After a convincing win last week against the Meralomas, UBC went into the Fraser Valley to take on a competitive Abbotsford team coached by former UBC and Canada Prop Harry Toews. The Birds also gave first starts to lock Cam McWilliam (St George's) and wing Daniel Archer (Renaissance College). UBC started slowly and gave away three early penalties, one of which was converted into points to put the home side up 0-3. UBC responded by asserting pressure on Abbotsford in all areas; a strike against the head, a charged down kick and solid continuity forced errors and penalties.
Adam McQueen (Canmore) missed two efforts at goal before
Connor Hamilton (St George's) and
Neil Courtney (Handsworth) made major inroads into the home team's defensive line following a twenty-two metre drop out. The ball was then shifted left for Archer to slip round his man and feed the supporting fullback
Cole Keffer (Sutherland) for the score. McQueen converted from the touch line to put the Birds up 7-3.
For the rest of half UBC played effectively and efficiently, mixing strong forward interplay and drives, with Clint Lemkus (Paul Roos), Courtney,
Thomas Roche (St John's Ravenscourt) and
Connor Weyell (Handsworth) prominent, mixed with a constant switch in attacking points from the backs. A strong base of possession at both the scrum and line out, where Connor Sampson (Sir Charles Tupper) was outstanding with his throws, provided the Birds with continuous platforms from which to launch their offense. The second Birds' try came from another strike against the head in their own twenty two. The forwards carried the play up the left before the play was switched right for
Nathan Rees (Porth County) to throw a long miss pass to Archer who scored in the right corner. McQueen converted again and the score stretched to 14-3.
The next score came from a line out on the left side in Abbotsford's twenty two. A long throw to the back, stretching the line out defense, was played back to a charging Roche who broke threw to score. McQueen failed with the convert and the score sat at 19-3. UBC's backs were running some excellent lines but did get caught twice for crossing infringements before Rees scored a fine individual effort on the stroke half time. From a free kick on the left on the Abbotsford ten metre line, Rees took the first pass from the tap and aggressively stepped back across to the right to find his way through the Abbotsford defensive line to score the bonus point try. McQueen's conversion made it 26-3 at the break.
Compared with the first half, the second half was certainly less thrilling as a spectacle. With two more games to come before the Remembrance Day break, giving the players four games in a row, the bench was emptied throughout the half and while the performance dropped slightly it was positive to see the incoming players contribute to a very solid win. Substitute lock
James Carson (Oak Bay) bulldozed his way over in the right corner just after the restart to push the Birds further in front at 31-3. Abbotsford, working hard in the loose and scrummaging strongly, pulled a try back after a break in right field to make it 31-8 before Keffer and Archer combined for the Archer to cross for his second score of the afternoon and restore UBC's advantage to 36-8. Abbotsford upped their game again forcing UBC to put in a lengthy period of defense. The home team was rewarded with a converted try five minutes from time to complete the scoring which saw the Birds victorious by a score of 36-15.
The current league standings can be viewed here.
Nine UBC Players chosen to attend the Rugby Canada U19 Camp on the October 29th weekend
Congratulations to Myles Donaghue (Ashbury College), Michael Smith (Earl Marriott), Matt Ye (Bill Crothers), Owain Ruttan (St Mary's), Tyler Nylander (Carson Graham), John Jubenvill (Earl Marriott), Jake Lan (Rockridge), Elias Ergas (Collingwood) and Christoph Stangl (Carson Graham) for their selection to the Ruby Canada U19 Camp being held this weekend in Burnaby.
