VANCOUVER – The Victoria Vikes rounded off their Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship with a strong 52-15 victory over the Memorial Sea-Hawks at UBC’s Thunderbird Stadium on Sunday to take the Consolation Final.
The number one seeded Vikes were pushed all the way by the Sea-Hawks in the first half before the B.C. side took over with a commanding second half performance that saw then run in eight tries, with Ethan Hager making six conversions.
A converted Ryder Heaney-Corns try set Victoria on their way 12 minutes in and they added a second try through Ethan Smith six minutes later, which this time Ethan Hager wasn’t able to convert.
Any thoughts this was going to be a comfortable afternoon at the office for Victoria were quickly dispelled as Memorial came storming back with a pair of unconverted tries from Tony Pomroy and Andrew Shears in a four minute spell towards the end of the half.
There was still time, however, for Victoria to hit back and extend their lead before half time. A maul from a line-out was carried into the in-goal but played back over to Jenner Teufel one yard out, who went over the tryline. Hager converted to send the Vikes in at the break with a nine point lead.
It only took Victoria 44 seconds after the restart to add to their tally, with Shane Rikley-Krindle going over for the try and Hager converting.
Graeme Norris added another converted try in the 42nd minute for Victoria, but Memorial were still fighting and responded with an unconverted try from Matthew Murphy three minutes later.
The Vikes kept fully focused and added a sixth try of the afternoon through Taine Clague in the 49th minute and then a seventh in the 55th when Marcus Lott intercepted a pass to sprint clear and over the tryline. Hager converted both of those tries to take his tally to six on the afternoon.
A second try for Rikley-Krindle with time expired put the icing on the cake for Victoria, but Hager was unable to grab another conversion as the final whistle blew.
Denver Fatt was named Player of the Game for Victoria, with Matthew Murphy getting the honour Memorial.
VICTORIA 52 MEMORIAL 15
First Half
VIC - Try, Ryder Heaney-Corns (Ethan Hager convert) 12’ 7-0
VIC - Try, Ethan Smith (convert unsuccessful) 18’ 12-0
MEM - Try, Tony Pomroy (convert unsuccessful) 23’ 12-5
MEM - Try, Andrew Shears (convert unsuccessful) 27’ 12-10
VIC - Try, Jenner Teufel (Ethan Hager convert) 30’ 19-10
Second Half
VIC - Try, Shane Rikley-Krindle (Ethan Hager convert) 31’ 26-10
VIC - Try, Graeme Norris (Ethan Hager convert) 42’ 33-10
MEM - Try, Matthew Murphy (convert unsuccessful) 45’ 33-15
VIC - Try, Taine Clague (Ethan Hager convert) 49’ 40-15
VIC - Try, Marcus Lott (Ethan Hager convert) 55’ 47-15
VIC - Try, Shane Rikley-Krindle (convert unsuccessful) 60’ 52-15
