July 21, 2010
SFU Highland 7’s Results!
The day began early for the BLRC Lighthouse 7’s squads. All 3 teams started their day with an 830 meeting at the top of Burnaby Mountain. Kudos to the men and women of SFU Rugby on a well run tournament!!
The men’s social team, fresh off a victory at the Vancouver 7’s tourney on what has come to be known as “Side Part Sunday” was in high spirits that morning. Missing quite a few regulars to work, travel, and call-ups the guys had a new set of teammates, and very little time to find their chemistry! The day began with a loss against a young, fit, committed Abbotsford team who would go on to win the social division championship. The Abby team came out fast and soon had a lead that our men were unable to overcome. The 2nd game saw the BLRC men slay the D.R.A.G.O.N.S as newcomer James Gough and professional summer touch player Kenji Miyazaki crossed the goal line repeatedly, to put BLRC ahead and keep us there. The 3rd game was against a tough and feisty Surrey Beaver squad. (Nothing worse than a sour Beaver!) It was a back-and-forth battle that saw surrey put the game out of reach in the final minute. No plaque this week for the social team, but they did manage to find their way up the stairs for their own frothy trophies!
The women’s team came into this tourney highly favoured after their victories in James Bay and Vancouver. Lead by 7’s veterans Mel Miyazaki, Lauren Tagg, Erin Jang, Becky Querido, Krystal Steele, Jean Lehtinen and Daamo Skelton, and bolstered by the addition of NSWT members Julia Sugawara, Anna Schnell and Maria Gallo as well as 7’s newcomer Larissa Chatt and Burnaby Norths finest, Malak and Meghan....the ladies were confident. Perhaps, a little too confident as they started the morning against a determined SFU team! The ladies squeaked out a 27 to 12 victory, and prepared for their next test against the Can Am 7’s champs, the Emerald City Mudhens. The BLRC women put on a 7’s clinic the rest of the day, putting down the Mudhens 36 to 5, Bayside 31 to 5 and the Vancouver Rogues 32 to 0. The final game was set, a rematch against the Mudhens who were determined to prove that they were up to the challenge of taking on the BLRC ladies juggernaut. Unfortunately for our Yankee friends, BLRC captain Mel Miyazaki had cool refreshing ice water in the veins that day, and scored 2 tries along with a conversion to lead her girls to a 37 to 7 victory!
The BLRC Lighthouse Elite team were the returning champs at this tournament and were the team to beat. Their 1st game saw them taking on the Young Bucks, who looked so good just a few weekends back winning the coveted belt buckles in Williams Lake! Whether it just wasn’t their day, or just that they don’t fare so well when the competition hasn’t been on the gas for 72 straight hours...it was clear that this was not the Young Bucks day. Isaac broke hearts and a few ankles scoring numerous tries, Joe scored a few, Sana scored a few, Bruce scored at least one...the flood gates were open. Our 2nd game matched us against the tough and skilled Bayside Ambassadors, and saw similar results with the Lighthouse coming away with the W. The 3rd game was against a team made up primarily of Tongan born players who had a bit of flair in their play, but who fell short against the mighty BLRC. The Men’s Elite Final saw a re-match between the Young Bucks and the BLRC Lighthouse. The crowd in the Beer Garden was a mixture of excited and wobbly by game time! The 1st half saw a close game, with neither team giving an inch. The only man willing to give was the ref who thoughtfully gave 2 yellow cards to the Lighthouse to close the half at 2 tries each. The 2nd half opened with the BLRC allowed only 5 men on the field to the Young Bucks 7. The Young Bucks attacked deep in the BLRC end. Captain Bruce Rauqe lead the defensive stand that saw us bend pretty far, but never break! When the teams were back at even strength each team exchanged tries. Just before full time, Joe did his best Travolta impression and danced through a few YB defenders at the 50 to set up a 1 on 1, head to head like it was DANCE 360 with the Young Buck fullback. When the dust settled, it was Joe touching down for a try, and the Young Buck defender picking himself up off of the turf as the beer garden erupted in applause!! The Lighthouse would score 1 more to put the game out of reach and take home the championship for the 2nd straight year!
Many thanks to the men and women of SFU Rugby for a great time!! You can catch the Burnaby Lighthouse at the Abbotsford International 7s Tournament this weekend.
