ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – Trinity Western's men's rugby team will play in the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship (CUMRC) for the first time in program history, after earning the wild card entry with a 40-19 win over UBC Okanagan Saturday at Exhibition Park. 
 
Taking on the Heat, who play against Prairie teams throughout the season, for the first time this year, the Spartans raced out to a 32-0 lead at the break and rolled from there to take a 21-point win. 
 
TWU will now enter the CUMRC for the first time in program history and, as the No. 8 seed, will play No. 1 seeded Victoria in the quarter-finals Nov. 30 at 11 a.m. (PT) at UBC's Thunderbird Stadium. 
 
Tamilore Awonusi (Dublin, Ireland) scored two tries for the Spartans, while Scott Bowers (New Westminster, B.C.), Favour Olaniyan (Gibsons, B.C.) and Jan Louren (Smoky Lake, Alta.) dotted down once apiece for TWU.
 
The Spartans Matthew Willemse (Langley, B.C.) slotted three penalties and three conversions. 
 
QUOTABLE
Andrew Evans – Director of Rugby
"Our starting players had very good composure. They were able to operate how we trained all week and made some good decisions and we were able to get into their 22 and come away with points. We respect UBC Okanagan and so Matt made some penalty kicks and then we were able to break through and score a few tries. Our set piece was good for us today. 
 
"We weren't as clinical in the second half, but credit to UBCO, they played well and I think their centres are right up there amongst the best in the country. They really played well in the second half and we allowed a few tries because our defence wasn't good enough. We need to keep working hard and we can't have times of complacency at nationals or we won't be where we want to be. 
 
"Looking forward, I think we can compete with all the teams at nationals. We play UVIC first and they are a very, very good team and they're ranked No. 1 for a reason, but I think this year, we showed that we belong and that we deserve a shot at nationals. From the very beginning, we wanted to play the best and that's exactly what we get on Nov. 30th against Victoria. 
 
NOTABLE
·       TWU previously played UBCO in the Spartans first men's 15s match of the program's current iteration, beating the Heat 43-20 Nov. 2, 2019. 
·       The Spartans are 0-3 all-time against their quarter-final opponent Victoria, but have been close in all three contests, losing 36-25 last year and falling 42-39 and 35-26 earlier this fall.  
 
UP NEXT
TWU plays UVIC in the CUMRC Championship. Kick-off is at 11 a.m. (PT) at Thunderbird Stadium on the campus of UBC. 
 
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 13 U SPORTS team championships and 32 Canada West team championships.
 
About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in CIS sports. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.  
 
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