On Saturday, January 28, the UBC men’s rugby team faced off against the UBC Old Boys Ravens Rugby Club, with a 7-2 overall record and a six-game winning streak, and took the game with the final score at 32-14.
The game was closely fought the whole way through, and things got heated between the players of both clubs and even the fans in the stands — who were not scared to yell out their frustrations with the referees of the match.
The T-Birds entered the game with high emotions coming off their Wightman Boot victory the previous week against the University of Victoria Vikes. The Wightman Boot is a trophy awarded annually to the victor of a match between the two historic and rivalrous rugby teams.
The Ravens were the first to strike, scoring on two kicks and holding the ’Birds well away from the goal line. Both teams played an incredibly defensive game, and the score was kept low throughout the first half and even well into the second half.
At this point it looked like the game was in the bag for the Ravens, having taken on a double-digit lead with time ticking away. It wasn’t until near the end of the game in the second half that the ’Birds were finally able to break through the Ravens' defence.
The Thunderbirds stormed out to score three tries, making two out of the three extra point conversions. Tensions grew to near the point of eruption between the players of both team at this point, as the Ravens fell further behind the ’Birds. The Ravens coaches watched from the end zone of the field, but made sure their voices were heard by players and officials even if play was on the other side.
The Ravens made a last chance attempt to retake the game with just over five minutes left, but their fate was sealed with a final UBC try as the ’Birds took the game 32-14.
The ’Birds will look to prepare for their next game, a Saturday meeting with the Capilano Rugby Club on home turf at Wolfson Field.
The T-Birds will be travelling to California to take on a mix of British Columbia teams as well as the University of California, Berkeley Golden Bears.
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