Two Important University Matches Kick Off the Season in BC: Men UBC v TWU and Women UVic v UBC – Friday Night UBC 66 – TWU 0; Saturday Vikes Women Dominate UBC
The BC Premier kicks off next weekend, and a chance to see what the rosters will look like for the new season but this weekend gives us a taste of things to come with two important university matches. For the men it’s a first look at UBC and TWU head to head, their game is on today at 6pm at the Ken Woods Field at UBC . TWU are hosting the university championships this year so have an automatic berth but UBC will have to battle UVic for the remaining one BC spot left. On the women’s side it’s the top two contenders for the women’s university title this year and they go head to head on Saturday at 1pm at Wallace Field.
UBC 66 v TWU 0 @ 6pm Friday
Venue: Ken Woods Field, UBC
After TWU ran up the score on UBC Okanagan last weekend, this weekend gives another perspective as UBC pounded TWU 66-0. It sets the background scenario for the first UBC v UVic match next weekend to see who will join hosts TWU at the Canadian University Championship in November. BC are only awarded one spot this year outside of the automatic berth for the host university. In central Canada, Queen’s are visiting ETS this weekend, that result will shed some light on the relative strength of those programs.
PREGAME
UBC missing a few players from last season. Relmu Wilson-Valdes, Graeme Francolini, Aidan Sutherland not showing in the first roster of the new season, possibly graduating from the program. Cody Nhanala, Liam James, Stephen Webb are with the Canada men’s team in Japan. TWU missing a few names from last season Matt Willemse, Fynn Murphy, Jan Lourens, Ethan Jurgeneit, Josh Halladay, David Wegert. TWU did post that Fynn Murphy made the Canada Rugby League team that toured Europe. TWU gave UBC Okanagan a hiding 72-0 last week, so this match will give a better idea of the program strength going into the university championships in November.
UBC Starting XV
1 Jacob Blackwood
2 Ethan McCarthy
3 Charlie Clark
4 Alex Muir
5 Joe McNulty (CC)
6 Callum Arnesen
7 Max Birtley
8 Liam Kinghorn
9 Ronan Graham
10 James Biss (CC)
11 Lenny Bonduau
12 William Barrett
13 Alastair Marshall (CC)
14 Elijah Palov
15 Max McGavern
16 Josh Du Toit
17 Ethan Samuels
18 Kevin Griffiths
19 Sandon Gupta
20 Ewan Webber-Smith
21 Caleb Seumanutafa
22 Liam Turnbull
23 Milo Knights
TWU Starting XV
1 Dominik Krajsek
2 Joe Goroza
3 Tim Zimmer
4 Caleb Whitton
5 Martin Zubiri
6 Dallin Westerlund
7 Benard Bjorndal
8 Caleb Graham (C)
9 Brady Howlett
10 Bernabé Sosa Rey
11 Liam Olafsen
12 Jacob Goroza
13 Cayden McCullough
14 Connor Gibbons
15 Liam De Goede
16 José Galicia Guasch
17 Santiago Acuña
18 D’Angelo Bothma
19 Tristan Walde
20 Abraham Okunlola
21 Colton Boychuk
22 Ken Paul
23 Josh Galant
UVic 43 v UBC 25 @ 1pm, Saturday
Venue: Wallace Field, UVic
Report from Vikes Media
The University of Victoria women’s rugby team took down provincial rival UBC Thunderbirds, 43-25, in the season opener on September 9 at Wallace Field.
In the third minute, the Vikes were the first to make a charge on offence. A strong push up the middle got the Vikes deep in the Thunderbirds’ zone. The ball was kicked out to Olivia Newsome, who dashed into the try zone with little resistance. Newsome, who had herself an all-star level 7s season, made an emphatic start to this provincial rivalry. Maggie Mackinnon finished off the kick to give the Vikes an early 7-0 lead over the Canada West preseason top seed, UBC.
It did not take long for Newsome to add to her imprint on the game. Newsome grabbed the ball from Kyla Warren at midfield and broke outside the Thunderbird defenders. Newsome sprinted down the sideline untouched and into the try zone for her second try in the first ten minutes. The try put the Vikes in front 12-0 nine minutes into the match.
Sarah MacPherson capped off a long Thunderbirds’ offensive possession as she converted a penalty to grab three points, bringing UBC within eight.
Cypress Des Ormeaux Schmidt chased down the ball off a Thunderbirds turnover and broke through midfield on a clear breakaway. Cypress danced her way into the try zone for her first try as a Vike in 15s. Olivia Newsome nailed the conversion to retake momentum and extend the Vikes’ lead to 19-3.
In the 36th minute, the Thunderbirds barrelled their way over the try line to score their first of the Canada West season. The score brought the T-Birds back, making the score 19-8 as the game approached halftime.
Eight minutes into the second half, Cypress Des Ormeaux Schmidt kicked the ball down the UBC side and beat the UBC defenders to the loose ball. As Cypress seized possession, there was no T-Bird left to beat, and she glided into the try zone for her second of the game. The score energized the large crowd and put the Vikes up 24-8 with just over a half hour to play.
In the 62nd minute, the Thunderbirds found the try zone for the second time in the match, cutting into the Vikes’ lead. Just three minutes later, UBC was back on the attack. With the T-Birds on the brink of scoring another try, the Vikes made a push on defence. The Thunderbirds scored and brought the Vikes’ lead to single digits for the first time since the beginning stages of the match.
In the 70th minute, Maddy Grant took over. Grant showed off her speed, bursting through T-Bird defenders for her first try of the game. Just four minutes later, Grant caught a pass from Emilie Brett and would not be taken down. Grant scored her second try and converted her second kick, scoring 14 points herself in five minutes.
With time set to expire, UBC punched in one last try, bringing the final score to 43-25 for the Vikes.
Notables:
This win is the first of the season for the Vikes and gives UBC their first loss as the teams move to 1-0 and 0-1, respectively.
The Vikes will return to action at Wallace Field against the Lethbridge Pronghorns on September 12 at 1:00 p.m.
UVic Women
1 Kira Smed
2 Kendra Cousineau*
3 Sasha McKee
4 Emma Grootendorst
5 Emilie Nicholl*
6 Kyla Warren
7 Brooke Horsfall*
8 Emily Findlay
9 Emilie Sinclair
10 Elle Douglas
11 Cypress Des Ormeaux Schmidt*
12 Maggie MacKinnon
13 Maddy Grant
14 Gwen King
15 Olivia Newsome
16 Remee Brown
17 Hana Veysi
18 Samara Sadden
19 Akwaima Akpan*
20 Piper Walsh
21 Celia Probe
22 Claudia Vallance*
23 Macy Wiebe
24 Emilie Brett
25 Marin O’Regan*
* debuts
UBC Women
1. ALLI DOBSON
2. SAV PELLETIER
3. ANGEL BOSWELL
4. JESSE KNAGGS
5. ANYA PROKOPICH
6. POPPY-ANNE ELCOCK
7. ANNA PLATE*
8. SIERRA HASSE*
9. SARA TEHRANI
10. SARAH MACPHERSON
11. ADIA PYE
12. LANA DUECK
13. BELLE ROUSSEAU
14. TIA JORDO
15. PIPER LOGAN
16. ABI STANLEY
17. CHENUKI DE ZOYA*
18. MAYA NOWOTNY
19. RUBY KALTIANEN*
20. MEREDITH MACDOUGALL*
21. ELLA KIRK
22. SAYLOR PICKRELL*
23. TENI EPEMOLU*
24. GERRY ATKINS*
*debuts