GUELPH, Ont. – There was a pre-match intensity found only between the biggest rivals. The Guelph Gryphons men's rugby team was clearly up for its date with the defending OUA champion Queen's Gaels, a rematch of the 2017 final. But after a great start, the Gryphons couldn't keep up with the talented Gaels and fell 40-13 on a cool, rainy Friday night at Varsity Field.
Fifth-year hooker
Jack Caylor scored the lone try for Guelph, which lost for the first time this season after reeling off four straight wins.
Many fans showed up in pink with donations in hand to honour the Rugby vs Cancer theme of the game and the Gryphon players wore socks and shorts supporting the cause. The home fans were buoyed early when second-year fly half
John Sheridan booted a couple of penalty kicks to help Guelph build a 6-0 lead.
Marcello Wainwright wraps up a Queen's player
But the Gaels showed why they were champions with a surge that put the Gryphons on their heels. James MacDonald began a run of three first-half trys in the 25
th minute to give Queen's its first lead at 7-6. Guelph then took two costly yellow cards and with the team two men down, the Gaels took full advantage. Dylan Young added another try in the 33
rd minute and Alex Pipchuk scored a backbreaker on one of the last plays of the half to give the visitors a 21-6 lead at the break.
Queen's would touch down again early in the second but the Gryphons answered right back. The scoring play began with a powerful run from fourth-year flanker
Marcello Wainwright who got the ball close to the try line and moments later, Caylor would get across to cut the lead to 26-13.
Guelph had chances to build some momentum after that but turnovers snuffed out a few attacks. Queen's would add two more trys in the latter part of the match to seal a big win over its OUA rival.
Turning point
The pair of yellow cards was too much to overcome for the Gryphons. They could have survived the first try while down two men but the second, right before halftime, gave the Gaels all the offence they would require.
Gryphon Take
"They're a good defensive team and didn't give a lot of space. We made some yards early on but when we were trying to attack with 13 men, it was never going to be easy. The conditions were wet and we just didn't kick enough. We were trying to play the game in the wrong parts of the field so when we turned it over, we were in trouble."
"It was great to see people take it up and wear pink. The boys were excited to represent and help do something. Cam McArthur, the father of a Queen's player, has been driving this Rugby Vs Cancer theme. It's been successful all summer and hopefully it was successful tonight." –
head coach Cory Hector
The Record
Guelph is 4-1.
Next up
@ Brock, Friday, Oct. 5, 5 pm
Scoring Summary
Minute |
University |
Type of Score |
Player |
Convert |
Match Score |
1' |
Guelph |
Penalty Kick |
J. Sheridan |
|
3-0 Guelph |
7' |
Guelph |
Penalty Kick |
J. Sheridan |
|
6-0 Guelph |
25' |
Queen's |
Try |
J. MacDonald |
|
7-6 Queen's |
33' |
Queen's |
Try |
D. Young |
Good (D. Young) |
14-6 Queen's |
40' |
Queen's |
Try |
A. Pipchuk |
Good (D. Young) |
21-6 Queen's |
44' |
Queen's |
Try |
R. Macphail |
Missed |
26-6 Queen's |
47' |
Guelph |
Try |
J. Caylor |
Good (J. Sheridan) |
26-13 Queen's |
65' |
Queen's |
Try |
L. Casey |
Good (D. Young) |
33-13 Queen's |
76' |
Queen's |
Try |
N. De Lallo |
Good (D. Young) |
40-13 Guelph |