In the Reserve team opening game, our youngsters on the Reserve team had their hands full with a much larger, more experienced Burnaby team as they lost 61-6, with two Owen Brombal penalties being the only JBAA scoring. Although outgunned, the kids refused to buckle despite spending the majority of the game on defence. Jake Slobodian, just back from a prolonged injury was particularly active throughout the match.
In the Reserve team opening game, our youngsters on the Reserve team had their hands full with a much larger, more experienced Burnaby team as they lost 61-6, with two Owen Brombal penalties being the only JBAA scoring. Although outgunned, the kids refused to buckle despite spending the majority of the game on defence. Jake Slobodian, just back from a prolonged injury was particularly active throughout the match.
In the Premier game the large Burnaby forwards began with the same bullying style that was so effective in the first game. However, the JBAA pack had its own complement of bullies so that resulted in a midfield grinding that ate up 30 minutes of the first half with the only scoring being a penalty kick to each team. Unfortunately, during this period, both Teigan White and Ben Johnson had to leave the game with injuries, removing two large obstacles to Burnaby forward dominance. On the last play of the half a Burnaby winger found some space and sprinted 50 metres to give the home squad an 8-3 lead at the half.
At the start of the second half our scrum took a bit to adjust as reserves from the first game, including Slobodian, had to return to the field as replacements. Some scrappy play ensued and as a result Burnaby took a yellow card for dangerous play. The ensuing penalty led to a James Bay line out win and after several phases the Bays were able to spring GeoDouyon for a tally in the corner, knotting the score at a snowman apiece.
Back and forth action ensued with neither team gaining the upper hand until the 30 minute mark, when a stolen line-out led to a Laker line break and a converted try, making it 13-8 for BLRC. A scant 3 minutes later Burnaby struck again, extending their lead to 18-8, with the clock ticking down.
On the restart, a Burnaby player riled up the visitors with an unnecessarily wicked take-out of the receiver. By this time, veteran Phil Mack, who had been inserted into the line-up at number 10 to quarterback for the Bays, began to orchestrate the offence in ways that only a wily veteran can. With 3 minutes left, Mack got the ball to Keith Graham who made significant yardage before passing to Bromball who spotted and offloaded to the charging hooker, Austin,’Ozzie” Creighton who dove into the corner. Now the score was 18-13.
Burnaby shrewdly ran out the clock with multiple pick-and-goes, reminiscence of the Bay’s winning strategy in the 2013-14 BC Championship between these same two teams. Full credit to Burnaby for yesterday’s win and for the Bays the single point for a loss-within-7-points allows them to make the playoffs.
