BAY DAY AT THE MAC

By Phil Meyer

James Bay Athletic Association Prems, Ones and Betty’s all played the Classic D that is a trademark of JBAA’s teams Saturday at MacDonald Park – each team yielding a single try, as they swept to comprehensive victories before an appreciative crowd of sun-warmed V5’ers.

The Prems’ game against the Castaway Wanderers punctuated this Bay Day.

The Premier Blue Crush came into Saturday wondering whether their sometimes embarrassing performance in the season opener against Castaways was a one-off aberration – or the specter of things to come!

At games end, the Aberrationists held full sway.

The front row – the Flying Scots (Warren and Eckhardt), flanking Rob Down – held their own in the sets!

Down, Eric Big E Forsythe and Captain Dave Ramsay assured ball in the lineouts! Callum Morrison had a massive game at #8, cleaning up a myriad of crappy ball caused by crooked scrums at put in.

The Crush welcomed Ben Johnson of the BC Bears back, as he and Jacobus de

Goede tackled sideline to sideline. And the Bays Rolling Maul of two years past rose, as if from the dead, to power up-field for 10, 15 or 20 yards at a go!

The JBAA backs contributed an equal share. Led by the veteran Williams Brothers and the power running of Vince Herlaar, sparked by the sharp-edged play of Johnny Apiata, with Dan Harlow and fullback Sean White dangerous all over the field, the Prems rode out to a 29 to 8 victory!

CW opened scoring with a penalty goal three minutes in. But at 17 minutes, Apiata swept right and pitched a perfect set-up pass to Sean White, who dashed 40 meters for the try. Jeff Williams converted from right on the sideline.

The Bays came on again some 10 minutes later, when Danny Harlow sprinted downfield on a two-on-two scoring chance, the CW defender guessed wrong – and Harlow swept for 5. At the half: Bays 12 – CW 3.

Twelve minutes into half two, Spence Dalziel finished off a precision short passing attack, also involving Apiata, White, and Jeff Williams, to notch a third Bays’ try – Williams again kicking the difficult sideline conversion.

Bays 19 – CW 3.

Mid-way through the half, CW got their only try from scrum half Armstrong.

Twelve minutes later, the Blue Crush drove over the line, Ramsay advancing the ball the last 6 inches to cement a bonus point win! Williams again converted – and added a penalty goal as time ran out. Final Score: JBAA 29 – CW – 8.

With this result, JBAA solidifies their hold on first place in the VIRU Elite League. Vikes, a big winner over Cowichan Piggies, will climb back into second place.

JBAA Ones 28 – CW 13

The JBAA Ones registered a similarly strong result. Again featuring Strong D, they held CW try-less until five minutes from full time, and showed far better form overall than last week’s take-away in PA.

Nolan Miles commanded the scrum from #8 – and Ryan (Sheriff) Waldriff returned to add power at lock (and later, at prop). The JBAA backs, featuring the debut of Dylan Paquet at #10 and winger Ray Salo – bolstered by the return of Rouge Rushton – and with Chris Trumpy (fullback), Greg Fiddick and Jeff Campbell dangerous from every attacking angle – looked like they might break out whenever they had the ball.

As in the Prems’ game, the CW scored first – with a penalty goal two minutes in. At 13 minutes, Jeff Campbell slotted a Bays’ answer back penalty. Then JBAA upped the tempo.

Miles rampaged 40 yards from a quick-tap penalty to score at 19 minutes.

Trumpy trumped CW again 12 minutes later, gobbling up a sideline soccer-tap from Greg Fiddick to race in for the score. CW answered with a second penalty goal. Score at the half: JBAA 13 – C Dubb 6.

By mid-way in the second half, the Ones had powered out for 15 more unanswered points. Waldriff scoring on a sideline rampage two minutes from
restart, Jeff Campbell converting – Campbell slotting another penalty kick 19 minutes in – Greg Fiddick finishing off a nifty passing attack from Rushton and Trumpy a minute later. CW scored a converted try 5 minutes from end, as JBAA Coach-in-Residence Jono emptied his bench. Final score: JBAA 28 – CW 13.