The Burnaby North Vikings gave a great showing at the Lower Mainland provincial rugby 7s qualifying tournament last weekend.
Burnaby North took top seed in their pool in convincing fashion, setting up a quarter-final meeting with the Sentinel Spartans. With a win against the Spartans the Vikes could have secured a provincial berth. Unfortunately our offence became complacent and stagnant, which saw us lose out on our easiest path to the provincials.
Having lost in the quarter finals, the Vikings then dropped into a playoff bracket for the fifth and final provincial berth.
The Vikings picked up where they left off in the pool stages, winning in a dominating manner against Seycove Community School to advance to the deciding 5th/6th placement game for the last provincial berth.
In the final game of the day, the Vikes drew the Handsworth Royals.
It was a spirited affair, and the determination of the Vikes was evident early as Tyron Stojanov picked off a pass and ran the length of the field to get North on the board first.
The game went back and forth, each team answering the other's call. Curtis Gant and Wayne Lawson were excellent for the Vikes both on offense and defense. However, no one stood out more in this game than Vishaal Kumar who saved the day for the Vikings.
With 30 seconds to go, the Vikes took a penalty on their own five metre line. Handsworth attempted to crash in for the tying try but Kumar - out-sized - threw his body in the way of the tackle and in the process jarred the ball loose from the Royal player's hands. The Vikings took the game by a score of 17-12, clinching the final provincial berth.
North will go on to represent the Lower Mainland at provincials along with four other teams; Carson Graham, St. George's, Sentinel, and Lord Byng. The tournament will be held Saturday and Sunday at St. George's Senior School.
