GUELPH, Ont. – The No. 7-nationally ranked Guelph Gryphons are back in familiar territory, as once again the Gryphons are off to the OUA Women's Rugby Championship. Using a 46-12 victory over the McMaster Marauders Saturday afternoon at Varsity Field, the Gryphons punched their ticket to the OUA title game for a 13th straight season.
Playing in front of the Gryphon faithful on a cool, breezy and at times rainy afternoon, Guelph was able to score early and often en-route to their semi-final win.
Leading the way for Guelph, Talia Hoffman, Kennedy Feasby and Hannah Beaumont all scored two tries each.
Setting the tone from the very beginning, the Gryphs got on the board early scoring the first try of the match in the 4th minute when Amara Cavadias crossed the goal line. After Kendra Cousineau kicked through the convert, Guelph went up 7-0. Ten minutes later, the Gryphs added to their lead with a Kennedy Feasby try, her first of two in the game.
Leading 12-0, Cousineau then scored a try of her own in the 28th minute to extend the Guelph advantage.
With half time quickly approaching the Gryphons tacked on one more try before the break. Playing in the 36th minute, it was Hannah Beaumont who added to the Gryphons lead along with a successful convert from Cousineau.
Holding a 24-0 lead at the half, the Gryphs put themselves in a strong position heading into the final forty minutes of play.
Once the second half got underway, it did not take Guelph very long to once again add to their lead. Only two minutes after the break Talia Hoffman got the Gryphons in for a try which would also be converted by Cousineau to make the score 31-0.
Trying to work their way back into the contest, the Marauders were able to get on the board in the 50th minute with a try from Guelph product, Stacey Warner. However, the Gryphons would quickly get their offence rolling once again scoring tries in the 58th and 69th minutes as Hoffman and Feasby both tallied their second of the contest.
After Katie McLeod responded for McMaster in the 74th trimming the Guelph lead to 41-12, Hannah Beaumont would go on to round of the scoring in the 80th minute with her second try of the match.
With their spot in the OUA Shiels Division Final now secured, the Gryphons will prepare to hit the road for Kingston. The Gaels defeated York in the other semi-final earning them the opportunity to host Guelph. The OUA Championship will take place November 6th at 7:30pm.
