JBAA fought back from 17-12 down at halftime to defend the Gerwing Challenge Shield and a 25-24 victory over Westshore in an interesting encounter at MacDonald Park on Saturday afternoon.
As the scoreline suggests, the match was a tight encounter in which JBAA commanded most of the possession and territory, with Westshore predominantly scoring against the run of play. Still, a win's a win's a win, so the JBAA Brain Trust should certainly be pleased with the result.
Mitch Sora got things underway on a picture perfect day deep in the heart of James Bay (sorry for the rhymes). The first ten minutes of the match felt like listening to a Justin Trudeau speech - a lot of posturing, plenty of errors, a lot of stuttering and stammering starts, and a feeling of 'what the hell did I just witness?'
Thankfully, at the ten minute mark, after sustained JBAA pressure deep in Westshore territory, one of Destiny's Children, JBAA tighthead, Tyler Rowland, barges in to put five points on the board. Shawnigan hockey convert, Craig double-barrelled last name slots the convert. 7-0 JBAA.
Five minutes later, from a lineout fifteen meters from JBAA's in-goal, and on their first foray into JBAA territory, Westshore score. Their kicker makes no mistake. 7-7 fifteen minutes in.
JBAA then sustains a ton of pressure for the next ten minutes. Still, Westshore continue to capitalize on a few errors. JBAA gains meters, only to lose them when Westshore slices through the defence from errant play. The JBAA panic defense that could best be described as scampering, manages to stymie them a few times, but eventually a Westshore back slices through to score. There's no mistake with the conversion from out wide. 14-7 Westshore.
Here a quick comment: when your opponent makes an unforced error, do not cheer wildly as if those you support did something outstanding - they didn't. This goes to players and this goes to attendees. Cheering unforced errors as if you had anything to do with it is ridiculous.
Eight minutes later, a clever passage of play from the JBAA backs sees Kainoa Lloyd, looking for work from the opposite wing, scoring just to the left of the posts. Crosby Stewart, Craig, and Mostyn Findlay were vital in the build-up. Unfortunately, Craig double-barrelled last name can't hit the convert. 14-12 Westshore.
Westshore kick a long-range penalty to end the half with a five point lead. That's 17-12 at halt-time for those with math trouble.
In keeping with political similes, the first ten minutes of the second half is like the op-eds the Mayor of Victoria likes to write - there's a lot there, but it just isn't really worth writing about. JBAA continue to command most of the possession and territory. Fresh from his time in Washington, that's DC, and after winning Ribfest Security Guard of the Year, Manchild Luke Campbell subs in. His bullying makes an immediate impact at the breakdowns.
A few minutes later, JBAA Captain, Blake van Heyningen, worried that famed Vic West eatery, Chicken on the Run's Happy Hour is about to end, leaves the field. It's later confirmed that, like a good Dutchman, Blake managed to get his order in before Happy Hour ended, and got his bill to be $18.01 to qualify for delivery.
The next five minutes sees some decent passages of play. Kainoa Lloyd's chip and chase is oh-so-close to successful, and after sustained JBAA pressure, Craig double-barrelled last name slots a penalty, making it 17-15 Westshore with about twenty-five minutes to play.
Not long after, JBAA again drives into Westshore territory, winning a penalty just to the right of the posts, about twenty meters out. They elect not to go for points, but instead ask for a scrum. Credit to them for the confidence. After multiple phases from the set-piece, Mitch reverses the run of play, finds Mostyn, who dishes a nice fend on a would-be-defender, diving into the corner. The convert is not successful. 20-17 JBAA.
Shortly following the restart, Westshore scores against the run of play, again. Their kicker makes no mistake. 24-20 Westshore with about fifteen minutes to play.
Kainoa, Luke, Jim de Goede, Wyatt Pilz, and Peter Massimo either go on big runs or throw out some big hits over the next few phases of play. Luke and Jim connect deep in Westshore territory, and it looks like Jim is sure to score, only for the Westshore panic defense to regather possession.
After sustained JBAA pressure, Mostyn, with Isaac Gonevou and Henry Do in support outwit four Westshore defenders. After a hell of a juke from Mostyn, Crosby's found in support, diving down to score. Craig double-barrelled last name is unsuccessful with the conversion, but it doesn't matter. 25-24 JBAA.
The last five minutes of the match are a bit nerve-wracking for the JBAA supporters, as now Westshore command both territory and possession. The JBAA defence is resilient though. A big hit from a JBAA defender results in a Westshore knock-on, and that's time. JBAA win by one.
Though a few JBAA players haven't been mentioned by name, the win was definitely a team performance (well, duh). Full credit to Westshore, too, as they put up a very good fight. JBAA's four coaches are sure to iron out some set-pieces issues, and fix a few defensive miscues before next match, at home again, on October 1st.
In other games…
Our Women’s team tied and our Prem Reserves won their game in another squeaker. No game report for those but we do have a gallery of photos to share of the Prem Reserves game.
All photos courtesy of Dave Nicholson - thanks Dave!