Banner Season: Gaels repeat as OUA victors, defeat Guelph in championship clash
Kingston, Ont. (via Queen's Gaels) – The Queen’s Gaels are champions again. Queen’s defended their OUA Women’s Rugby title with a 33-19 win over the Guelph Gryphons in a rematch of last year’s OUA Championship game at Nixon Field Friday night.
Taylor Perry (Oakville, Ont.) opened the scoring for Queen’s six minutes into the game with a long run straight down the middle. Lizzie Gibson (Caledon, Ont.) connected on the first of four converts to give the Gaels a 7-0 lead.
Guelph responded with a strong push down the field and held possession in Queen’s end for several minutes, nearing a try on a number of occasions, but the Gaels held the line and kept the Gryphons off the scoreboard early.
Mika Matsukubo (Ottawa, Ont.) increased Queen’s lead in the 21st minute with a long sprint down the right side of the field for a try.
The Gryphons would get on the board and cut Queen’s lead to a try in the 34th minute, when Maddy Hobson (Kitchener, Ont.) fought into the try zone after another strong push from Guelph.
Queen’s led 12-5 at half time and quickly increased their lead in the second half, when Maggie Banks (Coquitlam, B.C.) powered through the middle for an impressive try, with Gibson converting afterwards to give the Gaels a 19-5 lead.
Siobhan Sheerin (Toronto, Ont.) added to the Gaels’ lead in the 55th minute with a strong run for a try. After Gibson’s convert, Queen’s held a 26-5 lead.
A beautiful passing play from Jaden Walker (Oakville, Ont.) to Carmen Izyk (Blackie, Alta.) to Rachel Cullum (Ottawa, Ont.) in the 65th minute gave Queen’s a 33-5 lead after another Gibson convert.
The Gryphons would mount a late comeback, with both Alexis Buzby (Bernardsville, NJ) and Taylor McKnight (Stouffville, Ont.) scoring tries for Guelph in the final 10 minutes of the game, while Tousani Levale (Abbotsford, B.C.) connected on the convert both times, to cut Queen’s lead to 33-19.
The Gaels would hold on the rest of the way to win the game and hoist the Monilex Trophy on home field, defending their OUA Championship from a year ago.
