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The VRC’s top team dropped one to a very strong Burnaby Lake side, 52-10 on the road Saturday, frustrated by a tight, well drilled opponent who simply made fewer mistakes and did a better job of controlling the ball.
The Prems went down 7-0 early as a quick Burnaby attack showed in the 2nd minute how dangerous they could be in space. The Rowers were able to keep it tight, showing clean, crisp back line attack pattern when they did have the ball, but never finding an answer that could go the distance.
The defense stood up to the hosts through the 31st minute, when a pounding attack finally broke through the Rowers’ goal line to make it 12-0.
The Rowers ran into penalty trouble late in the second half, yielding a penalty try to Burnaby for collapsing the maul. 19-0 Burnaby at half time.
Burnaby added another try in the 52nd minute to make it 26-0, but the Rowers were able to find some flow after a key turnover by Jordan W-R, followed by a deep carry to set up what seemed like their first sustained attack. The Rowers pack won a scrum at the five meter line, giving centre back and captain Connor Cleary a chance at a hard charging attack line that set up a follow on charge by 2nd row forward Kelly Anderson, and ultimately an opportunity to put quick ball through hands to Kevin Gurniak on the wing, putting the Rowers on the board. 26-5
Cleary’s exceptional tackling held off the next Burnaby attack briefly, but it wasn’t enough. Burnaby scored a mirror image of Gurniak’s try in the 60th minute, and hit the conversion to make it 34-5.
Ultimately, this game was made up of exceptional individual efforts that failed to come together to create something greater than the sum of their parts. This squad was making the kind of tackles that rugby players dream about; flanker Rory Sanderson often looked like he was appearing out of nowhere to drop a guy, and half back Ray Bissonette had several key stops including an ankle tap that would make any highlight reel. But Bissonette managed to take himself out of it, leaving five minutes early on a yellow. Jordan W-R showed again how dangerous he could be around loose balls and carrying in space. This talented club is capable of being dangerous and will certainly work on a way to put it all together.
Loosehead prop Eddie Quin demonstrates the stiff arm fend.
Coach Seyler had a lot of praise after the game for the top side’s heart, and stressed that he liked the look of the offense when it was able to create an opportunity to attack. Despite getting beat up by a big, well-drilled pack, “they didn’t quit.”
The Rowers will try to put together a better rhythm and some phases in next week’s road game, away on the Island at Castaway.
CORRECTION: This post has been changed at the request of the BC Referees Society whose hard work on game days is genuinely appreciated.
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