After making a triumphant return to the CDI Premier League the previous week, the Abbotsford Rugby Football Club got a big-time reality check against the UVic Vikes on Saturday.
The defending provincial champs scored a lopsided 34-5 victory over Abbotsford at Exhibition Park, though the game was a lot closer than the score might have indicated. The hosts made several deep forays into UVic territory that came up empty, and the Vikes were able to capitalize on the counter-attack.
“I thought we played fairly well for a large portion of the game,” Abby interim coach Doug Primrose analyzed, noting that UVic’s lead was just 12-0 at the half. “But we’d work hard to get down to their goal line, then we’d turn it over and they’d go 80 metres and score.”
Abbotsford (1-1) got some bad news in the early going, as former Canadian international Ryan McWhinney was felled by a calf injury. Lee Helm notched Abby’s lone try, while men of the match were Konrad Rybkowski (backs) and Some Mosogau (forwards).
In Division 1 action, UVic posted a 60-8 victory over their Abbotsford counterparts, with Jordan Tait-Comis supplying a try and a penalty kick for the home side. The Abby Div. 3 men’s squad beat Chilliwack 26-13, behind tries from Kyle Peters (2), Patrick Shields and Sheldon Bates.
The Abby men’s ruggers have a bye this weekend, and return to action against the Vancouver Rowing Club on Feb. 19 at Exhibition Park.
Primrose is filling in for regular head coach Jason Young, who is in Australia participating in a mentoring program with a professional team.
