Oct. 8, 2024

revenge win//

T-Birds take down Vikes in last regular season game

Words by Maia Cesario, Photos by Tiana Khandelwal

A female rugby player with blonde hair is carrying the ball in a navy blue jersey kit. She is trying to break through a tackle made by another rugby player, wearing a light blue and yellow jersey kit. Three other players in navy blue jerseys are in the frame, facing away from the camera. The background is a lush green outdoor rugby pitch, with the goalposts in the centre of the photo.
A T-Bird breaks through a Vikes tackle. Tiana K K / The Ubyssey

UBC’s women’s rugby toppled the University of Victoria Vikes 17–8 in their last home game at the Gerald McGavin Rugby Centre on Saturday. 

After UVic gave UBC their first regular season loss in five years, beating them 22–17 in the season opener, the Thunderbirds were looking for revenge — and they got it. Both teams played with fire, but ultimately UBC with a chip on their shoulder wanted it more and played a strong game, especially defensively, to get the win. 

“Going into this game, we felt way more prepared,” said UBC’s Savannah Bauder, a fifth-year and the 2023 U Sports Women’s Rugby Player of the Year. Bauder had a great game scoring 12 points — 2 tries and 1 convert. 

The T-Birds scored early in the game with a try by Olivia Sarabura in the 16th minute, and an unsuccessful convert by Bauder. For the rest of the first half, both teams struggled to break through each other's defence. Until, UVic’s Maddy Grant scored with a penalty kick in the 38th minute, bringing the scoreboard up to 5–3 going into the half. 

In the second half, the Thunderbirds started to pull away with the game. Bauder got the ball off a scrum and cut through the defence with an impressive run to score a try in the 43rd minute. UVic looked desperate to close the gap and got close with intense gameplay right by UBC’s tryline, but the Thunderbirds' sharp defence stopped UVic. 

“I think defence won us the game today, and I know [head coach] Dean [Murten] is gonna be proud of us,” Bauder said. 

The Vikes’ Carissa Norsten got a late try in the 70th minute and, with a missed convert by Grant, UVic was now trailing by 2. However, Bauder came through again with a pivotal play to hold the Vikes off.

She got an interception in the 75th minute, racing down the field for a try. Her convert was good and the ‘Birds held strong for the last few minutes to get the 17–8 win.

For their last regular season game UBC went out on a great note, ending with a 4–1 record. Now the ‘Birds will have a small break before starting the Canada West playoffs in Calgary on October 17. 

Bauder said the team’s mindset getting ready for playoffs is about putting the regular season behind them and starting fresh. 

“Anything can change so [we’re] just building, looking forward, looking up.”

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Maia Cesario author

Tiana Khandelwal photographer

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