Match Reports - Saturday January 28th

Results - Saturday January 28
Kats 52 - 0 Capilano (2nd Division Men)
Langley 43 - 43 Capilano (2nd Division Women)
*Match report below*

Schedule - Saturday February 4
11:15am Capilano at Burnaby Lake (2nd DIvision Men)
Venue: Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
TBD Kelowna at Capilano (2nd Division Women)
Venue: Klahanie Park
12:45pm UBCOB Ravens at Capilano (Premier Reserve Men)
Venue: Klahanie Park
2:30pm UBCOB Ravens at Capilano (Premier Men)
Venue: Klahanie Park

Women’s Mainland Division 3 (Division 2) vs. Langley
Written by: Heather Muir

The Capilano women’s program kicked off the second half with the 2nd Division side taking on Langley in a tightly contested and high scoring affair. Matches between these two teams are always a fierce battle and Saturday was no different. It was great so see the turnout at the Langley field for the first women’s match of 2023!

The game started out with flying runs and battering tackles from both sides as each team tested their opposition early. Capilano’s young side put up a huge show of try line defense throughout the first 10min of the game, allowing Langley only two tries after numerous attempts to break the Capilano line.

However, Capilano didn’t let the early 14-0 deficit last long. Newcomer #16 Rachel Vukovich kicked off the scoring for the visitors with a swift inside line that split the defenders and allowed them to race under the posts for their first ever rugby try! Conversion from #12 Brinley Wright was good and the score narrowed to 14-7.

Capilano pulled even shortly afterwards as #15 Abigail Gilson backed their lightening pace and took the Langley defenders on the outside for a long run in try from their own half. Another successful conversion from Brinley Wright brought the Capilano side right back into the match. Langley’s quick back line managed so slip through for a final try before the first of three playing periods ended, and went into the break with the home team up 17-14.

The second period started as the first ended with Langley catching the Capilano defense and running in for an unconverted try to bring the score to 22-14. Capilano returned the favour shortly after however as Captain #10 Shelby Slay got their team into prime scoring position with a big run from their 22m into the opposition’s red zone. Several well worked phases later and #16 Rachel Vukovich spotted the overlap out wide and sent the ball flying to impact Charlotte Ketchen for a run-in try to bring Capilano within three points at 22-19. Both Vukovich and Ketchen had impressive games with several damaging runs and chase down tackles to keep the scoreline level.

The next minutes of scintillating play saw Capilano come agonizingly close to a go-ahead try before the ball was turned over and Langley streaked away for what looked like a sure score. However, #15 Abigail Gilson had something to say about that and tracked back brilliantly to make the saving tackle. Moments later, Capilano regained possession and the tireless fullback raced back down the field, this time with ball in hand, to get their team within 10m of the Langley try line. #9 Mel Hope controlled play excellently on their first game back from injury and manipulated the defense until a gap appeared out wide and the ball flew through the hands to Charlotte Ketchen who raced over the line to bring their team ahead to 22-26 and the end of the second period of play.

The third and final period started with Langley making a huge offensive push as they attempted to bring the game out of the visitors’ reach. Two quick runaway tries pulled the home side to a

36-26 lead and Capilano had some work to do. The Capilano forwards put in some big hits and runs to wear down the Langley side, while first year player #5 Izzy Neilson was absolutely relentless on defense with tackle after tackle as they pushed the home side further from the gain line.

Team veterans Mel Hope and Shelby Slay worked together for a bit of set piece magic to bring in the next try as the #9 picked from the base of the scrum and drew in the opposition before sending the ball to their Captain who flew through untouched on a beautiful line before outpacing the defender to bring their team within a try at 36-31.

Langley fought back again shortly after as they increased their lead once again to 43-31. But Capilano didn’t miss a step in their comeback push as they pulled together for several strong phases off the kickoff before the ball went to #12 Brinley Wright who split the Langley defense and left the cover defender in the dust as they ran half a field length to score. Conversion from the try-scorer was good and the visitors were tantalizingly near to taking the lead at 43-38 with only minutes left to play.

The Langley defense held strong at first, but the calm and determined Capilano side worked through the phases and patiently inched the ball up the field and into the opposition 22m. Finally, with no time left on the clock, the ball went through the hands to the wing where #13 Leonie Lartey crashed over the line for the equalizing try. Tough sideline conversion went wide, and the final whistle blew with the Capilano side coming away with a hard-earned tie in an offensive thriller with a final score of 43-43! These tie-game points will prove incredibly important as their season progresses in an incredibly competitive pool for the 2nd Division women.

Players of the match were #3 Madison Arbuckle whose strength and consistency both offensively and defensively has exhausted defense game after game, and #13 Leonie Lartey who continued to make strong, break-through runs and break tackles all game! Big thank you to the referee for officiating, Matt Nichol for providing all our taping and field-side medical needs, and to the Langley team for a great competitive and clean game (and for joining in on our Happy Birthday performance!). Big thanks also to all the Capilano supporters and non-dressing women’s program players who made the trip down to Langley to cheer on the team!

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