MONTREAL - The UBC Thunderbirds have advanced to a third consecutive national final thanks to a gritty 22-18 semifinal win over the host Concordia Stingers Friday at the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship.

The T-Birds punched their ticket to the tournaments gold medal game Sunday at 10:00 a.m. PT, where they will look to win a third-straight national title in a battle against familiar provincial rival, the Victoria Vikes.

"Concordia ran us real close and played a very unique style that caused us to make loads of errors and test our decision making," said UBC head coach Curry Hitchborn in referencing the challenge that the Stingers provided on the day. "Falling asleep on the missed PK and it resulting in a try was very telling. We got ourselves into that mess though and worked ourselves out. IT was an excellent game to have heading into a final." 



We knew this game was going to a tough one – hometown advantage with a strong forward pack and backs that can move the ball. We also know they are very passionate, and emotion is the advantage for the home team.  The weather was very windy going down the field from left to right which made it quite cool.

Loosehead prop Nick Frost scored the first of his three tries on the day at 5 min in but with the strong wind, Jack Scher missed the conversion to make it 5-0.  UBC dominated early in the scrum and were able to steal the ball a few times by putting tremendous pressure on Concordia up front.  At 13 minutes in, Nick Frost touched down a try after a successful lineout and maul from about 15 m out.  Scher converts and we are up 12-0.



Concordia exerted good pressure on the UBC backs, and we spilled a few key balls which led to a penalty about the 22 m line, so Concordia took the penalty kick to make the score 12-3 at 22 minutes.  The final 8 minutes saw UBC put pressure on but Concordia held us out. The first half closes at 12-3 for UBC.

At 4 minutes into the second half, the game took a dramatic turn.  Concordia elected to take a penalty kick at about 30m out.  It was very windy and straight into the face of the kicker.  He kicked and the ball fell short… just outside the try line.  As our boys were trying to figure out who was to catch the ball, a wily Concordia player ran in, took it off the bounce and touched it down for a try near the posts.  Concordia then converts to make the score 10-12 for UBC.  Concordia is back in the game.

The battle began.  Back and forth…we spent some time in their 'red zone' (inside their 22) but they were defending like demons. We would turn over the ball (another chance at 'hope') and they began their attack and storm down the field. This led to another penalty kick by Concordia which gave them what they wanted – a 13 to 12 lead.  Concordia had the fuel they wanted - a comeback and now leading the score.



It was time for UBC to rise to the occasion.  To our lads credit, they put together a string of good runs which got them into the 22m, and then the forward pack went to work. Frost punched one in and Max Radcliffe converted to make it 19-13. But Concordia could still smell the upset.

Kick - off and we, again, put together some runs to put into their red zone.  However, despite an almost 10-minute pick and go session starting about 15 m out, Concordia held UBC out.  Finally, with tremendous pressure on attack, UBC drew the penalty right in front of the posts.  Radcliffe easily scored the penalty kick to make it 22 to 13.  On the ensuing kick-off, Concordia jumped up and captured the ball and UBC went into defensive mode and eventually stripped the ball and kicked it out for time.

"Concordia came ready to play, for sure," said Prop Nick Frost. "Their try line defense was very good, and they kept us out for 10 minutes."

Meanwhile Fly-half Fraser Hurst thought the T-Birds could have been a little sharper on the day.

"Despite the passionate and great play by Concordia, we did not play our best rugby today. We can be better."



UBC has, for the third year in a row, secured a spot in the final.  UVic Vikes put themselves in as well with a battle-royale win over Queens to make this a re-match of the inaugural 2017 University Championship.  We look forward to another 'West Coast War" with our BC counterpart!

Hitchborn also spoke to what he expects in Sunday's final against the familiar UVic Vikes.

"UVic is a team we know very well and we play them at least once more this season back home. We know they saw our semifinal game and if I was (Vikes head coach) Doug Tate, I'd look to put us under enormous pressure and make us think. The guys know this as well and because of what was on display yesterday, our guys have the motivation needed to see themselves into a game with a very skilled UVic team."

Next and final game of the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship is Sunday, November 24 at 10:00 a.m. PT. from Concordia Stadium in Montreal, Que.