LANGLEY, British Columbia – The No. 2 Victoria Vikes dominated the No. 6 Memorial Sea-Hawks to earn a 47-19 win in the first semi-final match at the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship Friday afternoon at the Willoughby Community Park Stadium at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The win advances the Vikes to Sunday’s national championship match.
Rhys Patterson with six conversions, and Phoenix Moller with two tries led the Vikes attack, with Muiredach Casey, Shjane Rikley-Krindle, Alex Gamage, Ryder Heaney-Corns, Logan Burt and Dylan Cleaver each adding single tries. Jared Gavin, James Clarke, and Mudiwa Makanza all had tries for Memorial, while Clarke added two conversions to his totals.
AS IT HAPPENED
Memorial had the first scoring opportunity at 3:50, but Patrick Parfrey’s PK attempt went wide of the mark to keep the match scoreless. Victoria’s Casey opened the scoring with a converted try at 9:15 to put the Vikes up 7-0. Memorial’s Jared Gavin responded with a converted try at 14:45 to tie the match at 7-7. The Sea-Hawks took the lead, 14-7, at 24:20 with a converted try from Jack McCarthy. The Vikes countered quickly with a try by Alex Gamage to cut the Sea-Hawks lead to two points, 14-12. As time was running out Victoria’s Phoenix Moller finished the opening half’s scoring with a converted try to send the Vikes into the locker room with a 19-14 lead.
The Vikes extended their lead to 12 points, 26-14, with a converted try by Moller to open the second half. The Sea-Hawks kept battling with Mudiwa Makanza scoring a try to make the score 26-19 for the Vikes with 9:15 remaining in the match. The Vikes broke open the contest with two straight tries, Rikley-Krindle at 44:20, and Heaney-Corns at 50:15 to take a 21-point, 40-19, lead. Victoria’s Logan Burt concluded the match with a converted try to make the final 47-19 and seal their position in the national championship final on Sunday.
UP NEXT
No. 2 Victoria will now play in the championship match at 5 p.m. Sunday against the winner of No. 1 UBC and No. 5 Guelph. While No. 6 Memorial will play against the loser in the bronze medal match at 2 p.m.
First Half
VIC – Try, 7 Muiredach Casey, 9:15, 5-0
VIC – Con, 10 Rhys Patterson, 10:25, 7-0
MEM – Try, 14 Jared Gavin, 14:45, 7-5
MEM – Con, 15 James Clarke, 15:50, 7-7
MEM – Try, 11 Jack McCarthy, 24:20, 7-12
MEM – Con, 15 James Clarke, 24:50, 7-14
VIC – Try, 15 Alex Gamage, 26:15, 12-14
VIC – Try, 1 Phoenix Moller, 30:00, 17-14
VIC – Con, 10 Rhys Patterson, 30:00, 19-14
Second Half
VIC – Try, 1 Phoenix Moller, 35:10, 24-14
VIC – Con, 10 Rhys Patterson, 36:00, 26-14
MEM – Try, 16 Mudiwa Makanza, 40:45, 26-19
VIC – Try, 13 Shane Rikley-Krindle, 44:20, 31-19
VIC – Con, 10 Rhys Patterson, 45:20, 33-19
VIC – Try, 20 Ryder Heaney-Corns, 50:15, 38-19
VIC – Con, 10 Rhys Patterson, 51:00, 40-19
VIC – Try, 22 Logan Burt, 60:00, 45-19
VIC – Con, 10 Rhys Patterson, 60:00, 47-19
Final
Memorial – 19
Victoria– 40
Players of the Match
Memorial: 9 Lucas Shortall
Victoria: 3 Owen Kkan
-TW-
