Photo Credit/Cover Design: Lorne White/KelownaNow

With four players from the Central Okanagan on their side, BC Blue dominated the U16 Western Canada Rugby Championships in Kelowna on the weekend.

Photo Gallery (109 photos) on KelownaNowSports Facebook page

Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNowAlan Woodhouse from Penticton, right, of the BC U15s set to make the tackle on the first day of play.Storm Buck, Anders Fahlgren, Finn Hussey and Colby Miletto of Kelowna contributed to six straight lopsided victories over three days of play at the Parkinson Sportsfields.

The BC Blue team was untouchable during weekend play that included more than 300 athletes, winning all six of their games and scoring 291 points while allowing only 61 in the process.  Their most competitive game was a 31 – 17 win on Saturday against a feisty Alberta White side. 

Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNowKelowna's Lewis Jenkins upended after a long run in the BC U15s' Western Canadian opener.In a rematch of these two teams on Sunday, Alberta led for much of the first half but the hard-working and skilled approach of BC secured a 38 – 15 victory.

Other scores in the BC Blue’s games: Saskatchewan (64 – 5), BC Gold (54 – 7), Manitoba (47 – 7) and Alberta Black (57-10).

Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNowOther Okanagan players contributing to BC Blue’s undefeated record were Carlin Bordin-Slavens of Naramata, Koen Buckingham of Summerland and Daniel Kilian of Penticton.

The BC Gold U16 side, including Kelowna’s Connor Laing, was 2 – 4 on the weekend but was competitive in most of their matches.  Three close losses to Alberta sides could have easily gone the other way with the right bounces.

Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNowBC Gold scores: Alberta Black (12-7 loss), BC Blue (54-7 loss), Manitoba (33-0 win), Alberta White (21-7 loss), Alberta Black (10-7 win), Alberta White (24-14 loss).

A BC U15 boys team also competed in the U16 tournament.  Although outsized in every match, the gritty and fit U15s won three of five games and tied one game. 

Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNowThe team included seven Kelowna athletes, the majority of them products of the CORE (Central Okanagan Rugby Enthusiasts)  Academy: Sully Curran, Cruz Fisher, Cameron Halverson, Lewis Jenkins, Jacob Jobst, Tanner Milligan and Declan Monaghan. Penticton’s Sol Jacques and Alan Woodhouse and Summerland's Kieren Messier were also a part of the team.

BC U15 scores: Manitoba (24-5 win), Alberta White (54-12 loss), Saskatchewan (29-5 win), Alberta Black (39-19 loss), Manitoba (7-7), Saskatchewan (33-0 win).

Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNowOn the Women's side, BC's U16 and U15 Women's teams were head-and-shoulders above the two teams from Alberta.  The BC U15 and U16 Women's teams scored a combined 315 points on their opponents.  The Okanagan was represented on the U15 side by Aja Good from Lake Country. 

In all, seven provincial boys and four girls teams competed in the 29 games in the hot Okanagan sun.

The U16 Western Canada Rugby Championships will be held in Kelowna again in 2019 and 2020.

Photo Gallery (109 photos) on KelownaNowSports Facebook page

Photo Credit: BCRugbyColby Miletto (6) of Kelowna and BC Blue went undefeated in the three-day Western event at Parkinson.

Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNowDeclan Monaghan of Kelowna passes off to a BC U15 teammate.

Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNowPhoto Gallery (109 photos) on KelownaNowSports Facebook page