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Blues vs Bears "The Final"

(18 posts)

  1. Ad Bot

    Posted 11 months ago

  2. Harry Craig
    Member

    Any idea where the game is being played. Brocton Oval or why not at the Gobbler in Abbottsford.

    Posted 11 months ago #

  3. winger14
    Moderator

    I have a feeling that the Island bunch will feel that it's "their turn" to host the game, notwithstanding the fact that there should be a built in crowd at the Gobbler. Politics at its worst if that happens, in my view.

    We've had good turn outs at Brockton, and I have a feeling the mainland crowd would not cross the strait on a long weekend. Go to Abbotsford, sure. I could see that, especially if there is a crowd there already.

    Perhaps the trade off could be the Bears v Russia or Canada v Russia at the Island.

    Winger14

    Posted 11 months ago #

  4. Ad Bot

    Posted 11 months ago

  5. rusty_lock
    Member

    I'm hoping for a return to Brocton Oval. After two games there it would be great to see them take it all on their "home ground". There is something to be said for consistency.

    Posted 11 months ago #

  6. winger14
    Moderator

    I see that BC Rugby hasn't posted the location yet. mark Bryant believes it will be on the Island. Hope he's wrong, as in my view it would be dumb move on a long weekend.

    Winger14

    Posted 11 months ago #

  7. abbyhalfback
    Member

    Why would you have it at the Gobbler? Only about 1,000 rugby fans already there, a rugby atmosphere as well as a dance.

    Doesn't make sense to do this.

    Posted 11 months ago #

  8. rusty_lock
    Member

    abby,

    I actually agree it would be a pretty good move.I like Brocton oval but with the gobbler there it might be a good move. Putting it on the island would be dumb at this point.

    Posted 11 months ago #

  9. Ad Bot

    Posted 11 months ago

  10. winger14
    Moderator

    Well the BCRU confirmed it. Victoria.

    Dumb Move.

    Winger14

    Posted 11 months ago #

  11. rusty_lock
    Member

    That's to bad. AFter having been to both games and wanting to be able support the team all the way through the final I will have to end up missing it. I simply cant take a whole day for the game I just have to many other things to do over the long weekend. Hopefully RC will manage a webcast of the final like they have for games in the east.

    Go Bears Go

    Posted 11 months ago #

  12. newbie
    Member

    Glad to see the game on the Island. The venue sucks though! Vision from the full bleachers is horrible! The game should have been at Centenial Stadium at UVic.

    Winger if the game had of been on the mainland that would have been ok for us on the island to travel there on a long weekend but for the mainlanders to come to the island on a long weekend it is a "dumb move".

    Nice to see the island get one of the games here. I wonder if the manager had anything to do with the choice of venue?

    Posted 11 months ago #

  13. winger14
    Moderator

    Yep, it's a dumb move.

    A built in audience of 1,000 to begin with plus the lower mainland population, which is bigger that the island's, to draw from. Even if you shrink that down to just the rugby population, it still make more sense.

    My prediction...a very small mainland showing to see the game. A combination of cost, long weekend time away from family and distance.

    The Island should get games. Just not this one. This one should be on the manland for the aforementioned reasons. Bears v Russian, Canada v Russian they make sense. This does not.

    A bad decision, that foregoes badly needed revenue and exposure.

    Winger14

    Posted 11 months ago #

  14. Ad Bot

    Posted 11 months ago

  15. winger14
    Moderator

    Congrats to the Blues for scoring the only try of the match. From what I read it sounds like it was a real snoozer.

    Ah well...

    Congrats to the Bears on the result, from the sounds of it they won't be happy with the process...I hope they perform better against the Argies otherwise it will be embarrassing.

    Winger14

    Posted 11 months ago #

  16. Toothlesstiger
    Moderator

    As you say "Wing Ding" it was a boring game what I saw of it in the second half only.

    Neither team demonstrated one iota of imagination, guile or determination. For much of the time I watched it would appear that from the kick-off of the second half that the Bears were going to run down the clock by simply keeping the ball down in the Blues end.

    The second half score line certainly confirms this. Is this what we will put up against the Jaguars, the Argentinian "A" team who took the USA Select ("A" team) to the sword with a 54 -10 score line?

    What can we anticipate next Saturday in either game at Fletcher's?

    Will the Blues redeem themselves with a performance that did them proud against the Rock when they take on the hapless Yanks?

    We can only hope that at least one of the Canadian teams comes to play and come out a winner even if it is a lowly 3rd. place.

    Posted 11 months ago #

  17. Ad Bot

    Posted 11 months ago

  18. winger14
    Moderator

    Well Toothy old friend after watching a brilliant game of rugby in the HC this afternoon, I can only hope that the Bears and the Blues try to emulate what Munster and North Hampton put on the plate for their fans this weekend.

    While I have no doubt that the skill level is higher overseas (as is the intensity) I can only hope that our teams look to that type of process as a standard to achieve. If we can do that results will take care of themselves.

    Winger14

    Posted 11 months ago #

  19. Toothlesstiger
    Moderator

    Winger, I detect an evading of the truth in your conciliatory response.

    Let us face the truth, playing in the N.A. environment there is absolutely no trace of that HC intensity demonstrated. It is something that cannot be transplanted. Players play to the next highest level of intensity that they face week in and out in their home leagues.

    One imported / implanted player or coach will not a league of European game level make.

    We are unable to develop competitive front rows that can stand up to those outside of our own boundaries. The game here is played at a pace where the players do not challenge themselves to speed up their thought processes and reaction times.

    The regular rugby club playing member today does not see enough rugby of the GP , Magners, HC quality in order for them to see and recognise what they should be emulating.

    Infact even on any given Saturday at Fletcher's or any other club field few if any of the up and coming members of the club's 3rds. stay around long enough to see much of their 2nds play let alone their senior team. I rarely ever hear along the side lines on either game day or practise nights any mention by these our new and up and coming future having watched anything from either the Southern Hemisphere or European rugby programming on Setanta.

    How can we emulate what you have not seen?

    This is why I have continuously advocated that we, that is the Canadians and USA need their developing Academy established off shore in such hot beds of rugby. Play where you want to play at the level of competition that you want to emulate and that is definitely not in our backyard.

    Posted 11 months ago #

  20. Ontheisland
    Member

    I wandered down to Mc Donald Park to watch what I had hoped would be an exciting game. Being familiar with many of the BC players and having seen several of the Ontario players play this should have been a reasonable expectation. However a referee who gave the image of competency did not nothing to facilitate the tackle/ruck phase of the game and quickly what should have been a fast paced game turned into a wrestling match at each breakdown with both teams having to over commit players in order to win ball. By my calculation 70 to 80 % of the breakdowns in the first half resulted in penalties but only one yellow card. His failure to get the tackler away and make the ball available hurt what should have been a quick paced game. Ontario should feel especially choked as the referee failed to call a clear offside play against BC on a clearing kick by Shawn White (inside his own on goal ) that would resulted in a scrum option 5m from the BC goal line. Hopefully the finals receive better service.

    Posted 11 months ago #

  21. winger14
    Moderator

    Toothy,

    I'm not evading anything.

    I would hope that we aspire to something better than what was apparently on offer (apparently as I've only read about it).

    I also didn't offer an opinion on the how to get there. I'll leave that to others. I agree that we need more exposure to top level stuff. My preference would be to grow it at home as opposed to shipping it all away never to be seen again. Players playing pro in Britain, Ireland and Europe notwithstanding.

    How you grow it at home? Good question. The ARC is a step in the right direction in my view. That being said I don't believe that we will flick a Magic swtch and have highlight real stuff at a HC level in Canada. I hope...again I'll say hope...that we aspire to play at that level.

    Back to your club spirit issue. Certainly here on the left coast it is not an issue. The 3rds stick around to watch the firsts, and the everyone stays to watch the Prems. Same for the Women. We have been fortunate with our shcedule to have had 5 teams at the same venue a couple of times, and in both cases both clubs stuck around, and again we had the pleasure of alumni in attendance.

    The Ontario club scene may need some help, although I'd be suprised if that extened to clubs like Cru, Beach and Irish Canadians (examples only I'm sure there are many more), but I'll trust you to correct me if my assumptions are wrong...

    Winger14

    Posted 11 months ago #

  22. Ad Bot

    Posted 11 months ago

  23. Toothlesstiger
    Moderator

    Well as a young chap that you are I have to yield to your faith, hope and optimism.

    But, I sincerely believe, without being tarred with the usual brush as a cynic, that we cannot successfuly transplant or generate a sustainable level of intensity that we would like to witness and crave for here in Canada.

    It could possibly occur if something of the manner of the English National / British League were to be trans planted here in Canada [ with a N.A. Branding] with a very fair share of British pro / semi pros were to be include in the deal, the rest of the teams made up with Canadian talent.

    The number of imports be reduced directly related to the improvement of the teams and their local players.

    Now this dream would have to have sufficient funding, support of the iRB Grand Dads and with some hope of a TV partner by year 3 or 5.

    It is after all the 1st. year of ARC and time may treat it well and the quality of play is achieved in the early years ahead.

    I have to say Wing, the improvement that you seek could be achieved through some program or another but I have a fear that my equivalent 3 score & ten will have come and gone before such a dream is realised.

    It is your dream and we will have to rely on others your age and level of commitment to the game across Canada to keep the flame alive.

    Posted 11 months ago #

  24. Harry Craig
    Member

    The game sounds like it was tight, but it was a championship between two old rivals and the key in any championship is to win, there are no points for style. Let's hope both teams have big victories next weekend in front of a packed stand at Fletcher's. Go Bears go. Go Blues go.

    Posted 11 months ago #

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