Vancouver, BC - The Victoria VIkes scored 22 unanswered points to defeat the UBC Thunderbirds and punch their ticket to the Canada West women's rugby final four with a 22-10 victory Saturday afternoon at Frank Buck Field.
Down 10-0 15 minutes into the game, the Vikes scored a pair of uncovered tries before the end of the first half to even the score at 10-10. Gurpreet Dhaliwal and Julia Folk scored for the Vikes.
In the second half the visitors continued to press and UBC's defence did not have an answer. In the 54th minute Dhaliwal crossed the line for her second try of the game set up on a nice play by Folk who broke free from would be Thunderbirds tacklers before dumping it off to Dhaliwal. Victoria led 17-10.
Taken advantage of a poor line out by UBC, fifth-year prop Jaiden Parhar rounded out the scoring for the Vikes, touching down in the 63rd minute and extending Victoria's lead to 22-10.
UBC drove into Victoria territory with their sights set on cutting into the lead in 77th minute, but the Vikes defence would stand tall denying the Thunderbirds and earning a 22-10 victory.
"I'm disappointed with the outcome," said UBC head coach Maria Gallo. "We came out hard in the first 10 minutes, we dominated, but then something happened mentally and there definitely was a change. They had something to risk, which was a trip to the Canada West final four, we had it in the bag so maybe maybe that was the difference. We didn't think we had to fight hard to win the game and they just outworked us."
The Thunderbirds opened up the scoring in the eighth minute as fourth-year scrum half Megan Hamm punched it in to put UBC in front 7-0. Paige Smith would add a penalty goal in the 15th minute to give the Thunderbirds a 10-0 lead.
With the win the Vikes earn a trip to the Canada West final four. Both Victoria and Lethbridge finished the year 1-3, but the Vikes earned more bonus points given for scoring four or more tries in a game (which they did Saturday) or losing by seven points or less.
The Thunderbirds meanwhile finish the regular season 2-2 and will now have two weeks to rest up for the Canada West Final Four in Calgary, October 17-19.
UBC looks forward to the break to rest up. They have already lost Haley Glendinning due to injury and Carolyn McEwen left Saturday's game after the first half.
"We have a couple of serious injuries we have to heal, so over the two-week break we will monitor their bodies and keep practices short, but intense so we still have that competitive mindset. However, we will definitely be managing our players so we will be good to go in two weeks time," said Gallo.
SCORING SUMMARY
8th - Megan Hamm try (Paige Smith convert) 7-0 UBC
15th - Paige Smith penalty goal 10-0 UBC
25th - Gurpreet Dhaliwal try (convert failed) 10-5 UBC
32nd - Julia Folk try (convert failed ) 10-10
54th - Gurpreet Dhaliwal try (Jess Neilson convert) 17-10 Victoria
63rd - Jaiden Parhar try (convert failed) 22-10 Victoria
