KINGSTON, Ont. – Friday night (Oct. 28) at Nixon Field in Kingston, a late comeback attempt by the Guelph Gryphons women's rugby team would ultimately fall just short, with the Gryphons falling 29-24 to the Queen's Gaels in a hard-fought 2022 OUA women's rugby gold medal game. The Gryphons, who entered the match as the defending OUA champions after having claimed the conference banner on the Gaels home field a season ago, got off to a strong start, leading 12-7 after the opening 13 minutes of play. But the Gaels would score 14 unanswered points to close out the half to take a 21-12 lead into halftime. The defending national champion and U SPORTS No. 1-ranked Gaels would then touch down for the first try of the second half, extending their lead to 26-12. But the visiting Gryphons showed tremendous character fighting their way back into contention, with the Gryphons scoring a pair of second-half tries from Signe Caswell and Imogen Barnard. After Kendra Cousineau made good on the conversion, it was a one-possession game, 29-24 in Queen's favour. But it was too little too late for the Gryphons, with the final whistle sounding moments after, ending Guelph's hopes of back-to-back OUA titles. Shoshauna Gauvin and Brianna Martey both recorded tries for the Gryphons during the 1st half, while the Gaels were led by Maggie Banks (2 tries) and Lizzie Gibson added 9 points (3 conversions, one penalty conversion).
 
Both the Gryphons and Gaels will now prepare for nationals, with both teams representing the OUA at the upcoming 2022 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championships in Victoria, BC (November 2 – 6). The Gaels will head west looking to defending their 2021 national title, while the Gryphons head to BC in search of the 3rd national title in U of G women's rugby history, with the Gryphons having previously claimed national bragging rights in 1998 and 2011.
 

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