Author Archive: Victor Kaidatzis

Feb 2024 Snr mens update

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The Bayside Sharks Senior Men’s squads are kicking off 2024 in a fantastic way. After a delayed start to the year due to closed fields and cancelled games, they were able to kick off the second half with 2 impressive wins against Western Washington University in Division 3 and Port Alberni in Division 1. Western Washington and Bayside have been putting in plenty of work behind the scenes to get this game off and continue to grow the relationship between the two sides. The Sharks continued their hot start in Division 1 with another impressive win over our rivals from Langley Rugby Club and an extremely competitive Division 3 match resulted in a 12-12 draw. We look to continue the momentum through the second half after a nice break with our families over the long weekend and repping our costumes at the Vancouver 7s festival. See everyone on March.2nd when we get back on the field!

Feb 2024 Mini update

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  • Mini’s numbers continue to grow each week,
  • Still accepting registrations, if you know anyone that might have kids with lots of energy and nothing to do, invite them out for a practice run.
  • Always looking for volunteers and coaches, please contact Kaj at  minirugby@baysiderfc.com
  • The Bayside Mini jamboree is scheduled for March 10th, come out and sup

Feb 2024 Jnr girls update

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  • The junior girls group is in the final stretch of their New Zealand Tour preparation. They play an exhibition on March 3 against a Burnaby team headed out on tour, and then depart for the adventure of a lifetime on March 13. Stay tuned for the stories…
  • A big thanks to all our sponsors who are making the trip possible, especially our Platinum sponsors, Stagg Engineering, Strand and Am Lail Realty.
  • Special mention also for our Strength and Conditioning sponsors Kea Athletics who are ensuring the girls are at peak performance

Feb 2024 Snr Women’s update

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As the spring season unfolds, the Bayside Women’s Senior Rugby Team is eagerly preparing for the next five weeks of intense competition. The past weeks have seen the Bayside Women Senior Rugby Team ramping up their training sessions, focusing on refining their techniques, enhancing teamwork, and building on their physical endurance. The coaching staff has been meticulously crafting strategies to outmaneuver their opponents, ensuring that the team is well-prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. The support from friends, family, and local fans continues to serve as a driving force for us. The upcoming matches provide a fantastic opportunity for the community to come together, cheer us on and celebrate the spirit of rugby. Stay tuned for more updates and mark your calendars for the upcoming matches. Go Bayside!

Senior Men Feb Update

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The Bayside Sharks Senior Men's squads are kicking off 2024 in a fantastic way. After a delayed start to the year due to closed fields and cancelled games, they were able to kick off the second half with 2 impressive wins against Western Washington University in Division 3 and Port Alberni in Division 1. Western Washington and Bayside have been putting in plenty of work behind the scenes to get this game off and continue to grow the relationship between the two sides. The Sharks continued their hot start in Division 1 with another impressive win over our rivals from Langley Rugby Club and an extremely competitive Division 3 match resulted in a 12-12 draw. We look to continue the momentum through the second half after a nice break with our families over the long weekend and repping our costumes at the Vancouver 7s festival. See everyone on March 2nd when we get back on the field!

Jnr Girls 2023 Wrap Up

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2023 was another season of growth for the junior girls program. We had a swath of new players to add to our returning ranks and it made for a challenging and rewarding season of player development and team building.

Our U18s played well all season and enjoyed hosting in our new home at the Bayside clubhouse. They finished 4th in the mainland division and showed immense improvement over the course of the year.

Our U16s also saw growth in numbers and performance. There were a few unfortunate injuries that set them back a little, but they played their hearts out and finished a very respectable 4th in the mainland division with some very stiff competition.

We now look forward to our exciting tour in New Zealand in March 2024. We will travel with 30 players aged 15-17 to Auckland, Rotorua and Whangarei. The rugby and travel experience will make memories to last a life time!

Here’s the awards winners for 2023

U16 Girls:

  • Best Forward AmyV
  • Best Back IslaVS
  • Most Improved Player KaylenS
  • Light of Hope SophiaC

U18 Girls:

  • Best Forward: MaggieM
  • Best Back: AyanaT
  • Most Improved: BlayreH
  • Light of Hope: AbbyD

Snr Women’s 2023 Wrap Up

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Our first half of the season has been a wild ride, a bit like a thrilling Netflix series—full of twists, turns, and some moments where you just can't help but laugh.

Kicking off with the gusto of a team destined for greatness, the women sprinted into the season with two victories against Kamloops and SFU which had our opponents seeing stars. Picture this: us, charging down the field like caffeinated cheetahs, leaving our rivals in the dust. It was the chef's kiss perfection.

However, life has a funny way of throwing curveballs, doesn't it? Cue the dramatic music as we encountered our version of a plot twist—with four losses in a row., each game proved to be its own battle. It was a bit like slipping on a banana peel while trying to look cool. Yet, amidst the occasional stumble, our team stood tall and didn't lose our sense of humor or determination.

But hey, what's rugby without a bit of banter and camaraderie, right? Our team spirit stayed high, even if our winning streak took a temporary hiatus. We've bonded like a mismatched group of characters in a sitcom—different personalities, but when the going gets tough, we were all in it together.

As we prepare during the winter break and set our sights on the next half, we're armed with wisdom, determination, and a quirky playbook of lessons learned. Think of us as the underdog heroes ready to turn the tide—like those characters you're secretly rooting for in a sports movie.

So, buckle up, because the second half promises to be more exhilarating than a popcorn-fueled movie night. We're set to unleash our new and improved strategies (thanks to our charismatic coaches, Rob and Trevor), with a sprinkle of humour (thanks to the backs) and a truckload of grit (thank you forwards). Get ready for some rugby shenanigans and spectacular plays that'll leave you cheering louder than a stadium full of enthusiastic fans. (Stay tuned for our full schedule)

Here's to more laughter, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments as we dive headfirst into the remainder of the season. The script might've had a few surprises, but the best chapters are yet to come. Let's Go Sharks

Jnr Boys 2023 wrap up

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U14 boys

U14 boys got off to a slow start this year with only a few returning faces and even more boys brand new to rugby. Coach Mark & Bunny had their work cut out teaching them the basics of the game and even more importantly making sure they all had fun at practice. With just enough boys to make a team, our first few games didn’t go how we would have hoped, but the boys persevered.

We were joined by some players and Coach Malcom from the Ridge Meadows Bruins club, and with the extra help, the players from each club showed great improvement with each passing week.

Our final game of the season was a wet and chilly one in Squamish vs the Axemen, but the team put all of their skills to work and got a very well-earned win.

U16 boys

A great season on and off the field for the U16’s, led by our Head Coaches Angel Cividanes and Mark Kempton, and their assistants, Phil Morris, Sam Ang, Nate Mantle, and Kevin ‘Bunny’ Bunnett.  We had 60 registered players to begin the season and 56 were there to finish the season.

The Hammerheads had a tough go in Pool B but played with heart and no matter the score they kept their heads up. After a rough outing against the eventual Pool B winners Abbotsford, our lads had a great win against the Surrey Beavers with some great runs and some really spirited play. Next up was a tough road game in Kamloops with some unfortunate injuries but they came off the bus smiling. After a close loss to Capilano RFC the Hammerheads were a big part of the joint exhibition game win against Kamloops/Kelowna that was a joy to watch. After that a tough loss to Langley RFC 2 finished their regular season.  Their lone playoff game against United had some sparks and our guys even held the lead for a time but unfortunately United pulled away at the end. The boys played hard throughout and all of Bayside can be proud of their efforts. With the award winners all being 2009’s the future looks bright for the age bracket.

Hammerheads Award Winners

  • MVP MylesM
  • BB Gage
  • BF MichaelKT
  • LOH RasheedSH

The Makos had a great regular season, allowing only four tries against. The solid defence allowed the offence to shine, and shine they did with 28 Trys for.  Wins over United RFC, Langley RFC 1, Capilano RFC 1, UBCOB Ravens and The Meralomas earned first place in Pool A and led to a date with Pool B winners Abbotsford RFC, for the Mainland Championship.

It was a test of Titans as Abbotsford’s defence was even stingier than ours, they hadn’t allowed a single Try all season.  Our boys sorted that situation 12 minutes in with some strong play and great awareness by Levi Baker to jump on a muffed catch in the Try Zone.  Abbotsford made it close in the second half and even took the lead 14-7 late in the game. Our Makos weren’t to be denied though, cries of “It’s Not Over” could be heard from the sidelines! A powerful try-line dive from Bauer Roantree just five minutes later tied the game at 14. And with what seemed to be no time left on the clock our Sharks had an incredible 15-phase run of play that finished with a Try on a great run to the corner by William Young, the conversion of which was the absolute last play of the game.

The BC Provincial Championship game was a much-anticipated rematch with the Vancouver Island Champions, The Castaway Wanderers. To be held at UBC’s Thunderbird Stadium, the Wanderers were once again the cream of the Island crop and were coming into the Provincial Championship game off of a 45 – 5 win in the Island Championship.  Despite having to adjust to it being their first game on artificial turf this season, our Makos made the field their own and came out of the gate like feeding Sharks, fast and with a frenzy the Wanderers were not ready for, with Abner Alkema scoring the opening Try just 1:02 into the game.  Louis Andre Horry continued his solid campaign with another smooth conversion to put us up 7-0 before most of the roughly 300 spectators were in their seats.  The Wanderers managed to take advantage of the drizzly conditions and a ball that zigged when it should have zagged to score their lone Try 6 minutes later but had their convert sail just wide of the post to leave the score at 7-5. That was as close as the Wanderers would get in this game, another great run to the corner by William Young 15 minutes later put this one away for good. The Makos then added another Try before halftime on a real heads up play by our 9, Ethan Ang diving in for a Try when the Wanderers were expecting him to pass the ball, making the half-time score 19-5.

The only scoring of the second half came 10 minutes in on a tenacious run from our not-to-be-denied 9, as he just would not go down. He took the ball from a tap-and-go at the 10-meter line and just pinballed his way across the Try line to put us up 24 – 5. Another smooth conversion from Louis Andre sealed the score at 26-5.  Some smart, strong play from our finishers kept the Wanderers from getting close for the rest of the game.  A couple of unfortunate injuries to a pair of Castaways players dampened the mood a little but thankfully they are both going to be okay.

Makos Award Winners

  • MVP LiamdG
  • BB WilliamY
  • BF GriffinS
  • LOH EthanA

U18 boys

The U18 Boys Rugby season has come to a close, and we want to share a brief recap of the highlights. The Hammerheads, including new players to the sport, faced tough competition with grit and determination, despite injuries testing the squad's depth. The Mako Sharks secured a triumphant 3rd place in the Mainland Division, winning three out of five games.

Awards:

Hammerheads:

  • Best Back - Luke,
  • Best Forward - Bronson
  • Light of Hope - Matthew
  • MVP - Donovan

Mako Sharks:

  • Best Back - George,
  • Best Forward - JacobB
  • Light of Hope - Theo
  • MVP - NickY

Thank you to parents, supporters, and volunteers for your unwavering encouragement. Your commitment to fostering a positive environment is invaluable. As we close this chapter, we celebrate the triumphs, acknowledge the challenges, and honour the outstanding individuals who shaped our teams. Looking forward to the next season!

Yours in the spirit of rugby,

Snr Men’s 2023 Wrap Up

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The Bayside Shark's Senior Men are ready to put a close on the 2023 year and prepare for what will be a bigger and better 2024. The first half was filled with lots of positives and areas to continue to learn and improve on. The Division 1 and 3 teams made it through the first half without cancelling a game and put forth an incredible effort each weekend. They have put themselves in a competitive position heading into the second half and remain in contention for a playoff spots. Off the field the team have had great success as well participating in multiple fundraisers at the clubhouse and putting extra work in with our incredible gym partnership at KEA Athletics. The men will continue to put the extra work in over the winter break with Wednesday night KEA sessions and club-wide touch on Thursday evenings from 7:30-8:30pm. The coaching staff and leadership group continue to encourage new and old players to come out as it's never too late to join. Along with graduating U18/19 players looking to progress to the next stage of their rugby careers. Any questions, feel free to contact Taylor Howes (Senior Men's Director).

On behalf of the sharks, we would like to extend a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to the rugby community at large and wishing everyone a fantastic 2024. See you at the Shark Tank in the new year!

Eagle Award

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Volunteering builds character, but more importantly, it helps the club reach loftier heights as we are built on volunteer power. The next generation of Bayside has stepped it up this year, so it's with great pride we share this year's Eagle Award winners.