In one of the team’s most lopsided wins in recent memory, if not all time, the Ridge Meadows Bruins defeated Richmond 90-21 in shield play on Saturday at Thomas Haney secondary.
Scoring even half of that many points would be impressive, especially considering that the Bruins had yet to win a game all season. They had just a tie in seven outgins.
But Saturday’s route was like a passing drill for the talented group of Bruins backs, who ran like thoroughbreds past the clydesdales of the Richmond team.
Juian Benvenuti started the scoring with an impressive scoring run, as he got his first of three tries on the day, and inspired his teammates.
“They’ve started to come together as a team really well,” said Callum McIntosh, club president, who expects to see some consistently good results.
“There’s a lot of good individuals, but they’ve started to come together as a team.”
Nobody could recall a more lopsided victory.
“It’s definitely one of the best wins the men have ever had,” agreed coach Malcolm Knox.
He said the Bruins have suffered through a losing season despite numerous good efforts, and despite having a skilled and hard-working team. Then, in one game, everything went right.
“A lot of frustration was taken out on the opposition,” said Knox. “It’s been a long time coming.”
“It was a barrage of good scoring. Everybody had a really good game.”
The 90 points in the playoff game exceeded 84 from the previous seven-game fall season.
Watching them on Saturday, it was a wonder that they hadn’t been stringing together wins all year, said Knox.
“Their technical game is really sound.”
With the win, the Bruins move on the play UBC on Saturday in the sheild final. The university side will be young and fit – like the Bruins – and present a different challenge to the Ridge boys.
“It should be a lot of fun,” said McIntosh.
“They should be younger and faster and wanting to move the ball into space, and not just grind it out. It should be a good test.”
Their final game will be played Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Klahanie Park.
• The Bruins women will begin their playoffs this weekend, after a season with four wins and three losses. They are coming off a 31-0 win over United Rugby Cub – the team that beat them in the spring league final.