WINDSOR PARK – The undefeated UVic Vikes men’s rugby team captured their fifth straight B.C. Premier League win on Saturday afternoon edging the Castaway Wanderers in a tight 36-32 contest.
For the third straight match,
Nathan Hirayama led all Vikes scorers notching a try, three converts and a penalty. The pack held strong edging their cross-town rivals at the breakdown and front row players Andrew Tiedemann and Ryan Hamilton each went over for tries.
Canadian international scrum half
Phil Mack earned player of the match honours and showed just how dangerous the Vikes can be with the perfect 9-10-11 combination.
“Phil Mack played outstanding for us today,” Vikes head coach
Doug Tate said. “His feeds out to Hirayama and [Dave] Spicer allowed us to play our game of shifting it out wide.”
With the Vikes leading down the stretch, the physical contest boiled over with both Hirayama and Ben Grant sent to the bin for a scuffle. With 13 players on the pitch, the Vikes held on and escaped with their tightest win of the spring season.
The Vikes now head to the mainland next weekend to take on reigning B.C. champs Meralomas. A win over the undefeated Lomas next Saturday could see the Vikes climb as high as second place heading into the second half of the season.
Scoring Summary
Full Time: UVic 36, CW 32
UVic Vikes Scoring (36)
Tries: Nathan Hirayama,
Andrew Tiedemann, Ryan Hamilton
Conversions: Nathan Hirayama x3
Penalties:
David Spicer x4, Nathan Hirayama