VANCOUVER, BC - The fourth seeded Laurier Golden Hawks pushed the number one seeded Victoria Vikes to the brink in their consolation semifinal at the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship but ultimately came up short at UBC's Thunderbird Stadium on Friday, in a 36-12 loss.

It may not have been the match they had hoped, or expected, to be playing in - after the Vikes were upset by the eight-seed Trinity Western and Laurier lost to fifth-seeded McGill - but they served up an entertaining end-to-end encounter that produced eight tries.

Victoria dominated possession early, getting on the board early through Ethan Smith's converted seventh minute try.

Laurier leveled things up four minutes later through Dylan Di Girolamo's converted try.

The Vikes restored their seven point lead in the 21st minute with Shane Rikley-Krindle's try and Hager's second conversion of the game. They went further ahead six minutes later when, with Laurier protesting a forward pass, the Vikes sprung Jonas Robinson to go over for their third try of the afternoon. This time the conversion was unsuccessful and the Golden Hawks wasted no time in hitting right back, immediately going up the pitch and getting a try through Malik James.

Adam McNee's conversion hit the upright and Victoria headed into the half with a narrow 19-12 lead.

Laurier pushed hard to start the second half but Victoria held off the early pressure and took control of the game as the half wore on. Tries from hooker Ryder Heaney-Corns and Hager, the latter of which he then converted, extended the Vikes lead.

With time expired, Hager took advantage of a quick tap and go to grab his second try of the afternoon to complete the 24 point victory.

Di Girolamo was named Player of the Game for Laurier while Rikley-Krindle got the honours for the Vikes

Laurier will now compete in the 7th/8th placement game on Sunday at 9 am against the Calgary Dinos. Tickets are available for purchase online or the game can be watched free and live on The Rugby Network. 

Scoring Summary

First Half
 
VIC - Try, Ethan Smith (Ethan Hager convert)  7'  7-0
LAU - Try, Dylan Di Girolamo (Adam McNee convert)  11'  7-7
VIC - Try, Shane Rikley-Krindle (Ethan Hager convert)  21'  14-7
VIC - Try, Jonas Robinson  (convert unsuccessful)  27'  19-7
LAU - Try, Malik James (convert unsuccessful)  29-  19-12
 
Second Half
 
VIC - Try, Ryder Heaney-Corns  (convert unsuccessful)  43'  24-12
VIC - Try, Ethan Hager  (Ethan Hager convert)  48'  31-12
VIC - Try, Ethan Hager (convert unsuccessful)  60'  36-12