The Fulton Maroons stopped the Sutherland Sabres of North Vancouver 24-17 in B.C. Senior AA Tier 2 Rugby Championship quarterfinal play Wednesday at Rotary Stadium in Abbotsford.
Mike Scheller’s fifth-ranked Maroons faced the No. 1 Glenlyon Norfolk Gryphons of Victoria in Thursday afternoon semifinal play.
Ryan Rumsey scored a pair of tries, while Ike Olson and Cole Hunter added one apiece for Fulton. Jeff Han booted two conversions.
“This was big comeback win for our kids,” said Scheller. “The game was close and Sutherland took the 17-12 lead with 10 minutes left. Ike Olson scored a great try to tie it at 17 with five minutes left, and Ryan Rumsey scored on a great individual effort with two minutes left to win. Sutherland was a tough, scrappy team and they have some very good athletes.”
Scheller said the Maroons sputtered in the opening half, committed a lot of penalties and got outworked.
“I was really impressed with our second half. our kids really stepped up and showed a lot of heart in the comeback win. Lock Greg Geistlinger had his best game of the season. Wing Quin Williamson stepped up as a Grade 9 and played a solid second half for us.”
The Gryphons smothered the Sir Charles Tupper Tigers of Vancouver 30-19, while second-seeded LVR Rogers Bombers of Nelson grounded DW Poppy Red Hawks of Langley 24-5 and No. 3 Langley Saints held off Seycove Seyhawks of North Vancouver 27-24 in other quarterfinals.