A hat trick of tries from national forward Rob Robson powered the James Bay Athletic Association past the Velox Valhallians 41-to-3 to advance to next Saturday’s Vancouver Island Rugby Union Division 1 final against the Nanaimo Hornets.

Nanaimo edged the Port Alberni Blacksheep 17-14 in the other Island semifinal.

The Valhallians were strengthened by insertion of returning Canadian Classic front-row man John Lyall, and stalwart Craig White.

White’s presence was felt early. Despite a Kyle Laberge penalty goal five minutes in, White made the Bays work hard to gain ground in early phases of the game. But at 15 minutes, Robson scored his first try off of pressure from his blue and white clad scrum-mates.

James Bays’ defense picked up, pressuring Velox all over the field. This set up a Jeff Campbell score five minutes later, as the Bays’ No. 12 cut a back-attack inside to slant some 15 meters to the goal line. Laberge successfully converted. At the half time whistle, standoff Ben Peterson finished off a phase as the Bays’ took a 20–0 lead into the break.

In the second 40-minute half, the Bays stepped their defense up a further notch and drove in three more tries. Robson led the attacking rampage, running over defenders and on one occasion the referee, to score twice more.

The game’s final try came when the Bays’ Jake de Goede broke up the right side, setting up a Chris Trumpy score. Kyle Laberge converted all three second-half JBAA tallies. Bruce Watson managed a penalty goal for Velox at seven minutes of the second half.

JBAA battle the Hornets for the Div. 1 championship, Saturday Dec. 6, 12:45 p.m. at MacDonald Park.

Immediately following the Div. 1 final at 2:30 p.m. is the VIRU elite championship Barnard Cup, between JBAA and the University of Victoria Vikes.

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