British Columbia's under-23 men's provincial men's rugby team defeated Scottish touring side St. Andrew's University 57-25 on Wednesday evening at Brockton Oval.
The provincial selects were in top form running in nine tries and kicking six conversions as they took the first of their two-match summer series in convincing fashion. The B.C. u-23s will reassemble for a clash with English touring side Durham University in Vancouver on July 6.
Fresh of a 118-0 drubbing at the hands of Canada's u-20 national team last weekend, St. Andrew's were out to prove themselves in their final tour match of British Columbia. The Scots came out firing and after B.C. conceded seven penalties in the opening ten minutes, St. Andrew's kicker Scott Lang made them pay by converting twice for the early 6-0 lead.
B.C. responded with three quick tries from scrum half Lucas De Beer James Kelly and winger Jamie Beaton. Fly half Harry Jones added a conversion to make the score 17-6.
St. Andrew's recorded their final points of the half when winger Sean Murchie barrelled over for a try to make it 17-11.
The locals kept their foot on the gas, however, with Jones sparking a 14-point run, breaking through for a converted try and then adding the extras to Doug Fraser's try to make it 31-11 at the half.
Fraser opened the second half in similar fashion, crossing over for a second try to make it 36-11.
Speedster Sean Ferguson was the next to score with a highlight-reel-worthy try as he cleared from his own try line, chased down the kick and then sprinted three quarters of the field to dot down. Jones added the conversion to make it 43-11.
St. Andrew's found their footing to score two more tries through Nick Winton and Chris Wardle, but 43-25 was as close as they came. B.C. finished off the match with two more tries from substitute Admir Cejvanovic, a Burnaby Lake Rugby Club product, and Keaton Styles.
Bryan Tyrer added two more conversions to make it 57-25 final.
