Ian Stewart – former Chair of the U Vic Board of Governors, former BC Lion, and long time player/supporter of James Bay, established the Bays-Vikes Challenge Cup last fall to recognize the respect these two rugby programs have for each other – and the excellent games and citizen-athletes they produce. Saturday, at Wallace Field on the U Vic campus, the men of JBAA and U Vic demonstrated the prescience shown by Stewart – engaging in a rugby competition that will be remembered by all who played or witnessed the game for years to come. 

The game pitted these teams – both 2 and 0 in BCRU spring play – and with Bays holding a 7 point advantage in the two game total point Challenge Cup series – in a winner take the Cup event. 

The game was played under a Chrystal-blue winter sky, with a fierce quartering wind blowing from somewhere cold. With the wind favouring them, JBAA jumped to a 3-0 lead two minutes in, when Jeff Williams slotted a penalty goal. The teams ground up and down the field – defence comprehensive and dominant - neither able to convert threats into points. Then, mid-way through the half, Nathan Hirayama, just returned from the international 7’s wars, kicked a penalty goal in reply – evening the score. 

Seven minutes on, Bryn Keys pressed over in the corner to give Vikes an 8-3 lead. But two minutes from half, the Blue Crush powered to the Viker line, and Hugo Belanger dove in to even the score. Vikes 8 – Bays 8. 

At the half, each team made a forward row change – JBAA’s Russ Ward entered the game to join Dave Cameron and Eric Forsythe, replacing an injured Pieter van der Merwe. Canada Captain Pat Riordan came in to join Toby Peyton and Andrew Tiedemann for the Vikes. With the wind now raging against the Bays, Navy Blue supporters held their breath. 

The initial 22 minutes of Half Two saw a pattern of thrust and parry – Bays winning the warfare in the trenches, advancing up-field – Nathan Hirayama pinning them back deep in their end with massive tactical kicks – the Bays advancing again, without score – comprehensive tackling by both teams from end to end, and sideline to sideline. 

Finally, at 62 minutes, speedy winger Willem du Plessis slashed into the corner of the Bays’ in- goal to give Vikes a 13-8 advantage. Fierce play continued – and the thought around the park was: “What, if anything, would break under the withering pressure – and on which team?” 

Six minutes from time, with Bays exerting pressure on the Vikes 5 meter line, the first crack occurred – a Viker sealing off the ball in-ruck, earning a yellow card. In defensive confusion that followed, JBAA’s Spenny Dalziel spied the hole he had been searching for all game – and slashed through for a JBAA try, converted by Jeff Williams. Bays 15 – Vikes 13. 

With two minutes left, and the game apparently in JBAA hands, the Bays handed opportunity back – going offside in their own end – to facilitate an apparent winning Hirayama penalty goal – Vikes 16 – Bays 15. 

Then, with the referee raising the final whistle to her lips, JBAA initiated an attack from near their goal line that will be watched on tape and re-watched by rugby aficionados for many years to come. The play saw all seven JBAA backs – Dalziel, Jeff and Morgan Williams, Belanger, Meechan, Harlow and Dave Moonlight - handle the ball – with Danny Harlow surging some 30 meters up the sideline, passing to Morgan – and hence to Moonlight, who outran Vikes’ defenders to the right corner of the in-goal. Whistle blows! Game over! Bays win 20 to 16! 

This is JBAA’s 125th Anniversary Year. In celebration, we plan a number of major game events – including visits from Old Puget Sound RFC, Golden Gate Rugby Club of San Francisco, and The Rock from Newfoundland. JBAA will also face off against Vancouver Rowing Club in two weeks, in competition for the venerable Cox and Ferguson Cups. As with the Barnard and Bays-Vikes Challenge trophies, each punctuation mark in this Anniversary Season will have to be earned – with major opponent challenges still ahead! This anniversary year progresses with a game against resurgent Abbotsford RFC next Saturday at MacDonald Park. 

In the CDI Division One game yesterday, U Vic Norsemen broke away for four trys to defeat the JBAA Ones 29 to 20.

Saturday at MacDonald Park, Dave Moonlight – rust free in his second game back – put in a hat trick as JBAA secured a workmanlike win over Velox Valhallians. Twelve minutes in, on a rainless field, as Victoria searches tentatively for Spring, a surge by JBAA prop Big E Forsythe was stopped just short of the left corner – the Bays spun the ball to the other sideline – and Moonlight sliced across to open scoring. 

At 26 minutes, Neil Meechan took the ball from a Velox back in-tackle, and put Ben Johnson away for his first of several up-field rampages – this for twelve meters to the try line. Jeff Williams converted. JBAA 12 – Velox 0. 

The Valhallians seldom play soft – continued to work hard up and down the field – and were rewarded with a try by scrum half Jon Ogilvie six minutes from the break. Nick Scholtz converted. Bays 12 – Velox 7. 

In half two, the Bays, who did not reach the heights of their performance the prior week, played a workmanlike game – point-free D – and five trys at even spaced intervals to pull away. The scoring recommenced at 48 minutes, Big E finishing off a Blue Crush maul. Then Hugo Belanger broke away – pass to Jake de Goede for the score. Bays 22 – Velox 7. 

Near mid-half, de Goede instituted another attack – and Spenny Dalziel secured a ball that seemed to ricochet off several hands, to drive over the Valhallian line. 

Another five minutes, then the signature score in this blue collar game! Jeff Williams lofting an attacking kick high into the Velox right in-goal – Moonlight racing some 30 meters, leaping skyward over the MacDonald Park turf, to take the ball cleanly in air – shocking the Valhallian defender waiting below. Moonlight finished his scoring trifecta as the final whistle blew. Score at game’s end: Bays 37 – Velox 7. 

JBAA Ones 39 – Velox 10: 

In the early game, JBAA’s Ones took a step toward righting their ship – playing try-less D until the 74th minute, and pouring in four trys in the first half, and two more in the second, to secure the win. Score at the half was 29-3. Neither team is yet near playoff form – but on Saturday the Bays dominated. 

This year must be a Leap Year – as Jeff (Raptor) Clarke also went airborne to secure two trys. Scott Humphrey notched two. Jim de Goede (who later started for the Prems) scored a try, as did Brendon McEneaney – while Kyle Laberge kicked 3 converts and a penalty goal. In this game, JBAA also welcomed the return of Russ Ward to Pacific rugby. 

Next Saturday, an amalgam of JBAA Prems and Ones will travel to Cowichan for an exhibition encounter, slated to start at 2:30 PM in the PIggie Dome.

Saturday at Brockton Oval, in what passes for West Coast winter – drizzle evolving to continuous rain – the top first half teams from the Mainland and Vancouver Island, UBC Old Boys and James Bay Athletic Association, met to open the BCRU CDI Premier League season. 

This was a Blue Crush day. Both sets of backs played comprehensive D, and handled the difficult ball fairly well. But it was the JBAA forwards, led by towering props Eric Forsythe and Dan Hrycyk, that ultimately proved the difference. 

Old Boys started well – locks Burak and McKay crashing into the Navy Blue defenders – Ed Fairhurst controlling play to give the Ravens an edge in both possession and territory. At three minutes, Pat Dunkley broke a thumb – and Saskatchewan’s Danny Hrycyk, having earlier played 80 minutes in the Ones’ game, entered the Premier fray at prop. Six minutes in, Fairhurst notched a penalty goal to put the Ravens ahead – and a dash down the wing in coverage earned Gordon Minty a score another 6 minutes on. Ravens 8 – Bays 0. 

But the Blue Crush began to exert more pressure, with Dave Moonlight finally squirting over in the right corner. Jeff Williams converts: Ravens 8 – Bays 7. 

The fierce battle continued – forwards from both teams crashing - backs boshing and tackling. Fairhurst (Ravens) and Williams (Bays) put particular pressure on fullbacks Harlow (pressed into service with Morgan Williams ill) and Dipton. These two stalwarts received ball courageously – often with a good view of the tonsils of sundry looming tacklers. At 28 minutes, the Ravens tallied again – Dan Wainwright racing over. Boshing and bashing continued to the half. Ravens 13 – Bays 7. 

In half two, perhaps aided by a game in San Francisco last weekend – and led from the front by Forsythe, Hrycyk and Yoon, the Bays lifted to another gear. Ravens continued to give it their all. The game remained intense. In fact, UBCOB could have scored again, save for a nullifying infraction early in the half. Finally, persistent Blue Crush pressure saw the JBAA backs sweep wide right, with Sands Falk scoring in the corner. Ravens 13 – Bays 12. 

Twelve minutes from time, a highlight reel try secured the JBAA win. Blue Crush pressuring – a Callum Morrison break toward the goal – a fingertip catch of his pass and five strides by Mitch Gudgeon – then Spenny Dalziel, diving forward to catch Gudgeon’s pass and land ball first between the posts. Williams converts. Final score: JBAA 19 – UBCOB 13. 

Both teams left the field heads held high. The outcome could have been different. But Bays were able to mount a bit more second half pressure, and win the day. 

Sam Langridge managed the difficult game well – and a ref’s assistant showed courage, flagging an obvious personal foul at a key moment in the second half. Next Saturday, the Bays will host Velox at MacDonald Park. Ravens again play at Brockton against Rowers.

Pete Rushton’s James Bay Athletic Association Premier side powered to a 66 to 20 win over Velox Saturday, to celebrate their ancient roots in the season’s opener in this Royal Canadian Navy’s Centennial Year. 

Starting a week earlier than usual at MacDonald Park, rust was evident on both sides – and Velox had obvious problems fielding sufficient numbers. Look for this to improve, as the John McMillan coached Valhallians go deeper into the season.

The Bays struggled to adjust to new rule interpretations at the breakdown – enabling Velox fullback Pita Savea to pour five first half penalty goals over the uprights – and keeping the score close at 23-15 with the half time whistle. Valhallians drew even closer with a try by Nick Scholtz two minutes into half two. But with the undermanned Veloxers wearing down, it seemed a matter of “when” the Big Blue would break out. 

Spenny Dalziel opened JBAA scoring 7 minutes into the game, with a slice to the goal line, set up by Big E Forsythe. Ten minutes later, Jason Marshall finished a multi-pass attack to score in the right corner. Twelve minutes following, Connor Braid drove to the goal line, and converted his own score. Braid added two penalty goals just before the half. 

In half two, following the early Valhallian try, Hugo Bellanger started the Bays’ break-out six minutes in, finishing an attack involving Sean White, Dalziel, Sands Falk and Morgan Williams. Braid converted – and added his third penalty goal 3 minutes on. 

Belanger scored again at 58 minutes, on a 40 meter attack initiated by Braid – who again converted. Belanger set up Mitch Gudgeon for the Bays’ 6th try – Braid converting. Elliot Peacock at 69 minutes and Dalziel with his second (76 minutes) added ten more points. 

Then, the signature play for the Bays’ new season! With Scotty Warren evidently retiring, there has been some chatter in the House of Bays that JBAA’s Blue Crush might play a rebalanced role, with the Navy Blue’s run & gun backs advancing. Maybe so, but with time sliding away, JBAA loose head Dave Cameron, back from a year-long tendon rehab, took a pass out wide near mid-field, charged down the right sideline, and passed inside to hooker Pat Dunkley. Dunkley went another ten yards – then pirouetted (or what passes for same from a 38 year old guy), and flipped the ball to tight head Jason Marshall. Marshall charged the last 15 meters to score, delivering a stiff arm on the way that will still be remembered by its recipient this morning. Front rower – to front rower – to front rower – to score. A sight to warm the hearts of all aficionados of the Blue Crush! Final tally: JBAA 66 – Velox 20. 

Next week the Prems travel to Wallace Field to play last season’s Cream of BC – the U Vic Vikes. This early on, both teams are very much still work in progress. JBAA hopes to add John Moonlight, Greg Fiddick and Taylor Paris (and possible others) on-field during the practice week – while the Vikes, with a bye yesterday, will still be consolidating for this season’s run. 

JBAA Ones 77 – Velox 0: Something Old, Something New, Nothing Borrowed, Everything Blue! 

Coach John Buxcey’s JBAA Ones began defence of their BC Championship as they finished last year – riding stifling D - deigning Valhallians the goal line, and any score. Playing (for the most part) focussed power rugby, they scored 13 trys in this initial VIRU Division 1 contest. 

Something old came on three trys from 43-year-old marvel Rob Robson – prior to retiring from the game mid-way through half two, to lick his usual assortment of wounds. Something new came from Mickey Franco, a back in from Chicago Lions (before that, Balmy Beach) who started at fullback – and Nate Waldmann, last year’s JBAA Ones’ Rookie of the Year, who also scored a tri-fecta! 

Waldmann started the scoring 35 seconds in – with a dozen Bays’ trys to follow. In addition to Robson and Waldmann’s threes, Kyle Laberge scored two, and Jake de Goede, Elliot Peacock, Dan Kilpatrick, Alex Lavrinenko (or twin brother Eugene we can never tell), and Simon Smith notched singles. Laberge added six converts – for a 22 point day. 

The JBAA Ones will follow this comprehensively Navy Blue day with a contest at MacDonald Park next Saturday against U Vic Jutes.

It is with deep sadness that James Bay Athletic Association announces the passing of Sam Weller, found this morning at his home in Cadboro Bay. 

Saturday, at sun-swept Wallace Field on the University of Victoria campus, Coach John Buxcey’s JBAA Ones achieved a dominant 29 to 12 victory over Capilano Rugby Club, to register their second straight provincial championship in BCRU CDI Division One play. 

Mitch Gudgeon opened the scoring for the Bays 14 minutes in, from a forwards’ surge. Then JBAA No. 13, Nolan Miles, notched a hat trick – at 21 and 32 minutes of the first half – and one minute into half two. Miles’ first try was from a multi-pass back attack – the second gathering a kick-through from Bays’ number ten Greg Fiddick to score again – and finally, from a Fiddick up-field break and pass. Kyle Laberge converted two of these. Score one minute into half two: Bays 24 – Caps 0. 

Midway through half two, Fiddick (who will also be playing in a Vancouver Island soccer final today) – lofted an attacking kick into the right corner of the Caps’ end zone, where fullback Elliot Peacock gathered it in for JBAA’s fifth try. Caps scored two trys by Kevin Guidi late – one of which he converted. Final score: JBAA 29 – Capilano 12. 

While there was plenty of points on the day, the key to JBAA’s victory was defence – intensity - and mental toughness. Forced to play short for 50 minutes, the sunny afternoon obscured for long periods by blizzards of adverse whistle, the Bays tackled fiercely from sideline to sideline – and looked dangerous on attack, even when playing short. 

Ageless Rob Robson incurred a hamstring injury at 18 minutes – forcing him to withdraw from the field - but not from the game! Post-game, Rob hoisted a BC Champions’ trophy for his 13th time. No team, save the Bays, can claim more! 

So now, it’s to rest; Summer Sevens; and cheering on Thyssen de Goede, Sean White, DTH van der Merwe, Morgan Williams, Mitch Gudgeon, Ben Johnson, Neil Meechan, Connor Braid, Phil Mack, and their Canada teammates, as they carry the flag to Russia, England, Scotland, the Commonwealth Games, and worlds beyond. 

And a Huddy Huddy to Phil Mack and his Viker teammates at U Vic - British Columbia Premier Champions for 2010!

Saturday, May 3rd at MacDonald Park, U Vic Vikes came back from a seventeen point deficit to edge James Bay Athletic Association 36 – 32 in a BCRU Premier League semi-final barn burner. 

The game featured fierce play by both forward packs – and aeronautical pyrotechnics from the backs, as the ball seemed almost constantly in motion – kick – counter attack – kick back – cover tackling all over the park. 

Following an early exchange of penalty goals (Jeff Williams for the Bays – Nathan Hiryama for Vikes) the first half was virtually all JBAA. With core Viker Pat Riordan taking an enforced rest, Bays’ winger Dave Moonlight scored three times in eight minutes (one converted by Williams) to see James Bay off to a 20 to 3 lead. 

But with two minutes left in the half, the Vikes surged back – try by Nick Lubbe – convert – then penalty goal by Nathan Hirayama. – score at the half, 20 to 13 Bays. 

Hiryama slotted his 3rd penalty goal four minutes into half two, closing the gap to four points. The Bays surged back – Thyssen de Goede bursting up-field, pass to Meechan, pass to Hugo Belanger – JBAA score – Williams convert – JBAA 27-Vikes 16. 

Midway into half two, Riordan rumbled in to score for Vikes – and seven minutes later, Phil Mack pounced on a loose ball – and launched himself on a 25 meter trajectory to the JBAA goal line. Hiryama converted both, and the Vikes broke ahead, 30 to 27. 

The Bays were not done. Thirty four minutes in, Thyssen de Goede, who had to overcome mainland gerrymandering to play in the game, scored off Blue Crush pressure. Bays 32 – Vikes 30. But this day was ultimately to belong to the Vikes. Hiryama slotted a brilliant drop goal to regain the lead – and then converted yet another penalty. Vikes 36 – Bays 32. 

With minutes waning, Dan Harlow got away on two long runs – each a half step from score – desperate tackling from the Vikers – no joy for JBAA. 

It is well known in rugby circles that Vikes’ fortunes rise and fall on which players are in town. Saturday, the key guys were all there – led by Riordan, Mack, Hiryama and Spicer. The result was impressive. Next week, they face off against Lomas at Wallace Field for the BCRU crown. 

JBAA Ones 17 – Lomas 6. 

In the BCRU CDI Division 1 semi-final, JBAA Ones regained their defensive capabilities - seemingly lost over previous weeks - to deny Meraloma of Vancouver their goal line, and register a solid 17 to 6 victory. 

Eight minutes in, Dusty Luther rampaged 30 meters up-field to set up a Nolan Miles score. Six minutes further on, Mitch Gudgeon scored off of forwards pressure – Kyle Laberge converting. Lomas’ only answer was a penalty goal by Bryan Tyrer. Score at the half: JBAA 12 – Lomas 3. 

The second half saw more defensive struggle, with the only try a sparkling effort by Jim de Goede – who kicked a loose ball some 25 meters to the Loma goal line – and outran three defenders for the score. The only Loma reply was a second penalty goal by Tyrer. 

Next week, JBAA will defend their BCRU Division 1 champion title at Wallace Field against Capilano RFC.

Last Saturday evening at The House of Bays, James Bay Athletic Association distributed its annual awards for its 124th year, as Canada’s longest lived sports organization west of Montreal. After a rollicking dinner for some 100 participants, the awards presentation commenced with Division One. 

• Most Improved Player - Nate Waldmann 
• Rookie of the Year - Greg Fiddick
• Most Inspirational Player - Jacobus de Goede 
• Most Valuable Player - Scott Eckhardt

Ben Johnson won two Premier trophies, while Jason Marshall was named JBAA Premier MVP. 

• Most Improved Player - Ben Johnson
• Rookie of the Year - Connor Braid
• Most Inspirational Player - Ben Johnson
• Most Valuable Player - Jason Marshall

Pat Dunkley received the Tillman Briggs Award, personifying the qualities that JBAA values most in an athlete leader. 

Pete Rushton, commander of the Bays’ success over recent years, received the Bill Day Award, for exceptional service to JBAA. 

The evening was semi-controlled by Tom Woods and Barry Robbins – with great food from Heron Rock Bistro. The Lady Vamps of JBAA added spice – and that was nice! 

The athletes of JBAA now return to serious business on the field – preparing for next Saturday’s BCRU Division 1 Semi-Final at MacDonald Park against Meraloma – followed by a Premier Semi-Final Island shootout against Vikes at 2:45 PM.

Awards Banquet Cost = $25 per. 

This morning the Bank of Canada raised its interest rates! So JBAA needs to follow suit. Admittance to the Awards Banquet on Saturday night will be $25 (not $20). 

Huddy Huddy - & See You Saturday Night!!! 

U Vic Vikes rode all-around speed and spirited sideline to sideline tackling to best James Bay Athletic Association 38 – 25 at Wallace Field. The Vikes worked their short lineout play to perfection, getting two scores. Player of the Game Phil Mack scored a highlight reel 7’s try, breaking down the short side, popping the ball over two Bays’ defenders, and gathering it to score.