November 8, 2008

MONTREAL – Bishop’s Gaiters Men’s Rugby fell 21-0 to the McGill Redmen in the 2008 Quebec University Rugby Union championship. A crowd of about 400, including approximately 100 vocal Gaiters supporters, braved the rain at Percival Molson Stadium to watch the Redmen (7-2-1 overall, 5-1 QURU) take their third straight provincial rugby crown.

McGill took the early initiative off the opening kickoff, pushing the ball to within ten yards of the Gaiters’ goal, but could go no further. The Gaiters responded with a multi-phase possession through the next ten minutes, but could get no further than the Redmen 22-metre line. Late in the first half, the Redmen applied steady pressure to the Gaiters’ defence, and finally broke through in the dying minutes of the half, as Josh Reznick stole a Gaiters’ five-metre scrum and put the ball down. Sam Skulsky’s conversion gave the Redmen a 7-0 lead at the halftime break.

Early in the second half, the Redmen continued to hold the majority of the possession. The Redmen stretched their lead to 14-0 at the eight-minute mark of the half, as Matthew Edwards scored his second try of the season. The Gaiters had their best chance to score almost immediately after the try. Fly half Bill Murphy’s penalty goal attempt, but the Gaiters were able to recover the ball five metres out from the goal. The Gaiters’ pack pushed the ball to within a metre out, but were unable to force it over. The Redmen closed out the scoring on the final play of the game, as Anton Nestel found the end zone.

“Everybody left it on the field today”, said Gaiters Head Coach Bill Robson. “We were a completely different team from the start of the year to the end, and this was the toughest game McGill had all year.” Robson cited the work of Gaiters’ veteran No. 8 Sean McLelland in the scrums, noting that he played his “best game ever for us.”

The Gaiters finish the year with an overall record of 6-4 (4-2 QURU).

-30-

MONTRÉAL – L’équipe de rugby masculin des Gaiters de Bishop's a perdu 21-0 contre McGill au championnat de Québec.

Pour les Redmen, les essais ont été compté par Josh Reznick, Matthew Edwards et Anton Nestel. Sam Skulsky a réussit trois conversions.

Les Gaiters ont finis leur saison avec une fiche totale de 6-4 (4-2 URUQ).

-30-

SUMMARY
Bishop’s 0 @ McGill 21

Bishop’s Gaiters: Nic Johnson, Alex Powell, Frank Orlando, Jamie Le Huquet, Ian Snowell, Ryan Lethbridge, Pat Whelan, Sean McLelland, Brad Leung, William Murphy, Charlie Campbell, Justin Kimmel, Shaun Pais, Matt Pereira, Chris Sawers. Substitutes: Noah Harrison, Jeffrey Farrell, Clarance Conor, Peter Ross, Matthew Mitchell, David Murphy, Connor Watt, Ryan Ozeroff

McGill Redmen: David Tontini, Adam Sommer, James Stellick, Matthew Edwards, Jon Phelan, Casey Ruiter, Peter Klestov, Rupert Common, Joshua Reznick, Ian Turner, Michael Davis, Samuel Skulsky Tyler Staton, Stefan Rinas, Bryce Thomassin. Substitutes : Jacob Chai, Anton Nestel, Peter Gillespie, Sebastien Boridy, Jong Wook Lee, Jonathan Glancy, Liam O’Briain, Jesse Myers, Gideon Balloch, Jean-Marc Lacourciere.

First Half
  MCG – Try Reznick (Skulsky conversion) – 39th minute
Second Half
  MCG – Try Edwards (Skulsky conversion) – 48th minute
  MCG – Try Nestel (Skulsky conversion) – 80th minute

Missed Penalty Goals: Bishop’s W. Murphy (49th minute)
Sin-binned: None
Sent off: None.