Vancouver, BC: The Adidas Premiership playoffs kick off this weekend with Burnaby Lake hosting United and Velox traveling to Capilano. The Big Kahuna Division One and Langara Fishing Adventures Division Two are in their final week of league play.
ADIDAS PREMIERSHIP - SEMIFINALS PREVIEWUnited at Burnaby Lake Rugby Club (Burnaby Lake Sports Complex) 11:30am
Top-seeded Burnaby Lake Rugby Club went 8-0 during the regular season and will look to keep their perfect record in tact against fourth-seeded United this weekend. Burnaby won both contests between these two sides during the regular season blanking United 31-0 on March 5th before finishing off the regular season with a 39-10 victory on April 16. Burnaby boasts five of the Adidas Premiership's top ten scorers in Julia Sugawara (70 pts), Melissa Miyazaki (50 pts), Maria Gallo (35 pts), Corinne Jacobsen (35 pts) and Lindsay Bernrot (30 pts).
United went 4-4 during the regular season but when compared to other playoff-bound Adidas Premiership teams, the squad has gone 1-4 during the regular season. United finished 20 points shy of Burnaby Lake in the standings but could stage a massive upset this weekend. Candace Barry has led the squad in scoring and ranks 10th in the Premiership with 29 points after notching one try and 12 conversions.
Velox Valkyries at Capilano RFC (Klahanie Park) 11:30am
On paper, the reigning Premiership champs and second-seeded Capilano are clear favourites heading into Saturday's clash with Velox. The Caps opened their title defence with an 0-2-1 start but have since won five straight matches to clinch a home berth in the semi-finals. Andrea Burk led the league in scoring with 90 points after notching 11 tries, 16 conversions and one penalty.
Saturday will be the third straight game Velox has squared off against Capilano during the Adidas Premiership season. The Valkyries dropped their last two decisions 31-10 and 43-7 to close out the season with a 4-4 record. The bye weekend has seen several players return from injury for the 2010 Vancouver Island champs as they gear up for the season finale.
Premiership Top Scorers1. Andrea Burk (Capilano) - 90 pts (11 tries, 16 conversions, 1 penalty)
2. Julia Sugawara (Burnaby) - 70 pts (3 tries, 16 conversions, 1 penalty)
3. Brittany Waters (Meraloma) - 52 pts (10 tries, 1 conversion)
4. Melissa Miyazaki (Burnaby) - 50 pts (10 tries)
5. Hilary Leith (Capilano) - 41 pts (7 tries, 3 conversions)
T6. Maria Gallo (Burnaby) - 35 pts (7 tries)
T6. Corinne Jacobsen (Burnaby) - 35 pts (7 tries)
T8. Lindsay Bernrot (Burnaby) - 30 pts (6 tries)
T8. Michele Helmeckzi (Meraloma) - 30 pts (9 conversions, 4 penalties)
10. Candace Barry (United) - 29 pts (1 try, 12 conversions)
BIG KAHUNA DIVISION ONETable leaders Abbotsford head into the final weekend of league play with a 6-1 record and a four point lead in the standings over Kamloops. This week they are at home to Cowichan (2-5), a team no longer in the running for a playoff berth. Kamloops (5-3) and SFU (5-3) are currently jockeying for second place and a home semifinal match on May 7th. Kamloops is at home to United this week and SFU is at home to Brit Lions. The Brit Lions are currently holding down the fourth and final playoff berth and will advance to the postseason regardless of this week's results.
Cowichan at Abbotsford (CFV Exhibition) 11:30am
Brit Lions at SFU (Queen's Park) 11:30am
United at Kamloops (Kamloops Exhibition) 11:30am
LANGARA FISHING ADVENTURES DIV TWOBoasting a perfect 7-0 record, Nanaimo will close out the regular season as the Langara Fishing Adventures Division Two number one seed. The Island outfit will host a semifinal match regardless of this weekend's outcome when they travel to the mainland to play Ridge Meadows. Ridge Meadows has already tied up the second seed with a 5-2 record. Comox was scheduled to play Meraloma but were unable to field a full roster.
Nanaimo at Ridge Meadows (Thomas Haney) 10:00am
Comox at Meraloma (Comox defaulted)
