VICTORIA, B.C. – The UBC Thunderbirds opened the two-game series for the Wightman Boot - named for the former UBC head coach Brian Wightman - by beating the host Victoria Vikes 44-24 Saturday at Wallace Field in the provincial capital.
The Thunderbirds, who have claimed the last four Boot series titles, also nabbed their first BC Premier League win to improve to a 1-2-0 record, while the Vikes fall to 0-3-0.
The Vikes had four different try scorers including one each from first years Ethan Hager and Logan Martin-Feek. Cathal Long and Carson O'Sullivan were the other two try scorers for the home team, while Guiseppe du Toit made two of four converts.
The Thunderbirds showed their dominance with seven tries, two each from eight-man
Nick Allen and winger Sean Duke, while
Theo Sauder tallied three converts and a penalty.
UBC were the first to get on the board when Sauder found Duke - the former Vike - wide open on the left side for the first try from of the game. Sauder completed the convert from a wide angle to give the Thunderbirds the 7-0 lead.
The Vikes were able to draw even 10 minutes later when Hager pushed over the try line after some quick passing to the left side of the field. Du Toit's kick from a narrow angle was good to level the game 7-7.
UBC mirrored their opening try scoring again wide on the left side from
Connor Sampson with another confident convert from Sauder to go up 14-7. The Thunderbirds showed their speed down the right side just three minutes later as
Cole Keffer's run lifted the T-Birds up 19-7.
The Vikes responded well coming down the left side. O'Sullivan's strength broke the try line to get the home side on the board, while du Toit's accuracy got the Vikes back within five, trailing 19-14.
The Thunderbirds got one more try before half from Allen but the convert was missed, leaving the score at 24-14 for UBC entering halftime.
Intensity peaked after the break as cautions were given and both team's defence seemed to ramp up their physicality. The Thunderbirds secured two more tries, first in the 54th minute from Allen, his second of the game, as he powered through traffic. Just four minutes later, Duke exposed the Vikes on the left side with some shifty footwork to score a sixth try for the T-Birds. Sauder missed both converts to settle the score at 34-14.
Just moments later a speedy Sauder had the crowd in awe as he shifted through a crowd of Vikes. Sauder came down the right side but Vikes fullback Fergus Hall couldn't contain him. Sauder fed the ball inside to
Niko Clironomos for the clear try, while Sauder made good on the convert to nab a 41-14 lead.
The Vikes scored their first try of the second half in the 67th minute on a nice run from Long down the right side of the pitch. Du Toit just missed the convert as the Vikes now trailed 41-19.
The Vikes were able to get one more try on the board from rookie Martin-Fleek but it wasn't enough as the home side fell 44-24.
Up next the Vikes will head up island for a road game against Nanaimo on Sept. 30 at 2:30 p.m., while the T-Birds will host Capilano at the same time at the Gerald McGavin UBC Rugby Centre.
SCORING SUMMARY
VIC: 14 – 10 : 24
UBC: 24 – 20 : 44
4' UBC TRY #11 Sean Duke, convert #15
Theo Sauder
13' UVIC TRY #13 Ethan Hager, convert #12 Guiseppe duToit
20' UBC TRY #2
Connor Sampson, convert #15
Theo Sauder
23' UBC TRY #9
Cole Keffer, convert missed
26' UVIC TRY #8 Carson O'Sullivan, convert #12 Guiseppe duToit
37' UBC TRY # 8
Nick Allen, convert missed
54' UBC TRY #8
Nick Allen, convert missed
58' UBC TRY #11 Sean Duke, convert missed
62' UBC TRY #12
Niko Clironomos, convert #15
Theo Sauder
67' UVIC TRY #14 Cathal Long, convert missed
73' UBC PEN #15
Theo Sauder
77' UVIC TRY #23 Logan Martin-Feek, convert missed
