Bayside Looking 2 Emulate Capilano

The newly-promoted Bayside Sharks are here to stay. After being relegated to tier two competition last season, White Rock’s Bayside Athletic Association were promoted back to the Canadian Direct Insurance Premier League and last weekend they recorded their first win against the UBCOB Ravens.

It may be a little early to label Bayside as title contenders, but at 1-1 the Sharks are dreaming of emulating Capilano’s success – the North Shore rugby club that capped off a historic return to the Premier League by lifting the coveted Rounsefell Cup last May.

Canadian Direct Insurance Premier League – Sat. September 29th:Capilano RFC at UBCOB Ravens (Jericho Park) 2:45pmBayside AA at Castaway Wanderers (Windsor Park) 2:45pm Bayside defeated the UBCOB Ravens 24-17 on September 22nd and this Saturday they have the chance to follow up the win against perennial powerhouse Oak Bay Castaway Wanderers.

Lifting Bayside to victory last week was sharpshooter Peter Clifford who downed the Ravens with three penalties, a convert and a drop goal. Clifford was the 2010-2011 Premier League top scorer and again topped the scoring charts in the 2011-2012 Tier Two Okanagan Spring Brewery League.

A key leader on Bayside’s roster has also been no. 8 and Captain Pat Bickerton.

Gurvinder Kalar is also a proven threat on the flanks and with the return of Pacific Tyee scrum half Cody Rockson, the Sharks will look to hit the ground running. Up next are last year’s semi-finalists and 2011 Rounsefell Cup champions Castaway Wanderers, a team Kearney knows well from his university career with the UVic Vikes.

The Castaway Wanderers are currently a team in flux with a number of their players away with national team commitments.

The Oak Bay side are also without tight head prop Andrew Tiedemann who left for France this past week to play professional rugby with French Division Two side Auch.

CW has added depth to their ranks, however, with recent additions Ian Manly and Mike Fuailefau. Key players to watch include stalwarts Matt Buckley, Paul Buckley and Canada prop Hubert Buydens. Bayside and CW square off at Windsor Park at 2:45 this Saturday, September 29th.

NOTE:

A special ceremony will be taking place at Windsor Park as the club unveils a new park bench in memory of the late Tom Stobart. A respected player and coach at Castaway Wanderers RFC, Stobart was also involved with the BC U18 provincial team and Canada U19 program. Canadian Direct Insurance Premier League – Sat.

September 29th:Capilano RFC at UBCOB Ravens (Jericho Park) 2:45pmBayside AA at Castaway Wanderers (Windsor Park) 2:45pm