Yesterday at the House of Windsor, the season was only three minutes old when the visiting Meralomas opened their account.  Pressure from the Loma contested kickoff saw CW under the cosh.  Precise interpassing, with a thrust from ex-CW, Doug ‘Fresh’ Fraser, caught CW under breakdown pressure and when the ensuing touch finder from a penalty was foolishly and ineptly tapped “alive”, Loma numbers came up with the opening try.  CW came back after the shock with good recycles and Denver Fatt (deserving program photo cover), showing clean heels, only for his pass to be knocked on.  Loma’s energy and willing runners opened a gap as wide as the Bay Bridge and, aided by missed tackles, Cann Vanna (#2) showed pace and crossed at twelve minutes for a 12 – 0 lead.

Thence came a skilled and thrilling soft diagonal chip from Bowd and it found App’s awaiting hands, only to see a thwarted pass inside go astray with the line “wide open”.  CW continued with a territorial advantage, offering three “should-have-been” chances, to knock ons.  A wonderfully skilled effort by John Humphries, under the posts was called back for the minutest of knock ons.  Still, yet another error.  There was a noticeable shift of advantage to the home team.  Late in the half, advantage – Loma, a fortuitous bounce came to the hands of Jordan Tait whose quick heels enabled an unexpected ‘cut’ and spontaneous ‘chip-and-chase’ which saw his retrieval in the air and a brilliant individual try to get the score to 7 – 12 at the interval.  This may have arguably been the TSN Turning Point.

The first ten minutes of the second half saw a different CW group.  The Lomas did threaten, only to be penalized.  To this point, Bowd had been visible, however, from here on he became simply, superb.  His alertness, creativity and initiative with three quick tap penalties, a lengthy weaving run, some interpass and a ‘touch-finder’ saw the play travel from a defensive to an attacking ‘red zone’.  Kudos to Wallace who created the havoc with the initial turnover and some of the subsequent carry.  Bowd then craftily created yet another gap for Gabe Smith to shine only to undo his threat with a poor pass and the line agape.  An alert, Zach Pilgrim blocked a drop kick restart and almost capitalized.  Captain Ollie Nott then pinched a ball at the break down and made his third or fourth threatening run.  With ‘Ironman’ Pyke prominent, the go-ahead score looked imminent when Pilgrim fed Wallace blind side, from a quick ruck but no blood was forthcoming.  All of this happened in the third quarter with Lomas showing a diminished resistance.

At the quarter mark Bowd showed a clever slight of hand to freeze the defense and send a welcome returnee, Ethan Hagar, on a ‘delay’ run to the line, untouched and a 14 – 12 lead.  Captain Nott looking for work, was instrumental for another break by Smith.  Continued CW pressure, Humphries and Hagar deservedly referenced; it was finally Jack Wallace at thirty minutes who crossed to see CW with a 19 – 12 lead.  Lomas had visibly gone off the boil and with a Bowd penalty for a ten-point lead, it looked like the flood gates might open.  It was not to be, and in the waning moments, the Lomas brought credit to the late iconic Loma, Gus Fumano, on the eve of his Hall of Fame induction, when they mustered energy to press and aided by a CW penalty, they closed with a well-executed line out drive and 22 – 17 final score. 

Meralomas went in spurts today.  Despite having many of last season’s pack on the pitch they really were far from dominant, CW having a slight scrum dominance which went off the boil in some late sets, matched their number.  CW looked rusty in lineout timing.  Lomas halves played well, with Thompson showing a prudent boot.  It was good to see Doug ‘Fresh’ Fraser on the other side, along with perennial Bay “J Ross".  Fortunately, neither were a factor.  #15 newcomer (strangely with an Irish accent), McParland, will be useful as he settles in and there was pace on the wings. 

For the Hosts, things picked up considerably after a slow start.  Energy provided territorial advantage however, handling errors left points on the park.  Unquestionably, Bowd was M-o-M.  Fatt, Humphreys, Ott and Pyke played as expected.  Pilgrim has become a very reliable #9.  Jordan Tait looked and played like a new man after his season’s walkabout.  Apt was dangerous before injury and former Divvy, Mager, deserved his start.  There seemed to be more fire with the injection off the bench, notably Hagar, Frelier, Wallace and Smith (needing stickum), and with the late going Peters and Thomas. 

Thanks to the officiating crew with Saro Turner (M-i-M), getting too much knock-on recognition practice and great to see Pierre Iachetti on the sideline.  Next week will see another Home ‘biggie’ when CW faces a repositioned, Jacob Bossi, and his reinvigorated Capilano crew after their close loss to UBC this week. Players joined in a postgame feed and M-o-M awards.

PS Other match results and game reports will be posted when available. M-I-A Meraloma D-O-R, 'Jab' Sinclair - next time.

                        DOES RC HAVE A PR OFFICER?


Came across a scathing and embarrassing article by Sara Orchard in BBC Sport, regarding the current Women’s World XV Championships held in Vancouver, commencing today.  I will let the reader opine for themselves – however, I agree with its entirety! (SEE HERE)

We in Canada complain about our inability to receive quality match appointments.  Here it has been handed on a platter and I have not seen any sign of the event in local newspapers nor TV sportscasts.  Rugby Canada has a highly paid staff of many, yet it seems to this writer there is no one responsible for publicity.  Our NSWT ranked #3 in the world has received no press or television coverage this week, that I have been aware of, leading up to the Competition by the six top women’s team in the world.  This is extremely denigrating to all involved.  On a personal note, it has been my experience with media that if content is provided it will be used.  Sure, with rugby, “the Canadian public are learning to love rugby” and we cannot expect Canuck-like headlines but to see virtually NOTHING is an embarrassment.  No, circumstances today have prevented my being in Vancouver.  If I could, I would, for I believe I would see a far superior product than the NSMT vs Japan.  Hopefully, there would be a program memento to take home, promoting the game. 

FOOTNOTE

Cleve Dheenshaw published a story in today’s Victoria Times Colonist.

CW again offers wishes to Sophie deGoede as she convalesces.  Her spirit will be felt by Tyson Beukeboom and her team.

Late-breaking, midday, my wife just spotted a major ad for women's rugby on TSN!!