The wolfpack continues to run amok.
Head coach Blake Stewart and his Whistler Wolves laid down a thunderous 50-18 victory over the Vancouver Valley Vipers on June 17 at Whistler Secondary School (WSS). Josh Michalik earned the Player’s Player award, and former Axemen head coach Stephen List filled in for MVP Alec Reid, who missed the match with illness.
Kick-off
The visitors scored the game’s opening try, thanks in part to undisciplined Wolves play. Prop-forward Peter Foley stemmed the bleeding, causing an offload that the savvy Kane Strachan pounced upon. As the Vipers reacted to big drives by Foley and Strachan, Blake Mahovic set up Josh Weatherill for a foot race to get Whistler on the board.
Vancouver Valley’s defence faltered in the face of back-to-back scoots from List, Sean Snyman and Strachan. Realizing this, Mahovic tossed a wide pass out to Michalik, who was brought down by the opposing fullback just short of the try line. Mahovic cleaned things up with a try of his own.
Foley, Tom Foster and Jackson McEvoy then stepped up on defence, with McEvoy digging deep to make three tackles on the bounce and stave off the Vipers. Likewise, forwards Conal Donnelly and Alex Mortlock earned their keep on both sides of the ball. As Vancouver Valley’s tank emptied, the fitness and physicality of the Wolves became apparent.
Mahovic jarred the ball loose with a heavy tackle on the opposing goal line, setting the scene for Lock, Conor McDonald and Tom Barlow, to forge ahead. The try came from Foster with an angled run in under the sticks for Whistler's third of the day.
The Vipers weren't to be written off just yet; a miscommunication from the restart and a scuffed drop-out from under the sticks gifted the visitors a try to keep them in the game going into halftime, with the referee disallowing two Wolves' tries due to a forward pass.
Second-half highlights
Tim Stanley made his presence felt to open the second half, equalling McEvoy’s tackle count in the opening defensive set and forcing the turnover. Eventually, Ian Skuse troubled the Vipers winger with a hanging kick, causing a knock-on that led Foley over the line in the following set of six.
Wetherhill doubled up in the following set, giving his centre space out wide to trouble the Vipers’ try line for Whistler's fifth score. The attack prompted an illegal flop tackle by Vancouver Valley, reducing them to twelve men on the field.
The Wolves promptly exploited their newfound advantage as Mahovic cut back on the inside to Barlow, who found his way over the whitewash.
The Vipers, to their credit, were not to be written off. A handling error from the restart gave them the rub of the green, which they converted for a consolation try.
With time winding down, List gladly accepted an inside pass from Mahovic at the Wolves' 30-metre line. By the 40-metre line, he was clear of the defence, galloping across the Vipers’ try line as fans swooned.
Rugby union convert Neil Irwin dug deep all day and troubled the opposition with his darting scoots, one of which resulted in Whistler's penultimate try.
Michalik joined the scoresheet late in the second half. His first try came from a wide ball from Mahovic, giving the Captain a lovely stroll home. The second, however, was neither a stroll nor gifted.
With Stanley, Foster and newcomer Pearce Perkins backing up Vipers defenders, List fed Michalik swiftly. Michalik hit a sharp line, stepped inside, and bid four opponents a fleet-footed goodbye, securing the top spot in RLBC rankings for his Wolves.
Earlier on Saturday, the Point Grey Thunder converted a last-second kick to complete a nail-biting 36-34 win over the Vancouver Dragons.
