Two Aldergrove brothers helped B.C. take the national championship in U14 rugby in Vancouver, Friday.
Josh and Jake Thiel are the twin sons of two outstanding national-level rugby players, Jon Thiel and Jenn Ross, and have been carrying on the family tradition with top performances for their Betty Gilbert Middle School rugby team. In the upcoming year the two move into grade 9 at Aldergrove Secondary and will play for the school’s junior rugby team.
And now the Thiel twins have a national championship of their own to celebrate.
In a thrilling national final, British Columbia produced an overtime 40-19 victory to defeat Ontario in the Boys U14 National Provincial Festival on Friday morning.
Known as the ‘B.C. Growl’, the home squad were gridlocked 19-19 with their eastern foes at the end of regulation, but came out firing in extra time, notching three converted tries to seal the victory.
The B.C. Growl had previously lost to Ontario Red 26-19 in round-robin play to open the competition on Wednesday morning.
B.C. Growl went on to win their next four matches over Ontario Blue, B.C. Roar and Alberta before pipping the top seed Ontario Red in Friday’s championship final.
The remaining teams who did not qualify for the final after the round-robin competed in a one-day seven-a-side rugby tournament.
Alberta were convincing winners in the Sevens final, downing British Columbia-1 by a score of 34-17. In the third place playoff, Ontario edged out B.C.-2 by a score of 17-15.
SCORES:
Wednesday, Aug. 3:
Ontario Red [26-19] BC Growl
Ontario Blue [15-12] Alberta
BC Growl [48-15] BC Roar
Ontario Red [47-5] Alberta
BC Roar [17-10] Ontario Blue
Thursday, Aug. 4:
Ontario Red [45 - 0] BC Roar
BC Growl [49 - 5] Ontario Blue
Alberta [20 - 0] BC Roar
Ontario Red [29 - 19] Ont. Blue
BC Growl [48 - 0] Alberta
Friday, Aug. 5:
National Final - BC Growl [40 - 19] Ont. Red
Sevens results:
Alberta [15 - 0] Ontario Red
BC-1 [19 - 5] Ontario Blue
Ontario Red [26 - 12] BC-2
Alberta [24 - 12] Ontario Blue
BC-1 [38 - 5] Alberta
3/4 playoff: Ont. Red [17 - 15] BC-2
1/2 playoff: Alberta [34 - 17] BC-1