Caps win 5 of 6 today with all senior teams both Women and Men winning. The Academy U-23 Men go down to a very talented United crew. Quite a Day of Rugby at Klahanie Park! It all started at 10am and finished about 4.15pm then continued in the Clubhouse!

The U-23 Capilano Academy went down in defeat 0-37 to United:

I didn’t see a lot of this game but it from all accounts it was mostly one way traffic. Caps had some chances but were not able to put points on the board. Caps beat United in one of the first half games but today they were no match for the United Club. The United team has continued to build and they look very strong. Congratulations to United and thanks to the referee.

The Capilano Women’s Division 2 team won over Ridge Meadows by a score of 45-27 to stay in the number 1 position in this league. The 2nd Division Women have this coming weekend off.

The Capilano Killer B’s won over Kats by a score of 34-3

One of the Capilano Alumni passed by our announcing booth and said this is like watching Premier rugby. Most of the Capilano 3B’s are former premier players and many look like they could still hold their own in that league. The Kats have some talent but are not deep on the bench and have a couple of wily old veterans that have seen many seasons of rugby. Caps backs were led by Charlie Jones, Nick Belmar, and Kevin Hatch who all put on some dazzling moves. Hatch who has put on some girth runs with reckless abandon and is a load to stop. When the ball went to the wing Noah Spence showed speed and talent. Raul (Chile) did some good defensive work. The scrum was solid. Big Matt Plant had a good game as did Robbie McCall, Big Jim and the rest of the scrum were hard for the Kats to handle. The Kats tried hard but they were clearly outmatched today. Kats scored on a penalty kick but they were unable to answer with tries. Thanks to the Kats for the game and thank to the referee who did a fine job officiating this contest.

The Capilano Premier Reserves – Caps won this 83-0:

Caps Reserves really needed a victory today and apparently took out their frustration on the Nanaimo team. Nanaimo had few if any reserves for this game. I didn’t see much of the game except a few glimpses from afar. It appeared to be all Capilano. Ryan Scott told me that he scored a try and was in on seven other tries so I take him at his word that he had a good game! Graeme Buckler, who has been playing well of late, was the Man of the Match in the forwards for Capilano and Tim Adair was the back of the match so I take it that they both made strong contributions also. Congratulations to the Caps Reserves and thanks to Nanaimo for the match. Thanks also to the much appreciated referee.

Capilano Premier Women host CW and won 44-32

This was a great game of Women’s Premier rugby. Two icons of Canadian Rugby were dressed. Andrea Burk for Capilano and former Capilano great Mandy Marchak was dressed for CW. Both were dressed as reserves. You knew though that when these players entered the game that they would be difference makers. These two players combined to help Canada win a Silver medal at the Woman’s World Cup in France. Caps were very proud to have three players on this Canada Team as Hilary Leith played at prop and played well. Mandy and Andrea are fantastic athletes; they are fit and can still get the job done. Castaway Wanderers are fortunate to have Mandy as a player/coach and Capilano are fortunate to have Andrea playing when she is available.

CW are in last place but today did not look like a last place team. CW has some Canada players that are in and out of the squad and I would guess that today some were in. Castaway Wanderers started quickly and scored early as Sara Einarson burst through the Capilano backline and stepped out of several attempted tackles to score. The conversion from out wide was good and the visitors led 7-0. Early in the game Capilano was not tackling well and CW was looking dangerous. Caps needed to improve this aspect of their game and they did. CW struck again as number 3 Kelsey McKinnon scored a well earned try. Kelsey and her front row mates had strong games for CW. The conversion missed but the visitors were up 12-0 and looked strong doing so.

Caps answered with a try off a stolen ball. I couldn’t catch who scored but Lindsay Nicholson, who had a very good game, converted to put Caps on the scoreboard. CW nearly scored again following a hard run by number 2 Jenn Appleby. Caps were awarded a penalty kick and went for the lineout. Stacy Hake made a strong run for Caps. Caps took another penalty their 3rd in a row by my count. Then CW was penalized and Lindsay Nicholson made a strong clearance kick to get her team out of danger. CW did get a turnover and kicked ahead but the ball went over the in-goal and was touched down by Caps for a dropout. Caps number 1 Demi Stamatakis was soon shown a yellow card and they were down to 14 players. Tarin Arndt made a good run for her side and so did Sya Traford. A scrum was awarded to CW and Caps had to bring on a prop to fill in for the binned Stamatakins. CW took advantage of the extra player and number 15, Canada player Julianne Zussman, scored a nice try. The conversion missed but CW was up ten points 17-7 and they were good value for the lead. Lindsay Nicholson helped her side get back in it with a good kick ahead that was gathered in by Heather Muir for the score. The score was now 17-12 for CW and it was half time.

Early in the second half Caps tied the score, the forwards were pressing and Lindsay was stopped just short of the line. I am not sure who got the ball down but the score was now 17 each. The convert was on line but just short. CW then struck back and number 12 Madeleine Graham scored 22-17 and CW was not finished and they scored again but this time it was unconverted. Mel Robinson took off on a quick tap and Andrea Burk finished it off with a try. The convert missed. It was now 27-22 for CW. Caps looked energized and were playing with more gusto! They pushed CW off their ball in a scrum but then they were penalized. Following a lineout Caps were awarded a penalty, Caps mauled off the lineout and Gillian Boag scored to again even the score. The conversion by Lindsay Nicholson was good and Caps had their first lead of the game.

Andrea Burk struck again she took the ball at pace and cut back against the flow turned it on and went in for the score. The conversion was unsuccessful but Caps lead was stretched to seven points 34-27. Mandy Marchak began distributing the ball to her players and setting up nice little plays. Mandy made a strong run then passed the ball out and it went to the wing who scored in the corner to narrow the Capilano lead to 34-32.

A quick tap penalty by Andrea got Caps close. They also got some strong running by Demi Stamatakis who is powerful! Caps nearly got away but were forced out. They then almost scored but were held up. The scrum was not to be denied and pushed over with Lindsay downing it from her number 8 position. The score was now 39-32 and Demi put the icing on the cake with a final try after a strong run to make it a 44-32 win for the Capilano Premier Women. This was a well played rugby game and worth the price of admission. It was close right up to the end and Caps were happy to end their losing streak with an excellent performance, that didn’t start well. Congratulations to CW on a very strong road performance. Thanks to the referee for her handling of this fast moving contest.

The Capilano Premier Men host Nanaimo Hornets: Caps win 44-24

The Capilano Club is happy to have Nanaimo in the Premier League and we wish them success.

There has been much interaction with the Hornets over the years and some Caps players have moved to Nanaimo. It is an easy travel day to Nanaimo and their facilities are top notch. In the first meeting in Nanaimo the Hornets upset Caps and played very well at home. Today I thought they looked a bit tentative at the beginning of the game but showed flashes of brilliance later on. Caps were quick out of the gate which is unusual but was welcomed by the large home crowd. It was alumni day number 2 and the Cap Alumni put on a luncheon complete with a fine selection of wine! Great job guys!

Caps struck early, they won a lineout then used their patented mauling tactics to get the ball over the line for the score. Sam Franklin converted and it was 7-0. Neil Courtney, back at his normal front row position, scored number 2. Neil is solid and always plays well! I am sure he is happy to return to the front row. Caps engine room numbers 4 and 5 had a very good outing. Reid Tucker played very well as did Rich Merinsky. Both ran the ball well and were solid all game.

Nanaimo scored with a try by number 9 Sam Fowler who had a good game for his team. He made a good run and his battery mate number 10 Brad Marshall added the extra’s to put the Hornets back into the game. Caps were down a man after number 6 Jonathon Webster was binned for what I think was a high tackle. Caps scored one a man short as the second row combined and Reid Tucker finished off a good run by Rich Merinsky. Chris Robinson and Austin Karius also were in on this movement. Sam Franklin missed the conversion but Caps now had a 19-7 lead.

Caps tried a nifty back pass but it was knocked on. It was the Hornets chance to score and they had a great chance as one of their players passed back inside for what looked like a certain try. The pass missed and the chance was missed also. Caps survived the yellow card and their side returned to full strength. Eric Hunter James scored the next try for Caps as the big guy thundered down the left wing. He is a force and one can only dream of having him and Adam Zaruba in the same backline! The conversion missed and the score was now 24-7.

Not long after Sam Franklin returned a Nanaimo kick. He saw space and punted downfield. He ran after the ball and was in a race with only himself as the Nanaimo fullback was down with an injury. Sam scored and converted to make it 31-7. Nanaimo had a chance and chipped but Caps won the race to the ball in goal and touched it down for the drop out. Johnny Franklin did a fine job covering the re start and tackled the Nanaimo receiver. Chris Robinson found himself free but alone in the middle of the pitch. He kicked the ball ahead and showed us his soccer skills. He dribbled the ball and instead of trying to pick it up on the bounce which often ends up in a knock on, Chris dribbled again and fell on the ball over the goal line. The score was now 38-7 and Chris Robinson left the game to rest his sore leg injury picked up the week before. He was replaced by Malcolm Klaver who got some needed Premier experience. Caps made several other changes to get bench players into the match.

Nanaimo scored on a well taken try by Kiko Halaliko who made a long run. Kiko was one of the best Nanaimo players today but unfortunately appeared to injure himself later in the game. We wish him well! 38-14 was now the score after the conversion. Nanaimo put on some pressure and managed another to make it 38-19. Perhaps Caps took the foot off the pedal but credit to Nanaimo for staying stuck in! Caps scored another try with a maul that was downed by Glen McKinnon to make it 42-19 plus the conversion to make it 44-19. Nanaimo scored in the far corner to make it 44-24.

Thanks to the refereeing crew for their efforts and a day that was enjoyed by the entire home crowd. The teams went into the packed Capilano Clubhouse for the after game meal and beers. Chris Robinson thanked Nanaimo and the men of the match selections chugged a beer.

Thanks to all of the Capilano volunteers and special thanks to Chef Jim Leith for feeding 6 teams today!! Great effort Jim! Next Saturday is James Bay and Richmond at Klahanie. Four more home games for the Caps. Stay tuned and get out and support your Capilano RFC.