KINGSTON, Ont. - The Guelph Gryphons men's rugby team fell just short of earning a spot in the national title game, losing 29-22 to the Victoria Vikes on Friday night in Kingston in the semifinals of the 2021 Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship. The Gryphons, who entered the eight-team tournament as the OUA champions and the No. 2-seed, trailed 29-10 early in the second half to the No. 3-seeded Vikes before mounting a late comeback with tries from
Collin Smibert and Luke McDonald to trim the deficit to just seven. It would ultimately prove to be too little too late for the Gryphons, who gave the Vikes all they could handle in an entertaining national semifinal from start to finish.
Scoring Summary
Victoria 29 – Guelph 22
First Half
VIC – Try, Ben Newhook (Convert unsuccessful) 6' 5-0
GUE – Try, Max Goodwin (Convert unsuccessful) 14' 5-5
VIC – Try, Carter White (Chris Gamage convert) 16' 12-5
GUE – Try, Alex Williamson (Convert unsuccessful) 21' 12-10
VIC – Try, Jonas Robinson (Convert unsuccessful) 26' 17-10
VIC – Try, Zarija Djurickovic (Chris Gamage convert) 30' 24-10
Second Half
VIC – Try, Ethan Hager (Convert unsuccessful) 35' 29-10
GUE – Try, Collin Smibert (Colin Lynch convert) 31' 29-17
GUE – Try, Luke McDonald (Convert unsuccessful) 56' 29-22
Players of the Game: Gabe Casey (UVic) | Jacob Ince (Guelph)
Despite the loss, the Gryphons still have the opportunity to record their best-ever finish at the national championship tournament, which is now in its fourth year of existence. Guelph will square off against the host Queen's Gaels on Sunday afternoon (1pm) in the bronze medal match. Guelph's previous best finish at the national tournament came in 2017 when the Gryphons finished 4th while serving as hosts of the inaugural edition of the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship. The Gryphons will also be looking to make it two straight wins over Queen's in Kingston, with Guelph having defeated the Gaels back on November 6 in Kingston in the OUA gold medal match to secure the 4th conference title in Gryphons men's rugby history. Sunday afternoon's bronze medal match can be seen live online at
therugbynetwork.com.
