VICTORIA – Seven Vikes went over for tries on Saturday afternoon and with an 18-point kicking contribution from captain Dave Spicer, the UVic Vikes men’s rugby team captured their 2010 Premier League opener over the Bayside Sharks 53-32.
Combined with lethal runs by the backline, the forwards stole the show controlling the break down as four of the tight five went over for tries.
After going down 12-3 early on, the Vikes responded with a 27 point run with tries from
Toby Peyton,
Ryan Hamilton,
Jamie Mackenzie and
Brett Beukeboom.
Bayside looked dangerous with the ball out wide and centres Brodie Henderson and Isimeli Sigarua continued to break the Vikes’ defensive line.
Despite a valiant second half effort with tries from Sigarua, Shawn Pittman and Cass Conklin, the Sharks had no answer for the Vikes’ staunch defending and ability to turn pressure into points.
“The thing that really changed the game was we took their two centres out of it,” Vikes head coach
Doug Tate said. “When we denied them possession it made for a pretty good game.“
After the Vikes found their rhythm Keenan Horton,
Ben Grant and
Toni Wodzicki each went over to secure the home opener victory. Spicer went 8-11 on his attempts between the uprights to notch a game-high 18 points.
Saturday’s victory saw the Vikes put 50 plus points on the board for a second week in a row after downing the UBC Thunderbirds 50-15 in the first leg of the Wightman Boot series on January 23rd.
The Vikes take a break from Premier League action next week when they head south to take on the no. 3 University of Utah Utes and Arizona Selects in a two game exhibition tour. Their Premier season resumes against Cowichan on February 20th at Wallace Field.
Scoring Summary
First Half: UVic 34, Bayside 12
Final: UVic 53, Bayside 32
UVic Vikes Scoring
Tries: Toby Peyton, Ryan Hamilton, Jamie MacKenzie, Brett Beukeboom, Keenan Horton, Ben Grant, Toni Wodzicki
Conversions: Dave Spicer x 6
Penalties: Dave Spicer x2
Bayside Scoring
Tries: Jason Blaak, Brodie Henderson, Shawn Pittman, Isimeli Sigarua, Cass Conklin
Conversions: Eric Sugawara x2
Penalties: Eric Sugawara