The Capilano Premier Women’s team was on the road in Seattle. They lost in a try fest, 36-41, but they gained two valuable bonus points to ensure that they finished the regular league play in second place and get a home playoff game next Saturday.
The Capilano U-23 team hasn’t played for quite a while so they played a pick up team of reserve players and some of the Capilano 3B’s. Caps 3B’s had to declare 23 players to play in the playoffs so unfortunately they had to shrink their roster. The U-23 Men are at UBC this coming Saturday in playoff action.
The Capilano 3B’s and Kats were the feature game. Kats agreed to play the game at 12:45 and that helped swell the crowd. The time shift was appreciated by the Capilano supporters. Kats and Capilano have some history as some of the old time Kats that live on the North Shore have become Capilano supporters. The late great Billy Gerwing was one. Eric Carlsen and his father Swede Carlsen fit into that category as does Shawn Lanigan. The Bill Claridge family has also been part of the Capilano family. Many of the Capilano Alumni will remember when Kats were the class of local rugby! The club now only has a 3rd Division side but it is great that they still play year after year. The Kats do have some talented players but are not deep at certain positions and the Capilano scrum overpowered them today. Kats showed some great lineout movements and were unlucky not to score a couple of tries off their slick moves.
Caps opened the scoring with a nice try by Nick Belmar. Caps repeatedly attacked the Kats goal line but were stopped just short. They kept the pressure on and Nick found a gap and scored the first try of the game. Danny Hatch converted and Caps were up 7-0. Matt Plant and Rob Scott combined on a run that was finished off by Craig McLaren who looks at home at number 8. The extras were added and Caps were up by 14. Bruce Bowman scored on a good run, set up by Kevin Hatch to make it 19. Unfortunately he re-injured his hamstring and is questionable for the next game. Caps kept adding more scores as Nick B, Craig McLaren and Matt Plant scored tries. Kats had a great chance to score off a lineout play that saw them 2 on 1 with the Cap fullback. Unfortunately for them a pass was intercepted and the chance was lost. With Caps in the lead 33-0 Kats scored a nice try by their number 14. Kats were attacking again and were stopped by a huge hit by Kevin Hatch who was perhaps fortunate not to get a yellow as the wrap was only a glancing blow. He was warned and Caps were penalized but they escaped the bin. The referee did a good job keeping the game in check and it was not a feisty contest despite some heavy hits by both sides. Ian Smortchevsky stopped a likely Kats try as he hauled down the ball carrier as he looked like he would go all the way. The half time score was 38-5 and Caps put in several reserves. The front row was changed as Andy Plant, Ryan Nelson and Johnny Ray Houston came on. Shane Sanford came in on the wing. Noah Spence, Shane Sanford and Brad Wightman added tries in the second half. It was a very strong team effort by the 3B’s who next week face the Meraloma’s who beat them twice during the regular season. Caps did win the last time the two sides met and will have to play well to beat their old rivals. Get out next week to support the 3B’s, the 2nd Division Women and the Premier Women at home. Good luck to the U-23 Men who face a strong UBC squad. The UBC U23 Men include several of their former teammates. Kats saluted the crowd at the end of the game in a classy move and the crowd responded with applause. Thanks to Kats for the game and congratulations to the Killer B’s. Thanks to the referee. See you next Saturday! Go Caps!
Saturday April 28, 2018 – Times TBA
Capilano U23 Men at UBC (UBC)
Vancouver Rowing Club Women at Capilano 2nd Division Women (Klahanie Park)
Burnaby Lake Women at Capilano Premier Women (Klahanie Park)
Meralomas 3rd Division Men at Capilano 3rd Division Men (Klahanie Park)
