'Birds power past Pandas behind explosive offence

VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (2-1) rolled to a comfortable 82-19 win over the Alberta Pandas (1-1-1) in the T-Birds' Homecoming Game at the Gerald McGavin UBC Rugby Centre on Thursday afternoon.

The 'Birds scored eight first half tries and added six more in the second half en route to the victory. Alberta had one first half try and two in second half, including the final score of the match.

"We scored some really good tries, some great individual ones, but it's more the team ones that we're trying to work on," said UBC head coach Dean Murten. "We certainly scored a few good team ones today."



It took little time for the T-Birds to get the rowdy Homecoming crowd excited, as barely two minutes in, left wing Charity Williams exploded through the end of the Pandas' line to score opening try. Five minutes later, the 'Birds bashed in a try from the opposite side, with Jaime Dickson finishing a methodical march up the pitch with a seventh minute score. Two minutes after that, Tia Jordo punched one in up the middle to give UBC points in three different parts of the try zone within the first 10 minutes of the match.

The Pandas picked up their play from there, holding the blue and gold off the board for almost 10 minutes while answering with a score of their own. An inspired Alberta ruck 15 yards out saw the Pandas' front line gradually gain ground before Molly Stetsko twisted her way in for a try, followed by a Keira Skrenek convert to cut the UBC advantage to 15-7.

Williams would go on to score two more tries in the half, including a 29^th minute tally featuring a somersault flourish at the finish. Sadie Gluvic and Belle Roussaeu also scored for UBC. The T-Birds took a 44-7 lead into the break.



The second half saw more of the same from the blue and golf, despite subs from both sides. Last week's Canada West Biosteel Player of the Week Adia Pye scored her first try of the game less than two minutes after being subbed in for the final 40. She would go on to score three more tries in the half, two on breakaway runs.

Charity Williams also reached four tries with her own second half score, while Lana Dueck touched down her first try of the season for UBC as well.



The Pandas scored a pair of second half tries, one on a run from Cassandra Schau and a second on a gritty 80^th minute try line push finished off by Maddy Brown; an impressive show of perseverance from an Alberta side that battled to the end.

"We're trying different combinations, we're definitely improving," reflected Murten.

"Some of the youngsters stepped in for three or four regular players that we were missing today. So for some of those young players to come in and show great skill, really move the ball and click together is great to see."
 

Next up for the 'Birds is their final regular season home game, back at the Gerald McGavin UBC Rugby Centre on Saturday, September 27^th against the Lethbridge Pronghorns at 1:00 p.m. (PT). The Pandas continue their west coast trip with a visit to Vancouver Island to take on the Victoria Vikes at 1:00 p.m. (PT) at Wallace Field.

SCORING SUMMARY
               1      2         F
UBC       44    38      82
ALB        7      12      19
 
2' - UBC Try – Charity Williams (Sarah Macpherson convert missed) 5-0 UBC
7' -  UBC try – Jaime Dickson (Macpherson convert missed) 10-0 UBC
9' – UBC try – Tia Jordo (Macpherson convert missed) 15-0 UBC
15' – ALB try – Molly Stetsko (Keira Skrenek convert) 15-7 UBC
18' - UBC try – Jaime Dickson (Macpherson convert missed) 20-7 UBC
29' – UBC try – Charity Williams (Olivia Sarabura convert) 27-7 UBC
32' – UBC try – Sadie Gluvic (Sarabura convert missed) 32-7 UBC
37' – UBC try – Charity Williams (Sarabura convert missed) 37-7 UBC
40' – UBC try – Belle Rouseau (Sarabura convert) 44-7 UBC
HALF
42' – UBC try – Adia Pye (Sarabura convert) 51-7 UBC
47' – ALB try – Cassandra Schau (Skrenek convert) 51-14 UBC
57' – UBC try – Charity Williams (Sarabura convert missed) 56-14 UBC
60' – UBC try – Adia Pye (Sarabura convert) 63-14 UBC
64' – UBC try – Adia Pye (Sarabura convert) 70-14 UBC
68' – UBC try – Adia Pye (Sarabura convert missed) 75-14 UBC
77' – UBC try – Lana Dueck (Sarabura convert) 82-14 UBC
80' – ALB try – Maddy Brown (Skrenek convert missed) 82-19 UBC
 
PENALTY SUMMARY
54' – ALB YC – Cassie Mann

Bonus Points
UBC - 1
ALB - 0