UVic edges UBC to take Canadian Men’s University title

The University of Victoria has dethroned the University of British Colombia as Canadian Men’s University Champions. A single point was all that separated the two sides at the final whistle of Sunday’s tournament finale that saw the Vikes coming away with the 21-20 win over the Thunderbirds in Montreal.

UBC looked well on their way to a third consecutive national title with a 12-nil lead after 14 minutes. Dan Archer picked up a loose ball and sprinted clear for the first try just four minutes in. The high-tempo attack kept the Vikes on the back foot until Nick Allen muscled his way over from close range, with Jack Scher adding a conversion.

It was UVic captain James O’Neill who inspired his team back from the brink. Sustained pressure forced UBC to concede penalties and Owain Ruttan was sent to the bin. The Vikes were unrelenting until O’Neill’s last-second change of direction put him in under the posts.

He would have a second try just four minutes later, showing remarkable determination to drive through a tackle and fall over the line. Jenner Teufel’s second conversion gave UVic a 14-12 lead at the 30-minute mark of the 60-minute game.

When the teams returned to the pitch it was evenly matched until Scher knocked over a penalty to tilt the score back in UBC’s favor. It was quickly erased by a Nick Carson try. The big No8 powered over from a meter out with Teufel’s extras hitting the mark.

The Thunderbirds were not out of it yet. This time it was UVic’s discipline who was tested, and O’Neill was shown yellow with a minute to play for cynical play at the breakdown. Archer’s wide pass found Evan Norris in space on the right side, but the winger had no chance to curl back in under the posts and left Max Radcliffe with sideline conversion to win the game. The scrumhalf made good contact but the ball drifted agonizingly outside the left upright to the delight of UVic supporters.

In other action, the Queen’s Gaels claimed third place with a 31-22 win over hosts Concordia. Brock took the Consolation Final on Saturday by 26-14 over the McGill Redmen. It’s was rough sailing for the UNB Ironmen, who ended in 8th place after dropping a 79-5 result to the Guelph Gryphons.

 

SCORING

UBC 20
Tries – D. Archer (4’), N. Allen (14’), E. Norris (60’)
Cons – J. Scher 1/2 (15’), M. Radcliffe 0/1
Pens – J. Scher 1/1 (50’)
Yellow cards – O. Ruttan (21’)

UVIC 21
Tries – J. O’Neill 2 (23’, 27’), N. Carson (53’)
Cons – J. Teufel 3/3 (24’, 28’, 54’)
Pens – J. Teufel 0/1
Yellow cards – J. O’Neill (59’)

 

TEAMS

UBC THUNDERBIRDS
1 Nick Frost, 2 Connor Sampson, 3 Bryce Worden, 4 Donald Carson, 5 Liam Doll, 6 Owain Ruttan, 7 Michael Smith (capt.), 8 Nick Allen, 9 Max Radcliffe, 10 Jack Scher, 11 Evan Norris, 12 Flynn Heyes, 13 John Jubenvil, 14 Jake Lan, 15 Dan Archer

UVIC VIKES
1 Spencer Cooper, 2 Carter White, 3 Denver Fatt, 4 Mitchell Wainman, 5 Ben Newhook, 6 Tom Heuser, 7 James O’Neill (capt.), 8 Nick Carson, 9 Jenner Teufel, 10 Logan Martin-Feek, 11 Liam Mahon, 12 Lachlan Kratz, 13 Gabriel Casey, 14 Noah Bain, 15 Liam Morrison

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Moe Chaudhry (Canada)
Assistants: Peter Pender (Canada) & James Acker (Canada)

 

FINAL STANDINGS
1 UVic Vikes
2 UBC Thunderbirds
3 Queen’s Gaels
4 Concordia Stingers
5 Brock Badgers
6 McGill Redmen
7 Guelph Gryphons
8 UNB Ironmen

 

TOURNAMENT ALL-STARS
1 – Guerschom Mukendi (Guelph Gryphons)
2 – Michael Laplaine-Pereira (Concordia Stingers)
3 – Bryce Worden (UBC Thunderbirds)
4 – Michael Nwabufo (McGill Redmen)
5 – Ben Newhook (UVic Vikes)
6 – Donald Carson (UBC Thunderbirds)
7 – James O’Neill (UVic Vikes)
8 – Nick Allen (UBC Thunderbirds)
9 – Dylan Young (Queen’s Gaels)
10 – Logan Martin-Feek (UVic Vikes)
11 – Thomas Goetz (Concordia Stingers)
12 – Aidan McMullan (Concordia Stingers)
13 – Mitch Santilli (Brock Badgers)
14 – Evan Underwood (Queen’s Gaels)
15 – Colin Lynch (Guelph Gryphons)