With a lopsided loss at the hands of the University of Victoria Vikings Saturday, the Bayside Sharks dropped to sixth place in CDI Premier Rugby League standings and ensured that, should they make the playoffs, they’ll be playing those games on the road.
The Sharks, now 2-4 on the season, were beat Saturday 59-15 by the Vikings, who also picked up a bonus point. The extra point bumped the Vikes – the reigning Rounsefell Cup champs – above the Sharks for fifth place.
And because the current fourth-place squad, the UBC Old Boys Ravens, are seven points clear of UVic and 10 clear of Bayside, it means neither club can catch them for fourth, which is the last team that gets a home playoff game.
Saturday’s game, played in Victoria, was staged in less-than-ideal conditions, as the skies opened up just prior to the premier kick off.
The roster was less than ideal for the Sharks, too, as injuries and other commitments left the team without seven starters.
“We were short a lot of guys, so we went with a real young team and knew it would be tough,” said coach David Benoit. “Our job now is to just forget about this one and move on.”
Victoria went up 3-0 in the 10th minute, but Bayside tied the contest one minute later on a penalty kick from Peter Clifford. From there, the Vikings took over, scoring a try in the 16th minute off a quick lineout throw from 10 metres out, and then adding a converted try six minutes later when Sean Duke blew past the Bayside defence from 40 metres out to make it 15-3.
One more Victoria try – a result of a Sharks’ turnover – and one drop-goal made it 30-3 at halftime.
In the second, the Vikings were up 54-3 before Bayside finally scored a converted try in the 69th minute and, after another UVic score – which went unconverted – the Sharks tacked on one last unconverted major in the 80th minute.
Loss aside, the Sharks still hold their playoff destiny in their own hands, with one game left to play. If they beat UBC Old Boys Ravens this Saturday on the road, they’ll secure one the six playoff spots.