VICTORIA, B.C. – The University of Victoria Vikes men's rugby team came away with a hard-earned victory, 29-20, against island rivals James Bay Athletics Association on Jan. 31 at Wallace Field. The win puts the Vikes at a 6-2-1 record in the CDI Premier League standings while James Bay fall to a 7-5-3 record.
 
"James Bay played the way we expected, dangerously, but we kept our pace lively," said Vikes men's rugby assistant coach Rick Farrally. "We did a good job of matching the intensity and tackling thoroughly to win this game big."
 
First-half possession favoured the Bays who opened the score within the opening two minutes of play. Winger Brandon Harrison was awarded a penalty and put James Bay up 3-0 to set the pace.
 
The Vikes quickly got to their efficient passing game and were instantly rewarded when team captain Remi Anctil broke through a structured James Bay defence to score the team's first try. Fullback Fergus Hall successfully converted to lift the Vikes into the lead, 7-3.
 
Possession was back and forth as the match progressed, with both teams finding opportunities to near the score line. Vike Macbryan Bos showed his individual skills, dodging past the Bays mid-way up the field, edging the Vikes closer to the end zone. The Vikes were unsuccessful at penetrating James Bay's experienced back line and would pay for those missed opportunities.
 
Veteran scrumhalf Spencer Dalziel was key for the Bays. After several successful passing sequences, it was only a matter of time before Dalziel scored a try. Teammate Harrison secured the convert to put the Bays back in the driver's seat, up 10-7.
 
The Vikes pushed back hard with some gritty offensive efforts from UVic's Doug Fraser, while Luke McCloskey utilized his speed for a few runs down the sidelines. There was little room to gain thanks to a tightly defensive James Bay squad but the relentless Vikes pursued for an unconverted try and a 12-10 lead.
 
The Bays replied with a try of their own to lead 15-12 at halftime.
 
In the second half nearly fifteen minutes went by before any points were put up. It was the home that showed some excellent maneuvers to free up Hall. The second year swiveled past the Bays front lines to create room, while Anctil and Fraser made room for lock Shea Wakefield to freely touch down. The Vikes went up 17-15.
 
The Bays were hungry for a try and soon were rewarded, but it was again unconverted. Vince Herlaar was the scoring culprit for the Bays. For the remaining twenty minutes, the Vikes asserted themselves well as eight-man Dustin Dobravsky pelted past the Bays for a spectacular try. Hall finished with the convert to put the Vikes 24-20.
 
Stewart capped the game with an unconverted try for the Vikes, who enjoyed their comeback win of 29-20.
 
The Vikes will take a two-week break from Premier play as they head to Germany to match up against two rugby clubs - Hessen RU in Heusenstamm and Baden-Wuerttemberg RU in Pforzheim-Eutingen. The Vikes will return to CDI premier play on Feb. 21 with a road trip to visit Burnaby Lake.
 
SCORING LEADERS
UVIC:
Remi Anctil: 1 Try
Dustin Dobravsky: 1 Try
Shea Wakefield: 1 Try
Crosby Stewart: 1 try
Macbryan Bos: 1 Try
Fergus Hall: 2 Converts
 
JBAA:
Spencer Dalziel: 1 Try
Vince Herlaar: 1 Try
Brandon Harrison: 1 Try, 1 convert, 1 PK