2011 Canadian Rugby Championship

formerlyfastwing · Aug 13, 2011

As an aside I have been looking for info on the U-19 CRC, which is currently going on. Not a lot of coverage, which is a same.

formerlyfastwing · Aug 14, 2011

BC 31 WP 29

Damn Damn Damn

rusty_lock · Aug 14, 2011

formerlyfastwing said:
BC 31 WP 29

Damn Damn Damn

All is right with the world

formerlyfastwing · Aug 20, 2011

last games this weekend, from RC website

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[TD]Canadian Rugby Championship league leaders British Columbia will aim to replicate their whirlwind first half performance against the Prairie Wolf Pack when the teams meet on Saturday at Calgary Rugby Park.

BC scored four tries in the first-half against Wolf Pack when the sides met in Kelowna at the weekend. The away team hit back with four tries of their own in a stirring comeback that fell two points short. A close game is expected and the team that can add points by the boot will have the best chance for victory.

Wolf Pack coach Col Jeffs was heartened by his teams' response to half-time adversity in Kelowna. He said, "We have to be better in contact. This is a very important match for the team and it will be imperative that we start sharply from the first whistle." Jeffs added, "The key will be matching their explosive backs with our own offensive power and ensuring that we make every tackle. Last weekend demonstrated that we have the ability to beat BC, we must play our game and execute in all phases."

There are just two changes to Prairie's starting 15 with Josh Schlebach coming into the second-row and Christian Wolff returning from injury to the fly-half berth. Wolff has been in good kicking form this season and his return strengthens the teams options. Mozac Samson had a fine game last week but his goal-kicking was well below par. The front-row looked improved on their first two outings of the reason and Jeffs has stuck with Chad Packard, Dustin Brewka and Ryan Ackerman.

BC coach Kris de Scossa has warned his players to 'beware of the wounded wolf' as they prepare for their first away day of the season. De Scossa said, "They are a huge threat to our ***le hopes and this time it is us on the road. The shoe is on the other foot. We have to respect them because they are a proven team with several returning players from the side that competed in last year's national final."

De Scossa is pleased that the shape of his young side has been settled. For the first time this season he will start a scrum-half and fly-half pair, Eric Wilson and Bryan Tyrer, for consecutive games. There is one change up front as Anthony Luca comes in for Rhodri Hanmer, who picked up an injury after only 20 minutes last week. There are three changes in the backs division with promising Canada U-20 player Michael Fuailefau coming in at no. 12. Esava Nakulanisa and Sean Ferguson are replaced on the wings by Conrad Rybkowski and Shawn Mercier. All eyes will be on Josefa Dolesau after his two-try performance last week.

The game starts at 6pm and is a feature match during the Rugby Canada National festival, which started on Wednesday and culminates in the finals on Sunday. Gates open at 4pm.

British Columbia
1. Anthony Luca, 2. Edvin Sabic, 3. John Mackenzie, 4. Liam Chisholm, 5. Nathan Mantle, 6. Josh Clarke, 7.Chris Chalmers, 8. Aaron Goddard 9. Eric Wilson (captain), 10. Bryan Tyrer, 11.Conrad Rybkowski, 12. Michael Fuailefau, 13. Josefa Dolesau, 14. Shawn Mercier, 15. Connor Braid

Reserves: 16. Andrew Lackner, 17. Scott MacKay, 18. Mike Georgas, 19. Taylor Stogryn, 20. Colin Mckenzie, 21. Cody Rockson, 22. Johnathan Morris

Prairie Wolf Pack
1. Chad Packard, 2. Dustin Brewka, 3. Ryan Ackerman, 4. Ian Huston, 5. Josh Schlebach, 6. John Anderson, 7. Kyle Gilmore (captain), 8. Clayton Panga 9. James Buchanan, 10. Christian Wolff, 11. Duncan Maguire, 12. Adam Bontus, 13. Mozac Samson, 14. Ian Shoults, 15. Brennan Marcoux

Reserves: 16. Dustin Luther, 17. Emil Christensen, 18. Tyler Hawes, 19. Spencer Massiah, 20. Bruno Payette, 21. Jake Robinson, 22. Evan Thomas
and

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The Rock will play Ontario Blues in their first home game of the Canadian Rugby Championships on Saturday at the Swilers Rugby Complex. Last season's CRC winners have settled back into their Newfoundland base following a two-game swing out west that saw them win one and lose one. The Blues are in a similar position but placed higher in the league table after securing valuable bonus points.

(WATCH LIVE STREAMING OF THIS GAME - GO TO http://playerv2.streamit.ca/<WBR>PlayerV2.aspx?eventid=56</WBR><WBR> )

The Rock bounced back from their opening day defeat to British Columbia by dismantling the Prairie Wolf Pack in a 29-8 win. Ontario also started their season with a loss but were impressive winners against B.C last time out. The Blues' forwards had a stranglehold on their opponents and both Seb Pearson and Daniel West capped fine displays with tries. The two sides will face each other two in the space of seven days and the championship picture will be a whole lot clearer when the dust settles.

The Rock have made some changes for the game at Swilers – a ground that has underwent extensive seating and pitch improvements in the off-season. Two casualties in the midfield are Tyler Wish and Geoff Warden. Patrick Parfrey and Morgan Lovell occupy the 12 and 13 jerseys for the Blues encounter. Kevin Parfrey is missing from the back row but Rod Snow has overcome knee concerns to take his place in the front row.

"This will be the least experienced team to represent the Rock for a decade and we will need strong fan support to help us compete against the strongest Ontario team for a long time," said Rock coach Pat Parfrey. "Their front five is big and strong, comprising five Canadian internationals, who have demolished BC and the Wolf Pack in the scrums. There is an intense rivalry between the Rock and Ontario, so it will be an opportunity for our young bucks to perform in a big game."

Rick Graham, manager of The Rock, has highlighted the players that he expects to continue with their solid starts to the season. He said, "Morgan Williams has proved to be a very dependable and gifted scrum-half. Justin Myers has played well up to this point and we have been very happy with his progress. The addition of (Canada Sevens captain) Phil Mack into the side has been tremendous and we are really happy to have him with us." Graham believes that The Rock possesses two of the country's best line-out jumpers in Jon Phelan and Ken Goodland but acknowledges that the scrum will be the most fiercely contested set-piece against The Blues.

Blues coach Rob Doyle is aware of The Rocks potency at the line-out and will look to Scott Dunham and Brett Beukeboom to neutralize the threat. Beukeboom was his side's best player when they faced up against a Canadian Selects side that included a plethora of World Cup bound internationals. They lost the exhibition game but matched the Selects for long periods and Doyle feels his players benefitted from the outing. "We have a couple of ****les and sprains but we are pretty much full strength," he revealed.

Saturday's game, which kicks off at 3pm, will be the first time many Blues players have faced The Rock in Newfoundland. Doyle said, "Everyone tells us that The Rock are a foot taller and their pack are even heavier when they play at home. I am excited about the challenge and I'm looking forward to coming here to take them on." The coach is wary of Phil Mack's speed and quick decision-making from full-back and will look to 'bottle him up'.

Doyle has lauded the performances of his tight-five, marshalled by captain Dan Pletch, and the try-scoring and ball-carrying skills of flanker Seb Pearson. He commented, "We also have two young guys that will potentially making headlines in the future. Jordan Wilson-Ross has incredible acceleration and has been impressive and Conor McCann, if he continues his growth, could play in future world cups as competition for Ander Monro."

Doyle added, "The Rock are very different from us. They have a tonne of experience and like to dominate up-front. We like to go through the phases and spread the ball wide. It will be interesting to see who can impose their style on the game."

Ontario
1. Doug Wooldridge, 2. Mike Pletch, 3. Dan Pletch (captain), 4. Brett Beukeboom, 5. Scott Dunham, 6. Mark MacSween, 7. Alistair Clark, 8. Seb Pearson 9. Kyle Armstrong, 10. Steve Piatek, 11. Jordan Wilson-Ross, 12. Connor McCann, 13. Dan West, 14. Ryan MacSween, 15. Craig Marshall

Reserves: 16. Tom Dolezel, 17. Creag Johnston, 18. Haddon Murray, 19. Tyler Ardron, 20. John Moonlight, 21. Rory Tomilinson, 22. Liam Underwood

The Rock
1. Phil Alcock, 2. Chris Burt, 3. Rod Snow, 4. Jon Phelan, 5. Brad Lester, 6. Owen Parfrey, 7. Justin Meyers, 8. Ken Goodland 9. Morgan Williams, 10. Dean Blanks (captain), 11. Robert Wilson, 12.Patrick Parfrey, 13. Morgan Lovell, 14. Rob Turk, 15. Phil Mack

Reserves: 16. Steve Cutcliffe, 17. Jordan Power, 18. Kyle Baillie, 19. Zac Coughlan, 20. Adam Paul, 21. Jason Picco, 22. Simon Pacey
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