SQUAMISH, B.C. – Trinity Western University's men's rugby team improved to 4-0 in BC Rugby's Division 2 with a 24-17 win over Axemen Rugby Club Saturday afternoon.
TWU's
Ethan Bernardin (Langley, B.C.) scored a try early and the Spartans never trailed throughout the contest, scoring three tries to earn the victory.
Lynden Duggan (Burnaby, B.C.) and
Matthew Willemse (Pietermaritzburg, South Africa) also tallied tries for the visiting Spartans. Additionally, Willemse knocked through two penalties, while
Jan Lourens (Smoky Lake, Alta.) also slotted a penalty. Axemen Rugby Club responded with three tries, but were unable to keep up from the tee.
AS IT HAPPENED
Bernardin opened the scoring with an unconverted try, but the Axemen struck back with a try of their own to tie the match 5-5. Then, it was Duggan scoring a try that gave TWU the lead for good. Willemse extended the Spartans advantage to 15-5 before kicking a penalty shortly thereafter to put the Spartans ahead by 13.
A pair of tries from the Axemen kept the home side in the contest, but penalties from Willemse and then Lourens sealed the win for TWU.
NOTABLE
· TWU has an overall record of 5-8 against all competition this season.
· The Spartans went 2-0 against Axemen Rugby Club this spring, including a 34-17 win at home earlier this year.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will return home for their final two homes games of the season, as TWU hosts Surrey Beavers April 2 and United Rugby Club April 9 at Willoughby Community Park. Both games are scheduled to be streamed online on the TWU Spartans YouTube channel.
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 12 U SPORTS team championships and 29 Canada West team championships.
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