VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds beat the California Golden Bears 49-25 Sunday afternoon at Thunderbird Stadium to capture men's rugby's World Cup for the fifth consecutive year.
 
Sunday's contest was the second leg of the two-game annual series between the rugby powers. The T-Birds entered the day down three points on aggregate after the first leg. With today's win, UBC takes the series by a combined score of 85-64 over the two legs.
 
"It's always good to get a nice result at home," said UBC wing Theo Sauder. "We were down three points coming into this game so the boys were fired up. We wanted to get a good result in front of our friends and family."
 
The 'Birds came out flying in the first half when back row player Nick Allen recorded the first try of the game just two minutes in. The 'Birds added a second try in the 10th minute when Elias Ergas was able to muscle a ball into the try-zone giving the 'Birds a 10-0 advantage.
 
The visiting Bears were able to even up the scoring after a successful penalty goal by Matthew Coyle in the 13th minute, and a try by Cal centre Adam Roeske just five minutes after that.
 

Thanks to Sauder, who then scored 13 straight points by himself on a try, a convert and a pair of penalty goals, the 'Birds were sitting comfortably heading into halftime with a 23-10 advantage that the hosts would not relinquish.
 
The second half was much of the same for UBC. Cal opened the scoring in the second half with a penalty kick by Coyle. The 'Birds answered back with a try by Fraser Hurst, who dove into the in-goal area by the right sideline flag to extend the UBC lead to 15.
 
Seth Purdey's 57th minute try and convert by Matthew Coyle brought the Golden Bears to within eight points with UBC up 28-20. But the 'Birds replied with converted tries from John Jubenvill and Ergas, with his second of the day, to make the score 42-20.
 

The Bears tried to make a late push as a try by second-half substitute Desi Streater came in the 72nd minute but that was all Cal could muster as UBC's Owain Ruttan rounded out the scoring in the 76th minute to secure the victory.
 
"Whenever we play well, it's always our big boys up front bullying them, and dominating up front, and that makes it easier for us to go wide and put some points on the board. They don't really get all the credit but they do a lot of work up front," said Sauder, who finished the day with 19 points. He was 4-for-7 on conversions, and 2-of-3 on penalties.
 
UBC improves to 17-5 in all competitions this school year. The team's next game is in Victoria on March 17 against James Bay.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
 
First half
2nd minute – UBC TRY – Nick Allen (convert missed) – 5-0 UBC 
10th minute – UBC TRY – Elias Ergas (convert missed – 10-0 UBC
13th minute – Cal PENALTY GOAL – Matthew Coyle – 10-3 UBC
18th minute – Cal TRY – Adam Roeske (convert by Matthew Coyle) – 10-10
23rd minute – UBC TRY – Theo Sauder (convert by Theo Sauder) – 17-10 UBC
31st minute – UBC PENALTY GOAL – Theo Sauder – 20-10 UBC
40th minute – UBC PENALTY GOAL – Theo Sauder – 23-10 UBC
 
Second half
43rd minute – Cal PENALTY GOAL – Matthew Coyle – 23-13 UBC
47th minute – UBC TRY – Fraser Hurst (convert missed) – 28-13 UBC
57th minute – Cal TRY – Seth Purdey (convert by Matthew Coyle) – 28-20 UBC
58th minute – UBC TRY – John Jubenvill (convert by Theo Sauder) – 35-20 UBC
69th minute – UBC TRY – Elias Ergas (convert by Theo Sauder) - 42-20 UBC
72nd minute – Cal TRY – Desi Streater (convert missed) – 42-25 UBC
76th minute – UBC TRY – Owain Ruttan (convert by Theo Sauder) – 49-25 UBC