VANCOUVER – The UBC men's rugby team started 2017 with an impressive showing and claimed a fabled trophy in the process. The Thunderbirds seemed unstoppable at times during their 51-14 rout of the UVic Vikes and walked off the pitch at the Gerald McGavin Rugby Centre with the Wightman Boot in tow.
The trophy is awarded annually to the match victor between the two storied rugby programs, but on this chilly January afternoon, before a large and enthused crowd of rugby fans, the game's result was almost never in doubt.
The 'Birds got on the board early with consecutive penalties by
Adam McQueen. Shortly after, Thunderbirds props
Clint Lemkus and
Chris Taylor score tries in quick succession and just like that it was 20-0 UBC.
"We had the big boys winning the dirty work and the 'hairdos' winning the tries," said UBC scrum-half
Jorden Sandover-Best.
The Vikes managed to cross the score line before the half and cut the lead to 20-7, but the second half was an all out assault by who Sandover-Best refers to as the 'hairdos'.
The UBC backs rolled to five consecutive tries. Two scores came via Sandover-Best, another pair off thrilling runs by speedy wingers
Cole Keffer and
Theo Sauder, and
Andrew Coe completed a nifty passing play with wing
Manar Kulkhan by diving into the in-goal area.
"Beating UVic is always an honour," added Sandover-Best. "I'm pretty proud right now and I hope we can continue on this way."
The T-Birds will square off against the UBC Old Boys Ravens on Saturday, January 28th at 2:45pm at the Gerald McGavin Rugby Centre.
