James Bay Athletic Association, denied a record 23rd B.C. Rounsefell Cup Premier rugby title Saturday, remained gracious but unbowed in defeat.
"Obviously, we're very disappointed," said JBAA head coach Pete Rushton, whose deep roster spanned players from the 2007 and 2011 World Cups, as well as future potentials for 2015.
"But we're always proud to be James Bay. We see ourselves as a model club for our league."
The third-seed Capilanos from the North Shore edged the regular-season champion Bays 22-21 in the final played at Klahanie Park in West Vancouver.
"It was one of those games that could have gone either way but the Caps were full marks for the victory," said Rushton, whose club finished with a 14-2 regular-and post-season record, with both losses coming against the Caps.
"We turned the ball over more than we could have afforded to. We had four or five opportunities at their goal line but our ball retention was not great. Those are game breakers."
It was left to the undefeated Velox Valkyries of Gordon Head to salvage the day for the Island in Premiership play at Klahanie with a 20-14 victory over defending champion Burnaby Lake in the Harris Memorial Cup final for the B.C. women's championship.
In other provincial finals, Castaway Wanderers of Oak Bay defeated Meralomas of Vancouver 24-16 in the Ceili's Cup for the men's Division 1 title and Kamloops out-ran the Velox Valhallians of Saanich 38-29 in the men's Division 3 final.
Meanwhile, Canadian 2011 World Cup head coach Kieran Crowley has selected a Maple Leafs representative side to play the Rock Atlantic All-Stars in an exhibition fixture today at 2 p.m. at Bear Mountain Stadium.
