EIRA U17s Hammer BC

EIRA U17s Hammer BC

The Eagle Impact Rugby Academy U17s hammered the British Columbia U17s to the tune of a 74-0 win on Thursday in Vancouver.

Jul 13, 2017 by Alex Goff
EIRA U17s Hammer BC
The Eagle Impact Rugby Academy U17s hammered the British Columbia U17s to the tune of a 74-0 win on Thursday in Vancouver.

The game, played at the McGavin Rugby Centre on the campus of the University of British Columbia, was the second of three played on Thursday between three USA touring sides and the BC hosts. In the other two matchups, the EIRA U16s earned a 32-12 win over the the BC U16s, and the High School All-Americans blanked the BC U18s in a 64-0 victory.

The EIRA U17s scored within the first minute, pressuring off the restart and hammering the ball over. That try immediately set the tone, and BC was unable to get going after that. The Eagle Impact team was bigger than its opponent, as skilled, if not more, and played as a unit.

"I am just so proud of the boys and how they played together and what they were able to accomplish," said EIRA captain and No. 8 Miles McCormick, who scored three tries on the day, including the first one.

Center Will Chevalier added a try four minutes later as the EIRA team moved the ball wide. Then wing Andrew Martinez -- who was the beneficiary of some space much of the day -- and lock Dante Bandoni scored. Bandoni and Matt McCarthy, both locks, had a field day lumbering through the BC defense.

Fullback Jonathan Haley converted the first two tries for a 24-0 lead. Then McCormick powered over for his second, and Martinez got his second -- both converted by Haley -- for a 38-0 lead. Just on the stroke of halftime, prop Aizak Fido scored to make it 43-0 at the break.

The second half was a little slower, but still, every set piece that seemed to provide a scoring threat for the EIRA team succeeded. Martinez was set free in the opening minute, and then back Carson Shoemaker scored. McCormick finished off his hat trick to make it 62-0, and tries from Alex Evans and Cyrprian Miller finished it off. Haley converted seven for 14 points.

But it was the shape and rhythm of the team that impressed. No one went off script, and the entire team played as if it had been together for years, instead of a few days.

"I credit that all to the coaching," McCormick said. "They just teach us how to be great rugby players every day and great men every day."

These two teams go back at it on Saturday.

Eagle Impact Rugby Academy Lineup:
1. Jonah Tavai, Los Angeles; 2. Kurt Sakata, Back Bay; 3. Alexander Evans, Granite Bay; 4. Dante Bandoni, Granite Bay; 5. Matthew McCarthy, Boulder Lions; 6. Jacob Birkofer, Brownsburg; 7. Ronnie McElligott, SFGG; 8. Miles McCormick, Aztec Warriors; 9. Karl Keane, Eastside Lions; 10. Julian Arteaga, Tri City; 11. Cian Messner, Penn HS; 12. Viliami Hopoi, CP Harlequins; 13. William Chevalier, Neuqua Wildcats; 14. Andrew Martinez, Granite Bay; 15. Jonathan Haley, Pasadena; 16. Aizak Fido, South Bay Youth Rugby; 17. Isaia Lotawa, Eastside Lions; 18. Jonah Auvaa, Rainier Highlanders; 19. Bryce Van Order, Granite Bay; 20. Carson Shoemaker, Arrowhead Berserkers; 21. Elias Ramirez, Jesuit; 23. Sam Tipple, Back Bay; 24. Cyprian Miller, Phoenix Firebirds