Both Wanderers sides took home the win this past weekend at the Douglas against the Ottawa Irish.
Montreal Wanderers v.s. Ottawa Irish (Reserves 33-21) – Game Report
The Wanderers Reserves set the tone with a convincing 33-21 win. A solid forward try came from new Wanderers Prop Chayse Moore who powered over the line. Centre Ionnis Paraherakis notched his first try after breaking the line with an elegant dummy pass spin move. Winger Tommy Markopolous decided to forgo a four man overlap, and sliced through the line on a dummy of his own to score.
Veteran flyhalf and rookie father Stephen Choi was not to be outshined or outshinered. He floated a kick into the endzone for a Freddie Kacou try from the wing. An Ottawa penalty kick that fell just short of the posts put Steve in a compromised position. Diving on the ball, he was rewarded with a head butt and a 2 inch gash over his eye. Though no longer recognizable to his newborn son, Steve continues to elaborate on a rugby legacy that will not be soon forgotten.
Montreal Wanderers v.s. Ottawa Irish (Prems 19-7) – Game Report
Matty Barazin stole the show in the firsts, coming out of retirement to lead the Prems to their first win this season. A battering ram on both sides of the ball, Matty walked off the field with two tries to his name, a serious body count, and a bag full of sweaty jerseys for player of the game honours.
And did the forwards ever sweat in those jerseys. Second row Matty Kerr was a monster on defense and on the kickoffs, taking the ball in the air time and again with great courage. Loveable mouth piece and prop Oliver Pierce put his shoulder on the line with some big tackles (and was boastfully sure to let everyone know about it after the game). Flanker Jon Dex stood out in the back row with his leaping tackles off the scrums to pull down the threatening Irish 8 man.
Scrumhalf Alexis “Barbu” Mynard scooped up a ball that fortuitously popped out of an Irish scrum and scampered in for a score of his own.
Growing overconfident in the second half, inside centre Adrian “AJ” Thorogood pushed a drop-goal attempt just wide. The Irish seemed to be gaining momentum in the last ten minutes, before AJ buried the Irish scrum half on a misguided tap and go, along with any hopes of a comeback. Perhaps out of boredom, Alexi “Barbu” Mynard spent the dying minutes committing unnecessary penalties at the breakdown until he was awarded a yellow, and was sent to “le frigo” to cool off.
The Wanderers hope for a repeat of their performance next week against the Montreal Irish at the Douglas Hospital Grounds.