VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds handed the Castaway Wanderers out of Victoria a 36-24 defeat in the CDI Premier League semi-final at the Gerald McGavin Rugby Centre on Saturday afternoon. It was the Thunderbirds seventh straight victory in all competitions and ensured advancement for the three-time defending champions in next Saturday's Rounsefell Cup Premier League Championship game in Abbotsford.
The game began with a back and forth battle for field position and it was clear neither team was going to give up points easily. The T-Birds did enjoy most of the early possession and were finally rewarded with the opening try in the 16
th minute courtesy of fifth-year centre
Ben Lesage. As usual it was fourth-year wing
Theo Sauder adding the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
Sauder would add to the lead scoring on a successful penalty goal to make it 10-0 ahead of CW responding with a try from Nanyak Dala and a conversion from Mike Adibe to close the gap to 10-7. The 'Birds wouldn't let the visitors get any closer however as halftime approached as fifth-year back row
Nick Allen chipped in with a try followed by a Sauder conversion to make it 17-7 UBC. Second-year T-Bird
Elias Ergas would add another try just before the break to give UBC a 22-7 advantage at the halftime whistle.
The T-Birds would strike early and often on the other side with fifth-year prop
Clint Lemkus muscling the ball into the try-zone just 2:53 into the second-half. Meanwhile, Ergas managed another score minutes later, adding in two more Sauder conversions would give UBC a commanding 36-7 lead. Credit to CW who wouldn't go quietly, showing a late spark with three consecutive tries to make it a little more interesting, Nathan Stewart would score two in a row while Kevin Leask counted the other for the Wanderers. Adibe was only able to convert on one of the three consecutive scores, the final points of the afternoon as the T-Birds cruised to a 36-24 victory.
Sauder combined for 11 points in the victory and was pleased with the 'Birds effort on the day.
"It was good, we came out strong," said Sauder. "We would have liked to finish a little bit stronger but it's always nice to get to that fourth straight final."
When asked about the keys to victory Sauder added.
"For us it's always when our big guys up front are getting a good push and dominating and then it makes it easier for the backs to play out wide and score a few nice tries."
The Thunderbirds have enjoyed a sensational season which has seen them retain both the World Cup (vs the California Golden Bears) and the Wightman Boot (vs Victoria). It also includes the T-Birds winning the inaugural Canadian University Championships and finishing in first place in the BC Rugby CDI League. The 'Birds will look to keep up the success when the three-time defending champions play in their fourth straight Rounsefell Cup, premier league title game, Saturday, May 5
th in Abbotsford.
"It's almost become a standard now," continued Sauder. "We expect to be there and we look forward to trying to get the result when we get there."
