Gryphons edge Gaels to win fifth straight OUA women's rugby banner
For Queen's, it was their third championship game appearance, their second in three years.
Early in the match, the Gryphons came out and showed why they are considered a favourite at this year's CIS Championship. Guelph ran the ball hard, making life difficult the Queen's defenders, and they quickly jumped out to 7-0 lead in the early minutes of the game with a try from from Caitlin Beaton of Clavering, Ont., with a conversion by Stefanie Tibelius of Ottawa, Ont.
Mid-way through the first half the Gaels got their first opportunity to put points on the board, when the Gaels chose to kick a penalty goal over going into a scrum. Bronwyn Corrigan of Waterloo, Ont. kicked a successful penalty goal, bringing the score to 7-3.
The Gryphons and Gaels fought hard to gain yards and put more points on the board, but went into halftime with the Gryphons still leading 7-3.
In the 48th minute of play, the Gaels chose once again to attempt a penalty goal over going into a scrum. Corrigan took the kick, bringing the score to 7-6. The Gaels continued to control the play for most of the second half. With minutes left in the half the Gryphons made a push for the Gaels try-line. in the 74th minute, the Gryphons chose a to go for a penalty goal over the scrum, hoping to clinch a few more points and cushion their lead. The kick was taken by Guelph’s Tibelius, bringing the Gryphons lead to 10-6.
The Gaels continued to dig deep, they strung together great phases and rucked over the ball well, hoping to steal the victory from under Guelph. But the Gryphons proved to be too much for the Gaels on this day, and came away with 10-6 victory.
Queen’s coach Beth Barz could not be more proud of the Gaels stating that the girls “played the lights out of this game.”
Both Queen's and Guelph will now advance to the CIS Championships being hosted by St. F.X. in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The tournament schedule will be announced Sunday.
Source: Queen's Sports Info