The University of Victoria Vikes menB次元官网网址檚 rugby team scored 29 straight points in the second half of their game against Concordia University to claim bronze at the Canadian University MenB次元官网网址檚 Rugby Championship in front of a home crowd, Sunday.
B次元官网网址淲e made hard work of it,B次元官网网址� said Vikes head coach Doug Tate. B次元官网网址淭hey [Concordia] struggled in the tournament last year and I thought they have really improved. All the credit to them. They played very physically. I thought they outplayed us in the first 40 minutes or so.B次元官网网址�
In fact, the Vikes found themselves trailing 14-5 at the half and the Stingers pushed their margin to 21-5 with a converted try early in the second half.
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But an untimely yellow card and injuries dulled the momentum of Stingers, as Vikes stormed back.
B次元官网网址淔itness kind of kicked in,B次元官网网址� said Tate, who also saw his teamB次元官网网址檚 second-half performance as a form of a redemption for their 15-8 semi-final loss against QueenB次元官网网址檚 University. B次元官网网址淭he guys were at home and kind of embarrassed a little bit. They played poorly against QueenB次元官网网址檚 on Thursday. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the main thing.B次元官网网址�
Of the four straight tries that the Vikes scored during the second half, none was likely more exciting than the 65-yard-scoring run by Brenning Provost that gave UVic the lead at 24-21 lead.
B次元官网网址淗e hasnB次元官网网址檛 been playing for us for a while, because he has been injured,B次元官网网址� said Tate of Provost, who was named the VikesB次元官网网址� MVP along with Oliver Nott. B次元官网网址淏ut he really made a difference in this game. He had some good breaks, cut them up pretty, and scored a beautiful try.B次元官网网址�
With SundayB次元官网网址檚 victory, the Vikes finished third after having finished second last year to the University of British Columbia.
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While finishing on winning note, Tate said the team was disappointed about its performance in the semis against QueenB次元官网网址檚 in front of a home crowd with a chance to go to the gold medal game.
But he also added that this yearB次元官网网址檚 team had five first-year players in suggesting that this team has not yet fulfilled its potential.
UBC and QueenB次元官网网址檚 are currently meeting in the final.
wolfgang.depner@saanichnews.com
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