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The teams have been announced for Day 1 of the CRC, with this round effectively a semi-final and the winners facing off on Day 2 for the MacTier Cup. All games are being played at the Calgary Rugby Park, and will be streamed live at the link below:
http://livestream.com/rugbycanadaofficial
BLUES v ROCK
June 28 – 12:00 BC / 13:00 local / 15:00 ET / 16:00 AT / 16:30 NF
The Blues have sprung a few surprises with Aaron Carpenter selected to start in the back row, with Ray Barkwill running out at hooker. Mike Sheppard gets the nod in the second row beside Scott Dunham, and captain Derek Daypuck moves to flyhalf after incumbent Shawn Windsor withdrew during the week. Phil Mackenzie takes the no12 jersey as part of a very dangerous looking midfield with fellow international Jordan Wilson-Ross.
The Rock have also made a couple interesting calls with workhorse Evan Dickie given his first start in the second row, and breakdown specialist Mike Hamson given the nod over Matt Heaton on the flank. Colin Alexander joins Charles DeBove in the centres, and Welsh import Jimmy Norris lines up at fullback.
The Blues won both games over the Rock last season by scores of 20-11 in Ottawa and 45-5 in St. John’s.
BLUES
1 Rob Brouwer 2 Ray Barkwill 3 Doug Wooldridge 4 Scott Dunham 5 Mike Sheppard 6 Aaron Carpenter 7 Alistair Clark 8 Seb Pearson 9 Andrew Ferguson 10 Derek Daypuck (capt.) 11 Dan Moor 12 Phil Mackenzie 13 Jordan Wilson-Ross 14 Jake Webster 15 Jon West
16 Djustice Sears-Duru 17 Matt Tierney 18 Hank McQueen 19 Paul Ciulini 20 Lucas Rumball 21 Jamie Mackenzie 22 Matt Alexander 23 Josh Campbell
ROCK
1 Frank Walsh 2 Owen Parfrey (capt.) 3 Bob Rogers 4 Evan Dickie 5 Brad Lester 6 Mike Hamson 7 Chauncey O’Toole 8 Zac Coughlan 9 Tony Pomroy 10 Patrick Parfrey 11 Brett Johnson 12 Colin Alexander 13 Charles DeBove 14 Patrick McNicholas 15 Jimmy Norris
16 Jordon Power 17 Alex Forrest 18 Tapiwa Rabwi 19 Chris Browne 20 Matt Heaton 21 Weston Hill 22 Rob Law 23 Daniel Pelletier
WOLF PACK v BEARS
June 28 – 14:00 BC / 15:00 local / 17:00 EST / 18:00 Atlantic / 18:30 NFLD
The Wolf Pack have named a largely predictable side, with Chris Long winning the second row vacancy and Carl Pocock returning at fullback. In a slight surprise, captain Kyle Gilmour lines up at the back of the scrum with Clay Panga on the flank, as opposed to the opposite. Gradyn Bowd makes his CRC debut at no10, and Mozac Samson combines with Nick Blevins in a formidable midfield.
The Bears will start former Wolf Pack tighthead Ryan Ackerman along with Anthony Luca and Andrew Lackner in an all-Burnaby Lake front row. Adam Kleeberger captains from no8 as part of a strong loose forward trio, and youngsters James Pitblado and Guiseppe du Toit are handed the reigns at the halfbacks. Sean Ferguson, who wore the no15 jersey last season, moves up to the midfield in a very pacy backline.
The Wolf Pack won both games over the Bears last year by scores of 31-10 in Calgary and 30-3 in Kelowna.
WOLF PACK
1 Hubert Buydens 2 Matt Harrison 3 Andrew Tiedemann 4 Chris Long 5 Evan Olmstead 6 Clayton Panga 7 Nanyak Dala 8 Kyle Gilmour (capt.) 9 Gordon McRorie 10 Gradyn Bowd 11 Adam Bontus 12 Nick Blevins 13 Mozac Samson 14 Graham Turner 15 Carl Pocock
16 Spencer Watkins 17 Clayton Thornber 18 Nick McAuley 19 Ian Huston 20 Lucas Albornoz 21 James Buchanan 22 Adam McQueen 23 Duncan Maguire
BEARS
1 Anthony Luca 2 Andrew Lackner 3 Ryan Ackerman 4 Sam Clark 5 Callum Morrison 6 Thyssen de Goede 7 Chase Kelliher 8 Adam Kleeberger (capt.) 9 James Pitblado 10 Guiseppe du Toit 11 Nolan McAllister 12 Jeke Gotegote 13 Sean Ferguson 14 Keenan Horton 15 Caleb Hansen
16 Noah Barker 17 John Braddock 18 Cody McClary 19 Luke Campbell 20 Alex Boyd 21 Jorden Sandover-Best 22 Adam Timler 23 Karsten Leitner
