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CW kicker Monro doesn't require warm-up to win

Ander Monro should have car trouble more often. The veteran of the 2011 World Cup got to Windsor Park mere minutes before game time Saturday and missed the pre-game warm-up.
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Castaway Wanderers Pita Savea, left, and Capilano's Glen McKinnon jump for the ball in their game Saturday.

Ander Monro should have car trouble more often.

The veteran of the 2011 World Cup got to Windsor Park mere minutes before game time Saturday and missed the pre-game warm-up. Despite going in stone cold, he kicked two converts and three penalty goals for 13 points to be named man of the match in leading the Castaway Wanderers to a 28-24 B.C. Premier Rugby League victory over Capilano of West Vancouver.

"Despite having no warm-up, I felt relaxed," said Shawnigan Lake-resident Monro, who missed only one convert on the day.

After you've been through what Monro experienced at the World Cup last year in New Zealand - missing two penalty goals but rebounding to score a high-tension late try and penalty goal as Canada rallied to tie Japan 23-23 - you don't rattle easily in a club game with or without a warm-up.

"A lot of kickers perform best when under the most pressure," noted Monro, about the unique position in rugby.

"I feed off it and enjoy it." CW standout Nanyak Dala, a veteran of the 2011 World Cup and Canada's Shield victory last month at the Hong Kong Sevens, said he expects nothing less of Monro.

"Ander is a world-class player, and we always expect him to come with his 'A' game," said Dala.

Maybe it was Monro's late arrival to the pitch, but CW (9-3-1) appeared discombobulated in falling behind 10-0 after just 12 minutes before tries by Brian MacKenzie, Paul Buckley and Lucas Hammond brought CW back and dropped Capilano to 9-4.

"We made some costly mental mistakes early but stuck to our game plan," said Dala.

Meanwhile, kicking also proved crucial for leagueleading James Bay (12-1) as emerging Canadian international Connor Braid hit on four penalty goals, including the late game winner, in a 2421 win on the Lower Mainland to eliminate Meralomas (6-6-1) from the playoff hunt as James Bay, CW, Capilano and Burnaby Lake are assured berths in the semifinal round May 5.

At Wallace Field, the UVic Vikes (2-11) trampled all over the UBCOB Ravens (4-9) by a 74-22 count in a bid to avoid relegation.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com