UBCOB Ravens – February 2026

Ravens Edge UBC in Classic Battle: Ravens 33 – UBC 29
Report by Peter MacDonald

Three weeks after an epic game at UBC these same teams took it up a notch at Jericho producing as good a regular season game as you will see in BC. The Ravens prevailed with five tries to UBC’s four but truly the teams are evenly matched and may be heading for a final meeting come playoff time.

UBC came out flying, pushing the pace, sending runner after runner off of rucks at the Ravens, seemingly having more than the allotted 15 men. The Ravens were under pressure for twenty minutes but their defence at the gain line was solid until Relmu Wilson-Valdes found a gap and broke through from ten metres out for a try under the posts, 7-0. The try was a product of good field position arising from a penalty kick to touch following some Raven chirping at referee Assmus. More Raven dissent gave UBC a chip shot penalty and a 10-0 lead at 28 minutes.

The Ravens then answered with two tries through their forwards bookending a fast strike UBC backs try. Frank Carson at first jumper took the ball down and the Raven pack mauled in the first try. At 40 minutes Raven centre Hamish Janes joined the forward attack and took an inside pass from Don Carson in under the posts from 10 metres out. The UBC try came when a Raven popped the ball back into play as he was being forced into touch at midfield. A UBC player caught the ball and in a flash it moved from right to left through the backs to Liam James whose well weighted long grubber was mishandled near the line and UBC tallied in the left corner, 15-12 at the half.

Heading north now the Ravens went to their bread and butter over the next fifteen minutes. two pick and go tries and a penalty try from a fast-moving maul taken down by UBC. But UBC hung tight with two forwards tries of their own and it was 33- 29 to the Ravens at 67 minutes. After UBC held the Ravens at bay for a long spell they made a last push with time running out. They were working toward the Raven line and drawing penalties but in the end a UBC ball carrier was briefly isolated and Raven prop Kaleb Whitelaw was in on the jackal drawing the penalty for not releasing which ended the attack and the game to the Ravens’ relief.

UBC highlights included Cody Nhanala breaking the Raven defence for a fifty-metre ramble, Alastair Marshall’s long run back of an ill-conceived kick , the dynamic #9/10 combo of Webb and Seumanutafa and the smooth running of Liam James. Wilson-Valdes, having sat out the Cal game to accommodate their NCAA visitors was a rested man on a mission with his energy and bite. A lowlight was a UBC coach briefly grabbing the Ravens’ Noah Bain as he was fetching the ball to make a quick lineout and impeding him from doing so! Not sure if that was a professional foul or a brain cramp.

Raven flanker Jake Tierney made a ton of tackles leading the defence with Joe Locke, Ethan Berry and Andrew Coe notable as well. Frank and Don Carson were major factors in the forward attacks as was hooker Riku Konrad back now from injury. Josiah Morra debuted well on left wing and on right wing Cole Keffer put out a few fires and counterattacked from nothing a few times. Reegan O’Gorman with his first game with the club as well slotted into the forwards and gave them a second half boost.

It was old home week in the clubhouse afterwards with former UBC players throughout the Raven lineup. One might say there was a fraternal mood.

The Ravens picked up three wins on the day with the women besting Seattle 60-22 for their first win and the Rippers, led by David Thomson and Marceau Bertin, turning the tables on UBC 30-19 for their long awaited first win as well.

Next week away to Caps will be a big test.