The 2009 Vancouver Island Crimson Tide will go down as undefeated. The Tide, who recently declined from the now defunct Rugby Canada Super League, played their only match of the season on Saturday.

A handful of individual plays led the Tide to a 34-26 win over the visiting Ballymena RFC of Northern Ireland at Esquimalt's Bullen Park.

It was the third game in seven days for Ballymena. Though they used mostly their youthful under-23 squad, the Irish team seemed a bit tired.

Where the Tide were able to capitalize on a Ballymena mistake, Ballymena was able to find a break in communication between unfamiliar Tide players.

"We just came for the beer and the pain," was all noble players John Nicholl and James Carmichael would say on behalf of their modest side. "This trip's been a lot of fun."

After an impressive 47-5 win over Cowichan RFC on June 27 Ballymena were humbled by James Bay, 41-3, in front of a healthy Canada Day crowd at Bullen Park. Perhaps a day at Royal Athletic Park watching the Victoria Seals baseball game wasn't the best way to prepare for their Wednesday match against the incumbent Canadian champs and finalists at the 2009 B.C. championships. Premier Bay's players were unavailable to play for the Tide, however, there were representatives from the Velox Valhallians (Saanich), Castaway Wanderers (Oak Bay), UVic Vikes (Saanich), Cowichan RFC, Nanaimo Hornets and Port Alberni rugby clubs.

As for the Tide senior level representative team, their crimson kit with white trim will be folded and tucked away until next summer.

"It's a mix of both styles that we play," said coach Lee Lindwall, the Castaway Wanderers coach who has wanted to lead the Tide since it was still part of the RCSL. "We want to play a fast game but we want to use a mix of men from the Island clubs."

Just four practices was all the Tide had.

"So we keep it simple and let players play to their strengths, which we saw on Saturday."

The highlight of the day may have been the speedy Cowichan Piggies back Rob McDowell with a successful chip and chase that he off-loaded to Velox's Aaron Frisby for a try. Later, Frisby intercepted a pass and zipped through the line of frozen Ballymena players for another tally.

Prior to the match team Canada, featuring many local players, lost 12-6 to the USA in South Carolina in a Rugby World Cup qualifying match.

Crimson Tide roster:

1.  Josh Handysides

2.  Robert Wright

3.  Doug  Hepp

4.  Stephan Alexander

5.  Clayton Daum

6.  Doug Middleton

7.  Seamus Gay

8.  Scott Harnden

9.  Ryan Frisby

10. Sipili Molia

11. Kevin Carr

12. Dan White

13. Omar Thomas

14. Kit Warren

15. Aaron Frisby (C)

Subs: Jacob Lamb, Robin McDowell, Lance Pearson, Cyrus Singh and Nathan Waldman