The under-19 boys returned to action this week with hopes of getting back into the win column. With a few guys on the mend, some players were forced into other positions foreign to them. Captain Trent Shelley was shifted to standoff while club rookie Curtis Gant filled in at No. 8 admirably.
In the end, they came up short falling 10-7 to Surrey. Try: Tyron Stojanov. Conversion: Wayne Lawson Next week: HOME vs. United
The u-16s found themselves back at home this weekend as there was a scheduling conflict at Klahanie. The boys would enter the rain-soaked game without their captain Paolo Dube due to injury.
Nonetheless, the battle needed to go on with Taitusi Vikilani earning Man of the Match honours. Another club rookie, Jake Garanito, put in a tremendous effort in the cause. Final score: 27 - 17 Capilano. Next week: AWAY vs Bayside.
3rd Div Men: Burnaby Lake 32, Abbotsford 14. The third-division men came out firing after going winless the last couple of weeks. Ranger Rick fired up the troops with a great pre-game speech. The scorers were Panda, Andy and a couple more guys. A great game by our backliners, Mario, Scorpion and the Cowboy.
1st Div Men: Burnaby Lake 44 - 0 victory over Abbotsford. Burnaby Lake came in ready to play and took it to a youthful, athletic Abby side. Man of the match honours went to Seor Bonnel with a solid three-try performance on the field. Preston P. is one tough hobbit bowler, and Brad had an outstanding game, winning the line outs.
Elite Men: Burnaby Lake 22, Abbotsford 24. This was a tight and entertaining match through and through as Abbotsford came out ready to take on the visitors and earned their way into the spring premiership. The game was a tight affair with both sides taking turns scoring. The field conditions were swampy after three previous games and the ball was slippery. There was a steady cross-wind all game, which made kicks unpredictable.
It was 10-5 for Burnaby when I came out of the showers, Burnaby's Giuseppe "the Situation" had just scored. Both teams played possession ball and attacked using upwards of 10 phases during their attack.
The two teams looked to be well drilled as set pieces and attacking tactics were put to use effectively. For Abby, their offense revolved around their skilled half back Lucas DeBeer's hair and their big front row. Burnaby's captain "the Hulk" Gough and "Deer Hunter" Gotegote had great games scoring points and making big hits.
At the 20-minute mark Abby would respond to the Burnaby score and find their way into Blue and White territory and touch down for a try underneath the posts, 12-10 Abby. At the 30-minute mark, a magnificent drive by Burnaby Lake finished with a score. This was a wonderful drive set up by many phases of smash up rugby in the forwards and great cover defence by Abby. The green machine Gough finished off the drive with a dive over the line for an unconverted try. 15-12 BLRC. Not to be outdone, Abby rallied and scored a pretty try of their own. After several phases Abby mounted a slow, time-killing drive and ground down the solid Laker defence and touch down for an unconverted try. The score at half was almost even at 17-15 in favour of Abby.
The second half began with Burnaby applying pressure and pinning Abby
in their zone for an extended period of time. Abby played gutsy defence throughout the game and kept Burnaby from scoring until about the 25-minute mark when Gotegote shot in for a try under the posts. The Burnaby crowd was elated as the try was converted, 22-17 Burnaby Lake. Abby would then mount an attack, but
Burnaby's defence kept them from scoring. Burnaby played a kick-and-chase game that drove Abbotsford slowly back to their end. Burnaby then turned on the pressure again and forced Abby to concede a penalty. "Luigi" O'Gara took a shot at the posts but the kick sailed wide.
With time winding down, and Abby making substitutions, the Burnaby supporters were getting ready to celebrate. This feeling was cut short when a countering kick by Abby was misfielded and bounced right into the hands of one of their speedsters who touched down to tie the game with only two minutes remaining. Abbotsford made the two-point conversion.
Burnaby kicked the restart deep into Abby territory. The boys then waited patiently on defence before counter-rucking and turning over possession. It was then only a matter of grinding the ball up the field in the forwards to score. After umpteen phases, Burnaby's comeback was cut short when a slight handling error in what was a gorgeous drive resulted in a knock-on ending this vitally important game. For Abby it will be a victory to remember. For Burnaby, a straight jab on the chin. Burnaby will set their sights on premier qualification when they take on Velox at home next week.
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