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,