February 3, 2018   Victoria, BC (ISN) – Home field advantage was not so advantageous for the James Bay Bays rugby side as the visiting Castaway Wanderers handily beat James Bay 35-12 Saturday afternoon in BC Men’s Premier League rugby action at MacDonald Park in Victoria, BC.

Castaway Wanderers Dala
February 3, 2018 Victoria, BC (ISN) – CW’s Nanyak Dala finds a gap in the James Bay defense to advance the ball – Erich Eichhorn photo (www.allsportmedia.ca)

With the win, the fourth place Castaway Wanderers win the cross-town rivalry, besting fifth place James Bay in the two game series 2-0.

A rough, hard-hitting slog under rainy skies from both sides would favour the tri-colors in both field and ball possession most of the game as Castaway Wanderers would capitalize early.

Castaway Wanderer James Bay
February 3, 2018 Victoria, BC (ISN) – Rain would not cool the tempers on both sides of the ball. Referee Kevin Smith would issue 5 yellow card in the game . – Erich Eichhorn photo (www.allsportmedia.ca)

CW would open the scoring going up 7-0 on a close quarters try after a huge gain by Anton Ngongo down the wing. James Bay, committing a penalty at their own five, would open the door for the cross-town visitors to put the ball down for the early score. CW would continue their pressure in the half with quick ball movement and edge running out of the back row to offer up a 21-12 half time lead. Under defensive pressure, James Bay would have to settle on the steady boot of Elliot Mitrou to keep James Bay in the game with twelve, first-half penalty conversion points.

Castaway Wanderer Anton Ngongo
February 3, 2018 Victoria, BC (ISN) – CW’s Anton Ngongo would help his team enjoy good field position most of the game with his sideline running. – Erich Eichhorn photo (www.allsportmedia.ca)

In a match played with no shortage of spirit from either side, referee Kevin Smith, looking to keep the on field extra-curricular activities in check, would raise his yellow card five times over the course of the match, sending players to the “sin bin”with what seemed to be regularity.

James Bay Elliot Mitrou Erich Eichhorn
February 3, 2018 Victoria, BC (ISN) – James Bay’s Elliot Mitrou would be dead on all game with his 4 penalty conversions to account for all his team’s 12 points in the game. – Erich Eichhorn photo (www.allsportmedia.ca)

Castaway Wanderers would add a pair of trys in the second half to take the win and the bonus point, increasing their lead in the BC Rugby Union Premier Men’s League over James Bay by twelve points.

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February 3, 2018 Victoria, BC (ISN) – With the field a mud pit , both sides would use the chip and chase offense to try to gain field advantage – Erich Eichhorn photo (www.allsportmedia.ca)

In earlier action, the fifth place Castaway Wanderers Premier Reserves would hand James Bay Reserves a 31-8 defeat to improve to 6-6 on the season, while James Bay nips at their heels with a 6-5-1 record.

James Bay

Both James Bay and Castaway Wanderers will now enjoy a rest with a bye weekend next week. James Bay will travel to Nanaimo Febuary 17th, while Castaway Wanderers will resume action in Vancouver at Connaught Park against Meraloma.

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