WEST VANCOUVER, B.C. – The UBC Thunderbirds men's rugby team used a big second-half surge to blow past the Victoria Vikes 52-22 in the final of the CDI Premier League playoffs on Saturday afternoon and win its first Rounsefell Cup since 1947.
The first-ever all-varsity Rounsefell Cup final was tied 13-13 in the first half before UBC was able to convert a try to take a 20-13 into the break. After that, it was all Thunderbirds as they put 32 second-half points on the scoreboard.
UBC got off to a quick start converting on a penalty kick in the opening three minutes and followed it up with a try just four minutes after. T-Bird
Bryan Tyrer (Richmond, B.C.) sparked the play down the right side that led to his team's first try, while stand-out kicker
Brock Staller's (Vancouver) convert attempt pinged off the outside of the uprights. The Thunderbirds led 8-0 until the 14th minute when the Vikes got on the board.
Victoria earned their first penalty kick that was converted well by Hall, while the Thunderbirds were quick to rebuild momentum. UBC continued to find success down the right side, earning their second try to go up 13-3 just 15 minutes into the game. Staller's wide-angled convert attempt went wide left.
In the 16th minute a nice passing play led to McCloskey gaining possession near the touch line on the left side. McCloskey was taken down hard by Tyrer right as he crossed the line and the play resulted in Tyrer getting sent off, while McCloskey was awarded the try. Hall completed the convert from mid-field as the Vikes tied it up 13-13.
UBC earned another try from their right-side attack in the 28th minute and Staller made good on the convert to give the Thunderbirds a 20-13 lead entering half time.
In the second half the Vikes, were able to catch up thanks to two successful penalty kicks made by Hall. Trailing just 20-19 at the 48th-minute mark, the Vikes then conceded a try right up the middle of the park to UBC's Nate Rees (Pontypridd, Wales). Staller easily made the convert to send UBC up 27-19.
2015.05.09 UBC Men's Rugby vs. Victoria Vikes - Images by
UBC Thunderbirds Photos
The teams traded penalty kicks and left the score at 30-22. After Victoria's kick closed the game to eight points, T-Bird
Quinton Willms (Terrace, B.C.) opened the game up on the next play. Willms burned down the left side barely touched to get UBC up 35-22, while Staller's ensuing convert attempt went wide.
The T-Birds kept on coming with two more tries, the first of which came from the fresh legs of
Manar Kulkhan (Coquitlam, B.C.). He ran nearly half the length of the pitch with Vikes players trying to bring him down but he did well to hang on to the touch line. UBC grabbed one more try from Kulkhan before the final whistle.
Saturday's victory caps off one of the most successful seasons of UBC rugby ever as the Thunderbirds captured the two-game 'World' Cup and Wightman Boot series as well as the top prize in the CDI Premier League.
- with files from Ali Lee (Victoria Vikes Sports Information)
