October 22, 2012

W-RUGBY SEMIFINAL ROUNDUP: Queen's, Guelph advance to OUA final

October 20 – McMaster @ Guelph

The Guelph Gryphon women’s rugby team dominated their semi-final playoff game today (Oct, 20) with a 72-0 win over the visiting McMaster Marauders in Guelph at Varsity Field.

The Gryphons now advance to the OUA Championship final where they will be vying for their fifth consecutive title. The Gryphons will play Queens in the OUA Championship this Saturday (Oct. 27) in Kingston at 1:00 p.m.

Both teams came out strong with the OUA finals on the line. McMaster held the Gryphons in their half, with hard hits for the first couple minutes of play. This momentum was put to a quick halt when Gryphon Mackenzie Higgs (Aurora, ON) made a fast break, passing off the ball to Britt Benn (Napanee, ON) resulting in the first try of the game and a 5-0 lead.

The Gryphons kept up the aggression, dominating the field with another try by Benn, three tries for Caitlin McNally (Guelph, ON), and a try for Caitlin Beaton (Clavering, ON). Melanie Michener kicked three successful converts. The score at half was 36-0 for the Gryphons.

The second half started with tensions high on the field as the already physical game became more intense as McMaster fought to get on the scoreboard. Unfortunately, their efforts were not strong enough as the Gryphons continued to control the game. The Gryphons scored three tries by Morganne Linthwaite (Guelph, ON), one try by Beaton, one try by Benn and one try by McNally. Stephanie Tibelius (Ottawa, ON) kicked three successful converts. The final score of the game is 72-0 for the Gryphons.

The Gryphons now advance to the OUA Championships on Saturday, October 27th against the Queens Gaels at 1:00 p.m. Guelph will be vying for their fifth consecutive OUA Championship Championship title.

Source: Guelph Sports Info

Waterloo @ Queen’s

The Queen's Gaels will advance to the OUA championship fo the second time in three years after a close semi-final game against the Waterloo Warriors, 36-27. The semi-final win also sends the Gaels to the CIS Women's Rugby Championship for the second time in their history.

The Warriors put the first points on the board, with a quick try by Natasha Vrablic in the third minute. The Gaels tied the game up on a try by Jordyn Rowntree of Stouffville, Ont. in the sixth minute.

Bronwyn Corrigan of Waterloo, Ont. scored the Gaels their second try after a series of phases originating from a ruck allowed her to gain possession and run the ball over the goal line. Corrigan added to the Gaels lead with a conversion, bringing the score to 12-5.

Lauren McEwan of Wasaga Beach, Ont. was the next to score for Queen's after an incredible forty-five yard run. Once again, Corrigan kicked the conversion. Kayla Roote of Peterborough, Ont. got the Gaels another try in the late minutes of the first half, and with another conversion and try from Corrigan, the Gaels led 31-5 at the half.

The Gaels started the second half with a try from Sarah Pathak ofToronto, Ont.. However, the Warriors were quick to respond as Megan Colwell put up a drop goal in the fifty-sixth minute. The Warriors continued their new found momentum with Renne Woodhouse scoring a try followed by a conversion kicked by Colwell. As the clock began to run down, the Warriors continued to close the gap between the Gaels, 36-15. Woodhouse put another try on the board for the Warriors in the sixty-fifth minute, followed by another conversion by Colwell.

The Gaels continued to fight for the win, and played strong defensively trying to keep the Warriors away from their goal line. In the final try of the game was scored in the sixty-seventh minute by Waterloo's Alexis Blair off at ten yard run, leaving the final score 36-27 and the Gaels victorious.

The undefeated Queen's Gaels will face off against the undefeated Guelph Gryphons in the OUA Championship game.