Vancouver, BC: Week five of Canadian Direct Insurance Premier League play will feature a rematch of the 2011 Rounsefell Cup final when reigning Canadian Direct Insurance Premier League champions Castaway Wanderers RFC (3-1) travel to Connaught Park to face off against Meraloma Rugby Club (1-3).

Canadian Direct Insurance Premier League - Sat. February 11th:
Burnaby Lake Rugby Club at Abbotsford RFC (CFV Exhibition) 2:45pm
UVic Vikes at James Bay AA (MacDonald Park) 2:45pm
Castaway Wanderers at Meraloma Rugby Club (Connaught Park) 2:45pm
UBCOB Ravens at Capilano RFC (Klahanie Park) 2:45pm

Weekend Preview
With their veteran core returning for the 2012 spring season, the Meralomas will be tough to beat on their home ground. The Lomas marked their return to Premier League play with a 56-0 win over Abbotsford last Saturday.

A number of Meraloma standouts who featured for the BC senior men's provincial team this past summer were in top form against Abby with Shawn Mercier, Bryan Tyrer, Josh Clarke and Captain Eric Wilson each recording tries. Mercier crossed over three times while Tyrer recorded a brace as well as conversion and four penalties. Tyrer now sits second in the Premier League scoring race with a total of 35 points.

Having carried over three losses from their fall season, the Lomas will have to find their footing quickly if they have any hopes of making the postseason. The Kitsilano club are the only side in the province to appear in the last four Rounsefell Cup championship games.

"We were definitely a little rusty against Abbotsford but that was expected given the amount of practice time we had due to the weather," said Pat Fleck, a member of the Meraloma coaching staff. "We played a bit of a depleted Abbotsford side where we came out and capitalized on our opportunities."

The Lomas lineup this season will also feature standouts Derek Townsend, Eric Harland, Sam Jenkins as well as Brian Erichsen, who makes his return to club rugby after representing Canada at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

"These are a group of guys who have been together for quite a while and we will be successful if we are able to stay healthy," added Fleck. "With the situation of starting at 0-3, every game is massive and we need to be winning most games in hopes of making the playoffs."

The Meraloma's home opener will be against the Castaway Wanderers, a team they lost 20-3 against in the 2011 Rounsefell Cup final last May.

CW are fresh off a convincing 37-19 win over the UBCOB Ravens which launched them into second place in the Premier League standings last Saturday.

"I know they are well coached and they will be organized. They have quite a formidable pack and will have some guys we haven't seen before," added Fleck. "To be honest though, we are focusing more on our process than theirs at this point in the game."

CW are currently ranked second in offensive output averaging 30 points per game. Their defence of 19 points per game against ranks fourth versus Premier League opposition. The Oak Bay outfit boasts a number of top scrummagers in their arsenal including Toby Peyton and Canadian internationals Hubert Buydens and Andrew Tiedemann.

Kickoff for Saturday's clash is set for 2:45pm at Connaught Park in Vancouver.

Around the league
The UVic Vikes (1-3) and James Bay Athletic Association (3-1) will scrum down at MacDonald Park this saturday. Both sides will look to rebound from tough losses in week four which saw them slip in the standings. Also on the line will be the Vikes-Bays Challenge Cup, a title currently held by James Bay.

The UBCOB Ravens (1-3) are away to Capilano RFC (3-1) this week. This Saturday will also see Abbotsford (0-4) at home to Premier League leaders Burnaby Lake Rugby Club (4-0) at CFV Exhibition Park.

-30-

News