MONTREAL, Que. – The UBC Thunderbirds continued their streak of medaling in every Canadian Men's Rugby Championship in the tournament's eight-year existence by defeating the University of Victoria Vikes 27-12 for bronze at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon.
Five different T-Birds scored, as UBC responded to an early Victoria try with 27 unanswered points. A garbage-time Vikes tally led to a deceptively close final scoreline, in what was really a one-sided win.
Victoria got on the board in the third minute when third-year fly half Alex Gamage broke through the left side of the UBC line and weaved his way in for a diving score, just reaching the left corner of the try zone as he was pulled down.
The two teams dug in for a violent grind from there, with scrum after scrum being called as each side's aggressiveness offset the other's.
Stephen Webb starred for the T-Birds when they evened the score in the 12
th minute. The scrum-half flipped pitch position with a well-placed kick, before generating space for
Callum Arnesen to scamper in with a well-timed pass against the flow of the Vikes' defence.
The T-Birds' second score was predicated purely on power. A strong run by
Demetri Patterson put the 'Birds 20 yards out before, undeterred by being down a man due to a card, the UBC maul, led by captain
Relmu Wilson-Valdes, steadily pushed Victoria further and further back. When the T-Birds were five yards out,
Cody Nhanala made a heroic effort to drive his 230-pound frame through the last of the Vikes line and touch the ball down to break the tie. Despite windy and cold conditions,
James Biss then made one of two successful converts in the match to give the blue and gold a 12-5 lead.
Just before half-time, it was the UBC forwards leading the way to another score. With any loss of momentum sure to result in the half being called, the relentless 'Birds pushed right up the middle until fifth-year lock and Vanier Scholar
Graeme Francolini punched in the try in his final CUMRC game.
UBC was up 17-5 through 30 minutes.
The T-Birds poured it on in the second half, as an explosive run by
Alastair Marshall helped open up space for
Liam James to dash in from more than 20 yards out, nearly untouched, in the 36
th minute.
Nhanala was a menace on defence all afternoon, forcing a Vikes turnover on their most promising push since their opening score. Soon after,
Niko Andrianos became the fifth different T-Birds to touch down a try by finishing a well-executed set piece on the left side of the pitch, putting the match away by extending UBC's lead to 27-5.
After both teams emptied their benches, the Vikes added a late try and convert to make the final score 27-12.
UBC scrum-half
Stephen Webb was named Player of the Game.
This is the second consecutive bronze medal for the T-Birds at the CUMRC, coming after a run of three straight golds.
The 'Birds don't get much time to recover from the national championships, as they fly home to host Pacific Pride in their next match in less than a week. That will take place at the Gerald McGavin UBC Rugby Centre on Saturday, November 22
nd, starting at 2:30 p.m. (PT).
SCORING SUMMARY
1 2 F
UBC 17 10 27
VIC 5 7 12
3' – VIC try – Alex Gamage (convert missed) 5-0 VIC
12' – UBC try –
Callum Arnesen (convert missed) 5-5
21' – UBC YC –
Joe McNulty
26'- UBC try –
Cody Nhanala (
James Biss convert) 12-5 UBC
30' – UBC try –
Graeme Francolini (convert missed) 17-5 UBC
HALF
36' – UBC try –
Liam James (convert missed) 22-5 UBC
50' – UBC try –
Niko Andrianos (convert missed) 27-5 UBC
56' – VIC try – (convert successful) 27-12 UBC
