Thunderbirds win bronze at the Canadian University Men's Rugby ...

4 hours ago

UBC Thunderbirds

It was a high-scoring affair at Ottawa's Matt Anthony Field, and when the dust settled the UBC Thunderbirds came away with a 47-40 win and bronze medal over the Guelph Gryphons.

Rugby - Figure 1 — Photo UBC Thunderbirds

The seven tries for the T-Birds were scored by seven different players, as they spread the offence around. Talon McMullin got a try while making six of his seven converts, and was named Player of the Game for UBC.

Alastair Marshall got the 'Birds going just a couple minutes in, dragging three defenders behind him as he scored the try. Emmett Allan doubled the lead in the 7th minute, as the Thunderbirds showed off the power they have in their front line with a big group effort pushing the ball forward.

Joe McNulty made it 21-0 less than 10 minutes in, finishing off the play after Caden Wilson made a great run up the middle that stopped just short of the line.

Down big early, the Gryphons began to find their footing as the half wore on. They were able to capitalize on a dropped ball from the T-Birds to get on the board with a try in the 22nd, although McMullin answered right back with one just a few minutes later.

UBC thought they had a fifth try of the half right before the break, when Stephen Webb dove into the corner of the try zone. But the play was ruled out due to a T-Birds penalty, which took the two teams into halftime with a score of 28-7.

Rugby - Figure 2 — Photo UBC Thunderbirds

Benjamin Beauchamp started the second half strong with a try in the 33rd, and that one did stand to extend the UBC lead out to 28 points.

From there though, the Gryphons began a comeback bid. They scored two tries in five minutes midway through the second half to cut the deficit in half.

Tate Hartley notched another score for the T-Birds in the 45th, which began a run of four tries scored between the two teams in just seven minutes. Ben Martin got on the board for the Thunderbirds during the flurry, which resulted in a 47-33 advantage for UBC heading into the final few minutes.

The 'Birds were able to see out the game from there, with Guelph scoring a consolation try on the final play of the game to make it just a seven-point difference on the scoreboard in the end.

The victory means the T-Birds continue to have medaled at every CUMRC tournament, earning their first bronze.

They play one more game before the winter break, at home against Pacific Pride in BC Premier League action. That clash begins at 2:30 p.m. (PT) on November 30th at the Gerald McGavin UBC Rugby Centre. SCORING SUMMARY FIRST HALF UBC: Try Alastair Marshall (Talon McMullin conversion) – 3' UBC: Try Emmett Allan (Talon McMullin conversion) – 7' UBC: Try Joe McNulty (Talon McMullin conversion) – 19' GUE: Try Brenden Black (Tomas Dallan conversion) – 22' UBC: Try Talon McMullin (Talon McMullin conversion) – 25'

Rugby - Figure 3 — Photo UBC Thunderbirds

SECOND HALF UBC: Try Benjamin Beauchamp (Talon McMullin conversion) – 32' GUE: Try Tomas Dallan (Tomas Dallan conversion) – 33' GUE: Try Tadiwanashe Murewa (conversion missed) – 40' UBC: Try Tate Hartley (conversion missed) – 45' GUE: Try David Scollon (Tomas Dallan conversion) – 47' UBC: Try Ben Martin (Talon McMullin conversion) – 49' GUE: Try David Scollon (Tomas Dallan conversion) – 52' GUE: Try Augustus Murphy (Tomas Dallan conversion) – 60'

Players Mentioned

Emmett Allan Flanker/Hooker 6' 0" 3rd