KINGSTON, Ont. – All season long the message was a simple one for the Guelph Gryphons. Continue to build up throughout the 2021 campaign to make sure they are ready to peak at the right time. Saturday night in Kingston, the No. 6-nationally ranked Gryphons did just that as they reclaimed the OUA championship from the Queen's Gaels, defeating No. 2-nationally ranked Queen's on their home field 32-23.

"I am so proud of the work these student-athletes have put in this year," said Gryphons head coach, Colette McAuley. "It was a slow build, to be honest, and they are peaking at the right time. They played with so much courage and were so connected. It was exciting rugby and that the product we always want to put on the field."
 
After the Gaels ended Guelph's run for an OUA four-peat in 2019, the Gryphons had to wait an extra year with the 2020 season being cancelled before they could attempt to avenge the loss. In total, it was a 750 day wait for the Gryphs but none of that mattered anymore once the final whistle was blown Saturday night.
 
From the early stages of the match, it was abundantly clear that the two teams were going to be in for a physical grind. Given the chance to get on the board in the early stages, the Gaels elected to kick for three points after driving into Guelph territory in the 8^th minute.
 
Trailing 3-0, it didn't take long after for the Gryphons to tally the first try of the gold medal match. Crossing the touch line in the 12^th minute, Talia Hoffman put the ball down for the Gryphons to give them a 5-3 lead. After the Gryphons jumped out in front though, the home side went on a run. Scoring a 20^th minute try and a 28^th minute kick, Queen's tacked ten more points on to the board, putting them up 13-5.
 
With half time drawing near and the Gryphon's stuck by eight, Guelph quickly flipped the script on the defending champs. Scoring a pair of late first half tries just minutes apart, Talia Hoffman and Hannah Beaumont all of sudden took Guelph from down 13-5 to up 15-13 at the break.
 
As the second half got underway, it was the Gaels who scored first with a try in the 45^th minute. The kick afterwards was no good though, as Queen's settled for an 18-15 lead.
 
Despite Queen's retaking the lead, the Gryphons began to impose their will and take control of the match over the next twenty minutes. Scoring three straight tries (one of them converted), Guelph had all of a sudden put themselves up 32-18 and were on the brink of winning their fourth OUA title in five seasons. Although Queen's went on to tally one more try in the late stages, that was as close as they would get.
 
Leading 32-23, the Gryphons began to storm the field as the official ended the match, igniting the Guelph celebration. The victory marks the 17^th conference championship (a conference record) the Gryphons have won, while also snapping a three game losing skid to the team from Kingston.
 
For Gryphon's Head Coach Colette McAuley, the 2021 OUA Championship becomes her 9^th title as head coach of the Gryphons.
 
Looking ahead, Guelph will now begin preparations to return to Kingston for the U SPORTS Championships. Although their ranking and opponent have yet to be determined, the Gryphons know that their ticket is punched, with the tournament scheduled to get underway on Wednesday.