Powell River Otago defeated by tough opposition

Powell River Otago Rugby Club was defeated 58-26 by Comox Valley Kickers in a hard-fought exhibition match at Cranberry Field.

In a game played on October 14 in sunny conditions, Otago managed to score four trys against the Vancouver Island opposition, which won the British Columbia Rugby Division 3 championship last season.

Otago coach Jack Beardmore said what he was most pleased with was the defensive play of Otago. He said prior to the game against Comox, the team had been working hard on making improvements to its defence.

“I thought there were maybe two lapses, where, near the end of the game, our guys were getting tired, but other than that, I thought our backs and our loose forwards played their defence the way we had planned it out,” said Beardmore. “We had a flat line and it took away Comox’s space.

“Comox scored three trys late in the game when our guys were pretty tired and they still had lots of spares.”

Beardmore said the placement of converts was accurate, with the team kicking three out of four kicks through the uprights.

Comox loaned Otago some players for the game because the Powell River side was short, due to some key injuries and some players attending the World Cup of Rugby in France. Three of the four Otago trys were scored by Otago players.

This coming weekend, Otago will be loaning some of its players to Nanaimo Hornets. Beardmore’s brother Bob is a coach with Nanaimo and has requested some help because the Hornets’ first division players have a match in Port Alberni and the thirds are playing in Comox.

“Nanaimo doesn’t have enough players for two full sides,” said Beardmore. “Bob asked me to send some guys over so I am trying to round up as many as I can. I’m hoping to get at least four players from Otago to travel. That way, the Hornets and Kickers will get the game in.

“They’ll appreciate the Powell River guys going and helping out. They help us out and we try to help them out. It’s really a brotherhood.”

Beardmore said Otago received compliments after the Comox game for the job it did in hosting the Kickers.

“Otago is second to none in its hosting and hospitality,” said Beardmore. “Like they all said, you never get meals anywhere in rugby compared to what Powell River puts on.”

Beardmore said the Comox opposition also complimented Otago for its tackling during the game. He thanked them profusely for loaning some players for the game, coming over knowing the Powell River opposition would be playing short.

“They want us back in the Vancouver Island Rugby Union and they said they are willing to do anything they can to help us out,” said Beardmore.

Otago scoring four trys against a premier side is indicative that the team is developing in a positive direction, according to Beardmore.

“The fact that we could run those trys in on Comox means that I was very impressed with our players,” said Beardmore. “I have no negatives to say about the club in its play. The boys have really come together. Ever since we went to Victoria for the game against the Castaway Wanderers, you can just see the cohesion and unity coming together.”

After the game, a spectator came up to Beardmore and asked if Otago was looking for players. Beardmore replied that he is always looking for players. The spectator indicated he had played some rugby and could come out.

“He came out to practice last Thursday and we got ourselves a hell of a rugby player,” said Beardmore. “At Thursday night training he was all over the pitch.”

Beardmore said both men and women are welcome to attend practice on Thursdays at 5 pm at Cranberry Field. He said the team would especially love to have more women coming out. Currently, there are four practising with Otago.