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In a rare double header of North America Four rugby on Tuesday at the beautiful Shawnigan Lake School on Vancouver Island, the four team rosters for the day have been released.
The US Hawks (0-1) start the day off against the defending champion and currently second place Canada West. The other contest sees the first place Falcons take on Canada East at 7:15 pm PST. Second row and US Eagle John van der Giessen leads the Hawks, which is comprised of a young but keen squad, that fell in the competition opener last Thursday in Portland by a 39-24 score to the Falcons. "We are definitely seeing improvement throughout this week of training," Coach Wiggins said. "Some players are excelling more than others, of course, but in order to move forward and have a basis for selection, you have to see everyone in a game situation. Practice is only a part of it. Scrummage isn't the same in practice as it is in a match and although we try to work our practice environment to simulate what it would be like in a match, it's never completely the same." In Canada West, there is a decidely youthful tinge to the selections as well, with three under 20 Canadian team selections in the starting fifteen, including Struan Robertson in the second row, Matt Evans at fly-half and fullback Harry Jones, all getting tested at the North America Four for the first time. "We have a lot of new faces and young faces and it would take more settling in than it has, so I have been pretty impressed with the last couple of days," admitted West Head Coach Tony Medina, who is looking to take the West to a third straight NA4 title in 2008. "They have slotted in quite well and it is pretty hard to tell them from the other players." The West is captained by Canadian team veteran flanker Adam Kleeberger. In the second contest there are some familiar names from the US Eagles, including veteran Sevens and fifteens performer Jone Naqica, centre Vaha Esikia, fly-half Valenese Malifa and flanker Rikus Pretorius playing for the US Falcons. "Both Canadian sides will be tough," Falcs Head Coach Ray Lehner said. "They will be physical and fast and we've said at the start that we will not take any opponent lightly. "With that said," he continued, "I think that while we certainly want to be a competitive team, at the same time we really need to keep in mind the mission of this tournament and rotate our players and take a look at the other talent we have on this team." Canada East counters with a largely untested combination, including James Buchanan and Dan West in the centres, Marc Cuglietta (France) and Tyler Wish on the wings, and the match also sees the return of Ciaran Hearn back to fitness after an arm injury in Chatham, ON against the England Counties last month. Veteran back rower Aaron Carpenter and second row Stu Ault (the Captain), along with hooker Mike Pletch are the lead hands in the forwards unit, that also features recent Canadian team Cap Doug Wooldridge, who plays his winter rugby in the area with the Cowichan Piggies. Steve Piatek is the fly-half, who will kick for the East, after having turned the trick against his current mates as a member of the Canda West squad in May, where he slotted five penalties to draw his team even before hooker Pat Riordan scored a try at the death in a 20-15 win. Riordan is not in the current West squad, as he nurses a recent back injury. The short handed East also draft former Canada East and Canadian team veteran Derek Daypuck onto the bench, along with usual second row starter Scott Dunham of the Balmy Beach club. "There are six or eight new guys but they are catching on pretty quick," said East Captain Stu Ault. "The new young guys are asking a lot of questions and the veteran guys like Aaron Carpenter and Mike Pletch are playing their role and teaching the boys the tricks of the trade." First kick-off at Shawnigan Lake School is 5:15 PM followed by the East vs Falcons game at 7:15 PM. These matches are available online at the www.narugby.com website - with links going live approximately twenty minutes before the first kick-off (4:50 PM PST). There is no charge for this online video event. USA Hawks
15. Justin Hundley (NYAC) 14. Justin Boyd (Dallas Harlequins) 13. Mike Graham (Glendale Raptors) 12. Keiki Misipeka (Pearl City) 11. Owen Collins (Boston Irish Wolfhounds) 10. Taylor Howden (Glendale Raptors) 9. Brendan Thompson (Life University) 8. Pat Quinn (Denver Barbarians) 7. Nic Johnson (Denver Barbarians) 6. Josh Dean (Air Force) 5. John Van der Giessen (Denver Barbarians) 4. Brian Doyle (NYAC) 3. Brian Lemay (Boston Irish Wolfhounds) 2. Phil Thiel (Life University) 1. Brian Olmes (PAC) Replacements:
16. Phil Abraham (Chicago Lions) 17. Jon Vitale (Chicago Lions) 18. James Denise (NYAC) 19. Travis Meidinger (Denver Barbarians) 20. Steven Sablan (PAC) 21. Shawn Rafferty (NYAC) 22. Mike Petri (NYAC)
Canada West
15. Harry Jones (Capilano) 14. Ben Grant (U Vic) 13. Bryn Keys (Aurora/ Velox) 12. Sam Jenkins (Meraloma) 11. Tony La Carte (Bayside Sharks) 10. Matt Evans (Cowichan/Hartpury College) 9. Spencer Dalziel (James Bay AA) 8. Thomas McKeen (U Vic) 7. Adam Kleeberger (c) (U Vic) 6. Neil Meechan (U Vic) 5. Struan Robertson (U Vic) 4. Nolan Miles (James Bay AA) 3. Ben Johnston (James Bay AA) 2. Emil Christensen (Bayside Sharks) 1. Hubert Buydens (Saskatoon Wild Oats)
Replacements
16. Ryan Hamilton (Capilano) 17. Dan James 18. Beau Chapman (UBC Old Boys) 19. Nanyak Dala (Saskatoon Wild Oats) 20. Sean White (James Bay AA) 21. Nick Blevins (Calgary Saracens) 22. Brock Nicholson (Vancouver Rowing Club)
US Falcons
15. Jone Naqica (San Francisco Golden Gate) 14. Errol Allard (Belmont Shore) 13. Gary Golding (UC-Berekeley) 12. Vaha Esikia (Las Vegas Blackjacks) 11. Zachary Pangelinan (OMBAC) 10. Nese Malifa (Belmont Shore) 9. Timothy Usasz (Nottingham) 8. Louis Stanfill (Cal - Berkeley) 7. Rikus Pretorius (C) (Cal –Berkeley) 6. Peter Dahl (Belmont Shore) 5. Jared Wolfgramm (Belmont Shore) 4. Mark Litke (Old Puget Sound Beach) 3. Derek Smith (BYU) 2. Mone Laulaupeaalu (SFGG) 1. Mark Kernen (Belmont Shore)
Replacements:
16. Mate Moeakiola (Pukekohe, NZ) 17. William Brazier (Old Blue) 18. Jonathan Kollerer (Olympic Club) 19. Eddie McKenna (Santa Monica) 20. Jesse Taylor (Santa Monica) 21. Mose Timoteo (SFGG) 22. Volney Rouse (SFGG)
Canada East
15. Ciaran Hearn (Newfoundland Rock 14. Marc Cuglietta (Villeurbanne RFC) 13. Dan West (Oakville Crusaders) 12. James Buchanan (Calgary Hornets) 11. Tyler Wish (Newfoundland Rock) 10. Steven Piatek (C) (Brantford Harlequins) 9. Colin Brown 8. Aaron Carpenter (Brantford Harlequins) 7. Nolan Ott (Velox/Aurora) 6. Jebb Sinclair (Castaway Wanderers/Belleisle Rovers) 5. Stu Ault (c) (Barrhaven Scottish/Castaway Wanderers) 3. Rogan Verboven (Calgary Irish) 2. Mike Pletch (Oakville Crusaders) 1. Doug Wooldridge (Lindsay RFC/Cowichan). Replacements
16. Devin Stubel (Brantford Harelquins) 17. Stefan Chapeau (Montreal Wanderers) 18. Scott Dunham (Balmy Beach RFC) 19. Chauncey O'Toole (Castaway Wanderers/ Belleisle Rovers) 20. Jordan Kozina (Brantford Harelquins) 21. Steven Shortly (Aurora Barbarians) 22. Derek Daypuck (Castaway Wanderers) |
