BLRC Premier Women vs. UVic
Feb 4/12
Gordon Park
The BLRC Premier women found themselves travelling to the wilds of southeast Vancouver for an early kick-off home game against the University of Victoria. The Gordon Park field had been secured to ensure the game was played, as a soggy beginning to the week had limited the number of games that could be played at Burnaby Lake. Without dressing rooms and away from the friendly confines of the Lake this hardly felt like a home fixture. Nonetheless, the women quickly got down to work, and despite “hit and miss” line-outs and “miss and miss” set scrums, managed to control field position without ball possession on the power of their pressing defence. Deb Capps was the first to capitalize as she pounced on a ball that squirted out of a ruck and darted in between the posts. Burnaby continued its dominance at the breakdown and Julia Sugawara made prudent use of meagre ball to maintain position and pressure. Corrine Jacobsen eventually stormed over for the second try of the half.
At the half UVic had to be feeling pretty good about themselves, having dominated the sets and being down only two tries. Burnaby, however, had a long bench what with no second’s game, new players to blood and returning stalwarts. Wholesale changes at the half lifted the pace of the game and if the scrums got slightly better the line-outs got predictably worse without an experienced thrower. Newly minted BLRC player young Emily Young, on loan from Kamloops, found a long miss pass from Julia, a gap and 50 metres of track into the UVic end zone to make an impressive first touch of the ball with her new club. Not to be outdone, everyone’s favourite returning stalwart Dr. Maria Gallo started wreaking havoc with the UVic defenders and set up young Ms. Young for another try. The Burnaby forwards were not discouraged by the lack of success in the set pieces and showed flourish in the open play. UBC transfer players Caroline McEwen and Haley Glendenning fit in well with the BLRC forwards running game and the ability of the Burnaby pack to advance the ball in open play eventually resulted in a try by forever young Laura Harmse. The game finished with Emily completing her hat trick with a try in the corner after a nifty crack-back block by Jocelyn Barrieau coming in off the wing. Final score, Burnaby 36 – UVic 0.
Trivia Question: Only two Burnaby Premier starters from last Saturdays game can claim Burnaby Lake as their only rugby club. Name these two players and win a free beer with Walt telling stories about all the games he has played and coached at Gordon Park.
e-mail your answer to waltbrandl@telus.net
