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The BC Bears scored 27 second half points to run clear from the Prairie Wolf Pack by a final score of 48-32. It was a game that won’t go down as one of the all-time classics of the Canadian Rugby Championship. Poor defense, unforced errors, and strange decision making defined the match.
If there was an edge in the first half it would be to the home side, the Wolf Pack ahead by a single point at the break thanks to a late penalty goal from Robbie Povey. It was the sixth lead change of the game with the two sides exchanging three tries apiece.
Bears hooker Steven Ng made his mark with a pair of touchdowns, the first from a lineout drive and the second strong leg drive with the help of two teammates to make the line. Grant Crowell was the dominant figure in the Wolf Pack side, taking the corner from close range for a try and securing several restarts along with numerous carries.
The first 15 minutes of the second half was a complete disaster for the Wolf Pack. Sean Ferguson was left wide open on the blindside on the restart and the winger had no problem connecting with Dustin Dobravsky on his inside for a score within seconds.
Three more tries would come in a span of minutes. Aaron McLelland picked out a forward and won the mismatch with ease. Ferguson would get his second of the game around the outside and then McLelland kept the pace with his double.
The game broke up in the final quarter with four yellow cards handed out in a span of three minutes. Bryce Worden, Blake van Heyningen, and Isaac Kaay were all dispatched for the Bears with Jordan Roberts obliging for the Wolf Pack.
The two-man advantage would yield only one try, however, with Crowell barging through from a lineout. Late scores for Doug Fraser and Connor Gilbert were academic. The Bears end their CRC on a high with the Wolf Pack left to ponder where it all went wrong.
SCORING
WOLF PACK 32
Tries – M. Samson, G. McRorie (20’), G. Crowell 2 (28’, 66’), C. Gilbert (78’)
Cons – R. Povey 2/5 (21’, 29’)
Pens – R. Povey 1/1 (39’)
Yellow cards – J. Roberts (61’)
BEARS 48
Tries – S. Ng 2 (16’, 23’), S. Ferguson 2 (33’, 51’), D. Dobravsky (41’), A. McLelland 2 (47’, 55’), D. Fraser (73’)
Cons – G. du Toit 4/8 (17’, 24’, 34’, 52’)
Yellow cards – B. Worden (58’), B. van Heyningen (60’), I. Kaay (61’)
TEAMS
PRAIRIE WOLF PACK
1 Logan Jones (17 Jake Horton 44’), 2 Gabriel Kajdy (16 Marko Klimenko 52’), 3 Ryan Kotlewski, 4 Conor Turner (20 Joshua Pritchett 76’), 5 Riley Fahlman (18 Joe Franey 70’), 6 Wayde Hodgen, 7 Jordan Roberts, 8 Grant Crowell (19 Connor Gilbert, 9 Gordon McRorie, 10 Robbie Povey, 11 Dalton Campbell (21 Brock Gallagher 56’), 12 Gradyn Bowd (23 Adam Bontus 63’), 13 Ben LeSage (capt.), 14 Mozac Samson, 15 Cam Hall (22 Jake Bentley 63’)
BC BEARS
1 Noah Barker (18 Bryce Worden 44’), 2 Steven Ng, 3 Liam Murray (16 Blake van Heyningen 30’ {17 John Braddock 70’}), 4 Shea Wakefield, 5 Luke Campbell (capt.), 6 Ollie Nott (21 Jason Hignell 56 {17 John Braddock 58’-68’}), 7 Nathan Stewart (3 Liam Murray 60’-68’) (17 John Braddock 68’-70’) (20 Travis Larsen 76’), 8 Dustin Dobravsky (19 Mike Finnemore 52’), 9 James Pitblado, 10 Josh Thiel, 11 Isaac Kaay, 12 Guiseppe du Toit (22 Mike Nieuwenhuysen 76’), 13 Doug Fraser, 14 Sean Ferguson, 15 Aaron McLelland
Not used: 23 Jared Douglas
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Robin Kaluzniak (RC)
Assistants: David Smortchevsky (RC) & Cole Pedrick (RC)
