The UBC Thunderbirds got a fast start and kept that momentum going in their Canada West semifinal matchup, downing the Calgary Dinos by a score of 81-7. With the win the T-Birds advance to take on the Victoria Vikes in the championship match for the third year in a row.

It was a very balanced offensive performance for the Thunderbirds, who scored 13 tries from 12 different players. UBC head coach Dean Murten was pleased with his team's performance as they aim to repeat as conference champions.

"We fine-tuned a few things over the last week or so, and some of what we worked on happened today, which was promising," said Murten.



The Thunderbirds came out ready to roll as they laid down two tries within the first ten minutes. Savannah Bauder got her first score of the game in the 4th minute, followed swiftly by Rachel Smith in the 8th to make 14-0 score after a pair of successful conversions.

As the scoring action continued, UBC's Olivia Sarabura caught a fast ball down the line and found a gap between Dinos' defence to loop herself around and into the try zone for a 21-0 lead.
 

RUGBY | UBC heads back to the CW Final ??

The @ubctbirds advance to Sunday's championship game after a convincing win over host Calgary, getting tries from 12 different players.

They'll take on Victoria for the CW title, while the Dinos will battle Lethbridge for bronze. pic.twitter.com/SmGpDJgFhl

— Canada West (@CanadaWest) October 17, 2024

A clever play then landed Jordan McLeod her first try of the game in the 21st minute, as she snuck around the sideline of a throw-in past the Calgary defence. Florence Symonds followed up with the T-Birds' fifth try of the first half in the 29th as she made the score 33-0 after another successful kick by Bauder.

Adia Pye ended the first half with another try for the Thunderbirds, which brought the score to 38-0 as the game headed into halftime.

Within the first minute of the second half, the Thunderbirds were again in the try zone, delivered by Mya Koleba. The conversion was good from Brooklyn Roddham, who took over kicking duties in the second half and made four converts.

UBC kept pouring it on, notching five more tries in a single fifteen-minute period. Charity Williams got the run going before Alexis Dobson, Roddham, Shalaya Valenzuela and Vela Baravian all found the try zone as well.



The Dinos got a score on the board in the 74th to break the shutout, but that was all she wrote as the Thunderbirds closed out the victory. The win sets up a rematch with the Vikes, who defeated Lethbridge 36-10 in the first semifinal of the day.

"It's gonna be a real battle so we gotta match them physically," added Murten, looking ahead to the championship match. "It's gonna be one hell of a game…it'll be a lot of open rugby but a lot of physicality as well."

UBC and UVic split their two regular season meetings, with each team winning at home. The rubber match in Calgary kicks off at 4:00 p.m. (PT) on Sunday, October 20th.
 

SCORING SUMMARY
              1      2    F
UBC      38   43   81
CGY       0      7     7

3' UBC – Savannah Bauder try (Savannah Bauder convert) – 7-0 UBC
8' UBC – Rachel Smith try (Savannah Bauder convert) – 14-0 UBC
18' UBC – Olivia Sarabura try (Savannah Bauder convert) – 21-0 UBC
21' UBC – Jordan McLeod try (convert unsuccessful) – 26-0 UBC
29' UBC – Florence Symonds try (Savannah Bauder convert) – 33-0 UBC
40' UBC – Adia Pye try (convert unsuccessful) – 38-0 UBC
42' UBC – Mya Koleba try (Brooklyn Roddham convert) – 45-0 UBC
48' UBC – Charity Williams try (convert unsuccessful) – 50-0 UBC
51' UBC – Alexis Dobson try (convert unsuccessful) – 55-0 UBC
55' UBC – Brooklyn Roddham try (convert unsuccessful) – 60-0 UBC
58' UBC – Shalaya Valenzuela try (Brooklyn Roddham convert) 67-0 UBC
62' UBC – Vela Baravian try (Brooklyn Roddham convert) – 74-0 UBC
70' UBC – Olivia Sarabura try (Brooklyn Roddham convert) – 81-0 UBC
74' CGY – Willow Beyea try (Ashley Parkson convert) – 81-7 UBC