VICTORIA - Despite key efforts from winger Beau Parker the Castaway Wanderers were able to hold on to a 28-27 lead and come out with the win on Saturday Jan. 28 in Oak Bay. 

The Wanderers asserted their dominance in the scrum from the very first set but it was the Vikes' Dustin Dobravsky who crossed the line first. Stand-off Patrick Kay converted the try to put the UVic side up 7-0.

The first half was full of back and forth pressure. The Wanderers lack of creativity on attack allowed the Vikes defence to set up and continually stop any advances that came towards them. Along with Dobravsky, winger Beau Parker also touched down for the Vikes in the first half. Parker was able to recovery a missed pass from the Castaways back line. With the defending fullback in the attack line Parker had a clear 80 metre run for the try line. Slotting the convert and following it with a successful penalty kick, Kay brought the Vikes half time score to a total of 20. 

The consistent pressure from the Wanderers, allowed them to cross the line twice. Both kicks were converted by stand-off Matt Buckley. The Vikes entered the half time break leading the Wanderers 20-14. 

The UVic men were able to score one more time before the final whistle. Once again Parker would cross the line for the Vikes. Parker recovered a blocked kick from scrum half Tony LaCarte and side-stepped the defence to a 50 metre try. Kay once again would make the convert, bringing the Vikes total to 27.

Unfortunately a late starting Castaways side was able to rally in the second half. Former Vikes player and Castaways captain Andrew Tiedemann was one of two players to score for the Wanderers in the final 20 minutes. 

Evasive running by Parker and LaCarte in the final minutes kept the home crowd on edge but it was not enough to pull the Vikes ahead. 

Although it wasn't the result they were looking for, head coach #Doug Tate# was still positive about the way his team performed.

"Beau Parker was excellent. He beat about five people to get down there. Its disappointing but based on the pressure in the front row I think we did quite well" commented Tate after the game. 

The Vikes ended the game with a one point deficit in a 28-27 final. 

The Vikes will continue with their CDI Premier play Feb. 4 when they take on Burnaby Lake Rugby Club in Burnaby. 

UVIC Scorers:

Dustin Dobravsky (1 try)

Patrick Kay (1 drop goal, 1 penalty kick, 3 converts)

Beau Parker (2 try)

Castaway Scorers:

Jon Morrison (1 try)

Matt Buckley (4 converts)

Hubert Buydens(1 try)

Andrew Tiedemann (1 try)

Dylan Jones (1 try)