The G.P. Vanier Towhees finished strongly at the B.C. Secondary Schools' Rugby Union AAA boys provincial championships, crushing the Cowichan Thunderbirds 76-15 to earn 11th place at the 16-team tourney.
The tourney wrapped up Saturday, June 2 in Abbotsford, with Connor Willis of Vanier earning a spot on the Commissioner's XV. Vanier went into the championships seeded 10th while Cowichan was 12th.
The Towhees' one-game output of 76 points on Saturday was exceeded only by #4 St. George's Saints in their 82-5 Day One dismissal of #13 Semiahmoo Totems.
St. George's defeated #7 St. Michael's University School (SMUS) Blue Jags 22-5 to win bronze. Shawnigan Lake Stags, ranked #1 all year, lived up to their advance billing by knocking off #3 Carson Graham Eagles 22-5 to win the gold.
The B.C.'s opened May 26 at various locations, with Vanier falling 24-19 to SMUS in overtime in their opener. The venue switched to Abbotsford for the remainder of the tourney.
On Day Two (May 30) the Towhees had no trouble with #15 Claremont Spartans, rolling to a 47-0 win. That put them up against #6 Robert Bateman Timberwolves on Day Three (May 31), where the Courtenay lads dropped a 27-8 decision.
A win in that game would have advanced Vanier to the game for 9th/10th, which Bateman went on to win 27-15 over #16 West Vancouver Highlanders. The Towhees instead met Cowichan in the game for 11th/12th on Day Four (June 2).