LANGLEY, B.C. – Playing the top-ranked team in the country, No. 7-ranked Trinity Western lost 45-12 against UBC on a rainy Saturday afternoon at the Langley Rugby Club.
The Spartans hung with the Thunderbirds through the first 25 minutes, trailing 14-12 with both teams having scored two tries apiece, but a pair of UBC tries before halftime put the visitors ahead 28-12 at the break.
The T-Birds added three more tries in the second half.
Joe Goroza scored TWU's first try of the contest in the 15th minute and
Liam Olafsen dotted down eight minutes later with a brilliant kick and chase try, with
Matthew Willemse kicking the conversion.
Saturday's result was a marked improvement over the Spartans first meeting with UBC when TWU lost 76-0 in Vancouver.
SCORING SUMMARY
6' – UBC Try – 7-0 UBC
15' – TWU Try – Joe Goroza – 7-5 UBC
18' – UBC Try – 14-5 UBC
23' – TWU Try –
Liam Olafsen (
Matthew Willemse convert) 14-12 UBC
28' – UBC Try – 21-12 UBC
35' – UBC Try – 28-12 UBC
58' – UBC Try – 35-12 UBC
73' – UBC Try – 40-12 UBC
80' – UBC Try – 45-12 UBC
QUOTABLE
Andrew Evans, TWU Head Coach
"Our men played a solid game against UBC today and we were much improved from our first outing. To see how far the team has come in a short period of time is encouraging. Our first and second-year players continue to impress, and our senior players as well, especially, Ben Bjorndal,
Caleb Graham and
Josh Halladay, who all had very strong performances in the contact area, which helped the team set the tone early.
"We are a team of incredibly hard working men who are seeing progress each week. We are enjoying the challenge of playing great teams like UBC and we're thankful for another opportunity at UVIC next weekend.
"We have so much to be thankful for. For all the parents, friends, family, and professors in our Spartans lives, we are grateful for you. Happy thanksgiving to the Spartan Faithful."
UP NEXT
TWU will play Victoria Oct. 18 at Wallace Field in the final game of TWU's BC-based fall semester.
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 and women's and men's disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 14 U SPORTS team championships and 34 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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