VANCOUVER - It wasn't the start head coach
Matt Parrish and the Pandas rugby team envisioned to start their 2021 season. Far from it, really.Â
The Pandas dropped their second-straight game to open the new campaign, falling 60-5 to the host UBC Thunderbirds on a sunny evening at the Gerald McGavin UBC Rugby Centre. In their first conference match on home field in nearly two years, the Canada West preseason favourites improved to 2-0 on the season while the Pandas fell to 0-2.
Â
Second-year UBC fly-half Savannah Bauder had an impressive three-try performance and added four conversions for the T-Birds, Emma Feldinger and Piper Logan each scored two tries for UBC, while Madison Gold, Shoshana Seumanutafa, and Olivia Sarabura contributed one try each in the convincing victory.Â
Â
Alberta made a push midway through the first half and gained field position on a number of runs but were unable to get on the scoresheet until
Maria Sawiak fought across the goal line for an unconverted try in the 52nd minute.
Â
The Pandas will look to get in the win column on Sunday, when they visit the Victoria Vikes at Wallace Field.Â
Â
Scoring summary
Â
First half
Â
2' UBC – Piper Logan try 5-0
7' UBC – Madison Gold try 10-0Â
11' UBC – Savannah Bauder try (conversion – Bauder) 17-0
20' UBC – Logan try (conversion – Bauder) 24-0
31' UBC – Bauder try (conversion – Bauder) 31-0
40'+ UBC – Emma Feldinger try (conversion – Bauder) 38-0
Â
Second half
Â
42' UBC – Bauder try 43-0
46' UBC – Shoshana Seumanutafa try 48-0
52' ALB –
Maria Sawiak try 48-5
66' UBC – Olivia Sarabura try (conversion – Sarabura) 55-5
77' UBC – Feldinger try 60-5
Photos: Rich Lam