Saturday, October 13, 12pm
Varsity Field, University of Guelph
Guelph Gryphons vs Brock Badgers
GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons women's rugby team finds itself in a familiar position – hosting a playoff match for an opportunity to play for a banner. But that doesn't mean the script will be the same or what worked in the past will this time. For the two-time defending OUA champion Gryphons, who are currently ranked No. 3 in the country, success has consistently come from evolution.
Guelph will host the Brock Badgers in an OUA semi-final this Saturday, Oct. 13 (at noon) and as opponents have come to learn, they can always expect a new look from the dynamic, ever-changing side.
"We've been together long enough now where our timing and support is coming together," said head coach
Colette McAuley. "We will try to make it a little bit more fun, strategic, and get more players with hands on ball before contact."
That's been the focus in the week of training leading up to the playoff matchup with Brock. The Gryphons have been expanding their playbook, with an emphasis on continuity.
The two-time defending OUA champion Gryphons preparing for match time
With such a deep and talented roster, McAuley is also able to experiment, putting her versatile players in different positions as they search for the perfect combinations to execute their game plan of diverse attacks.
Guelph is certainly one of the most creative and speedy sides in the OUA, evidenced by its Shiels Division-leading 274 points, which was second in the conference only to Brock (tops in the Russell Division with 276 points). The Gryphons can trot some fantastic athletes, like fourth-year centres
Alexandra Everett (league-leading 11 tries) and
Emmanuela Jada (second on the team with seven tries), as well as fourth-year fly half
Julia Schell (two tries and 17 converts).
But what has impressed McAuley most about this edition of the team is the defence. If anything shows her players' desire to win rugby matches, it's what they do when the ball is in the opponents' hands.
"Our team defence has been fantastic, the courage that the players are showing going into contact is exceptional," said McAuley, noting that holding a quality side like McMaster to only seven points was an extraordinary accomplishment.
"I like the fact that we've kept the points against to 41 on the season. That just shows their mindset going into the playoffs – protecting your own line and protecting each other."
Guelph will need a strong defensive effort to eliminate Brock. The Badgers equaled the defending champions' regular-season record by also going 4-0, with the most points scored and the fewest against (40), making this a highly-anticipated semi-final. McAuley praised the Badgers' young coaching staff and is impressed with their strong backline. The Badgers have a dangerous weapon in outside player Niamh Haughey, who McAuley recalls making several tackles when the teams met in the past.
"We need to shut them down in their first two passes and put a lot of pressure on them defensively so they can't use time and space to form an attack," the coach said.
One comfort in a tense match like this is that the Gryphons are in comfortable surroundings. Varsity Field has been the stage for many of the programs greatest successes and they have played, and won, the last 10 OUA semi-finals on the home pitch.
"It's a huge factor," said McAuley. "To be in front of the home crowd is pretty special. The girls are definitely up for it."
Guelph Gryphons Roster
