It was the best weather to play in since we got here, the sun peeked its way out and there was a just a breeze. It was a better than average late November day in Montreal to play rugby. The two western teams in a rematch of the 2017 final, it was UBC vs UVic Vikes.
Like the two other games to get to the final, UBC scored fast after the kick-off. At 4:45, fullback Dan Archer scooted through score a try and #10
Jack Scher missed the conversion to make it 5-0. UVic began to move the ball towards our end and put pressure on defense which resulted a penalty just inside the 22, but he missed. Still 5-0.
At about 10 minutes after the first try (14:10)
Nick Allen scored a little closer to the middle which made for an easier conversion by Scher to make it 12-0. Things were looking pretty good for UBC.
But then UVic went to work scoring two converted tries at 24:30 and 28:40. It all began with great ball movement, several UBC penalties especially from collapsed mauls inside our 22 which we eventually drew a yellow card at 22:10. Score now – 12-14 for UVic at the end of the first half.
The first 12 minutes of the second half was display of tenacity by both teams poaching balls in rucks, stripping balls, holding up runners and multi-pass phases. As UBC took penalties in the first half, it was UVic's turn in the second half. At 18:00, Scher kicked a penalty to make the score 15-14 for UBC.
But UVic would not relent. Very quickly, after the penalty kick, they score a try at 20:45 and then convert to make it 15 to 21. Then they went onto to play a slower possession game to help count down the clock but eventually they coughed it up and UBC went to work with just a few minutes to go. Going into extra time, we kept punching through in their 22 near the middle of the field and then the ball came out via #9
Max Radcliffe who zipped it to the outside where in one more pass, winger
Evan Norris ran it in for 5 to make it 20-21 for UVic.
With the clock and extra time gone, it was up to Radcliffe to kick the convert – the toughest spot in sport…. but alas, like Scher's conversion on the very first try, the kick just fell short. UVic wins the 3
rd CUMRC – 21 to 20 over UBC.
Head Coach
Curry Hitchborn felt our boys played good rugby on the day.
"We saw a lot of positives throughout the tournament and due to the fact that we had to change our roster, a lot of guys really stepped up. Doug Tate and Rick Farrally have done an outstanding job with UVIC this year and they were the better team on the day. We are all very much looking forward to the Boot Game."
The players were heartbroken to be so close knowing they had defeated UVic early just last month. But this will be a moment of growth and I am sure they are ready looking forward to playing UVic on March 14th at home...just 11 days after hosting the 99th News World Cup vs the Cal-Berkeley Bears.
This coming Saturday, November 30 - the final home game of this half where the Vancouver Rowing Club brings three teams. As this was Dave Brown's home club, we are doing a small tribute to Dave after the Birds game honouring his legacy at UBC and to rugby in BC. Kick-off for Totems is 11:15 am, Braves at 12:45 pm and Birds are at 2:30 pm.
