United Rugby capped a very successful season by winning both games in The Province League 1 and The Province League 2 Finals on Saturday May 9 at Brockton Oval in Stanley Park. It marks the first time in United’s 6 year history that this has occurred.
Second Division wins 20-15
United’s Second Division earned a berth in the Finals via their unblemished 5-0 record that saw them outscore their opponents by a combined 239-53. Their opponent would be 4-1 Surrey, whose only loss was a 58-0 trouncing by United 4 weeks earlier. United knew that Surrey would bring their ‘A’ game to the Finals and that things would be a lot tougher than the previous match.
United got on the board first when a penalty was slotted by #10 Ken Prosser early on. This was followed by the try of the season a short while later when winger Curtis Giffin scored his first of three tries on the afternoon. Giffin eluded the first tackler with deft footwork and then proceeded to kick a perfectly weighted grubber between two Surrey defenders. He then outraced the two defenders and dotted the ball down in the end zone. The try was converted from near the right sideline by Prosser. United led 10-3 at the half as the Surrey kicker connected on one of his attempts at goal.
The second half continued much the same. United led most of the game, but a resilient Surrey would answer each of United’s second half tries with one on their own. Giffin scored in the corner again after a strong display of United ball handling in the sloppy conditions and the convert narrowly missed, 15-3 United. Surrey answered with a converted try to close to within one score 15-10. The teams traded tries again (Giffin’s third of the afternoon), 20-15 United. Late in the game United was under strong Surrey pressure and conceded a few penalties but the defense held strong and did not allow Surrey to cross again.
Starting Lineup:
1. Ted Matsumoto
2. Sean Dingley - Captain
3. James Rathbun (Gleneagle)
4. Seveci Duruloka
5. Tanner Elgear (Gleneagle)
6. Shaun Martignago
7. Adrian Sherriff (Gleneagle)
8. Chris Turpin (Port Moody)
9. Evan Zhang (Port Moody)
10. Ken Prosser (Port Moody)
11. Jesse Davies (Port Moody)
12. Penioni Drikibau
13. Sandy Hicks (Centennial)
14. Curtis Giffin (Port Moody)
15. Tim Phillips (Centennial)
Reserves
16. Craig Bracconnier (Terry Fox)
17. Simon Merkosky
18. Rory Fralick (Centennial)
19. Reid Clark
20. Dave Wallace
21. Keegan Hughes (Gleneagle)
22. Nathan Klement (Gleneagle)
