January 19, 2019 Victoria, BC (ISN) – The Castaway Wanderers Men’s Premier side survived a strong second half effort by the visiting Westshore RFC to claim a 28-27 victory in a BC Rugby Union matinee matchup Saturday afternoon at Windsor Park in Victoria, B.C.
In what might have been scripted by many pregame as a walk away win for C.W., holding down third place in the BC Men’s’ Rugby Premiership, against the 8th place Westshore team, it was evident that the visitors from Colwood hadn’t read that script, testing Castaway Wanderers in the second half of play in a decision that could have gone Westshore’s way to lift them higher in the standings.
Perhaps true to that script, C.W. would jump out to an early lead with their first possession of the ball, as James Pitblado would dot the ball down across the try line to open the scoring. C.W. would add a try off a try line maul, and another try by Mike Dalsin to take a commanding 21-0 lead late into the first frame with minutes remaining, looking every bit like their standing would suggest the game’s outcome.
From that point, Westshore would rally with two unanswered trys with some brilliant passing and speed to mount a comeback. Jordan Tate would be first to the board for Westshore RFC, breaking from the pack for the try. Quinn Ngawati would score, after taking a nifty pass from winger Sitiveni Nacoko to set Ngawati free from just inside C.W.’s mid field line to run for Westshore’s second consecutive try first half time expired. Castaway Wanderers, now feeling a game in their midst, would hold onto a 21-12 lead at the half.
Westshore would continue their first half resiliency with a physical brand of play, making C.W. pay for the tacking efforts with some hard, forward running with the ball to advance the field in the second half. Westshore, receiving the second half kick off, would score off that first possession as Aiden McClary find the try line. Westshore flanker Cole Mosychuk would follow suit with a run from mid-field to take a 22-21 lead, turning the tables on the home side with four unanswered trys.
Castaway Wanderer’s Mike Dalsin would score his second try of the game, and side’s first points of the second half to regain a slim margin 28-22.
With less than eight minutes remaining and both side locked in a battle for ball possession, Westshore’s Shane Dagg would score the final try in the game to pull within a conversion kick of tying the game 28-27.
With the Westshore conversion kick unsuccessful, the Castaway Wanderers would hold on for a tough-fought victory and an 8-0 record, lifting them into second place in the BCRU divisional standings.
Kicking would be the difference maker in the game as Westshore would go 1-5 on conversion kicks, giving away a possible eight points in the game that could have lifted them to the upset win.
Westshore falls to 2-5 on the season and 10th place in the BC Rugby Union Premier standings.
Next weekend the Castaway Wanderers travel south to take on Seattle, while Westshore RFC will host Merloma. Game times are 2:30pm Saturday, January 26th.
