VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (4-0) continued their dominance at the Gerald McGavin UBC Rugby Centre, with a decisive 60-0 win over the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns (2-2).
The 'Birds have now posted three consecutive clean sheets at home and are giving up an absurdly stingy average of just three points per match to opponents this season. First year
Adia Pye and reigning U SPORTS player of the week
Savannah Bauder led the way for the 'Birds offence once again, with Pye posting three tries and Bauder a try, three converts and a gorgeous kick-pass assist on the last of Pye's tallies.
The T-Birds wasted no time getting on the board, as in just the third minute of play Pye went on a ferocious run through the middle of the Pronghorns line to advance UBC into Lethbridge territory. Soon after the ensuing scrum, the ball found
Sara Kaljuvee who peaked to her right before making a long swing pass back to Pye, streaking up the right sideline. The ball was right on the money, catching the dynamic centre perfectly in stride. One stiff-arm of a Pronghorn later she was left with nothing but green grass in front of her, racing to the try zone with no defender in the area.
Lethbridge picked up its defence after the early score, matching UBC's physicality as the two teams exchanged possessions and kicks around the middle of the pitch for more than 20 minutes.
It was Pye who finally broke through again for the 'Birds, catching a pass on an innocent looking play 40 yards out from the Pronghorns try zone. She then curled around the back of her teammate before finding another gear, accelerating so quickly she was able to turn the corner on the Lethbridge defenders in very little space and scamper along the right sideline, untouched, for her second try.
The T-Birds kept pouring it on from there, not allowing Lethbridge onto their half of the pitch again before half-time and adding tries from
Savannah Bauder and
Olivia Sarabura to go up 22-0 at the break.
In the second half, the Pronghorns continued to play with more physicality than any opponent the blue and gold have seen at home this year, refusing to give up chunks of yardage and advancing the ball with several punishing runs of their own.
Ultimately, Lethbridge could not break through the rock solid UBC defence, while the 'Birds tacked on six more tries to push the final score to 60-0.
Next up for the Pronghorns is a trip to Vancouver Island for a matchup with University of Victoria Vikes on Sunday morning. The T-Birds are staying home, with more than two weeks off before they finish their regular season with a tilt against those same Vikes on Saturday, October 14th at 1:00 p.m. (PT) back at the Gerald McGavin UBC Rugby Centre.
Scoring Summary
First Half
UBC – Try, 3'
Adia Pye (
Savannah Bauder convert unsuccessful) 5-0 UBC
UBC – Try, 25'
Adia Pye (Bauder convert unsuccessful) 10-0 UBC
UBC – Try, 29'
Savannah Bauder (Bauder convert unsuccesful) 15-0 UBC
UBC – Try, 34'
Olivia Sarabura (Bauder convert successful) 22-0 UBC
Second Half
UBC – Try, 44'
Sara Kaljuvee (Bauder convert successful) 29-0 UBC
UBC – Try, 52'
Adia Pye (Bauder convert unsuccessful) 34-0 UBC
UBC – Try, 59'
Rachel Smith (Bauder convert successful) 41-0 UBC
UBC – Try, 66'
Olivia Sarabura (Sarabura convert successful) 48-0 UBC
UBC – Try, 78'
Sasha Oreskovich (Sarabura convert successful) 55-0 UBC
UBC – Try, 80'
Tia Jordo (Sarabura convert unsuccessful) 60-0 UBC
