September 29, 2014

M-RUGBY ROUNDUP: McMaster improves to 5-0, hands Queen's first loss of season

Saturday, September 27

Laurier 8 @ Brock 29

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - The Brock University men's rugby team (3-2 OUA) defeated the Laurier Golden Hawks by the score of 29-8 Saturday afternoon at the Brock Rugby Field.

Both teams played an even first half with a number of scoring opportunities, before the Badgers broke it open with two long runs for trys in the second half on route to their third victory of the season.

Leading the Badgers offense was Connor Fitzsimmons who recorded 14 points adding one try, one prnalty goal and three converts. Ben Harmer, Jeremy Brownridge and Mitchell Langhorn all contributed with single trys for Brock.

A Thompson scored the lone try for the Golden Hawks. K. Glover rounded out their scoring with a penalty goal.

Source: Brock Badgers

Waterloo 15 @ Western 60

LONDON, Ont. – Mitchell Rothman ran in three tries and rookie Frederico Cisneros Sanchez made five conversions to lead the Western Mustangs over the Waterloo Warriors 60-15 at Alumni Field on Saturday.

"I think for about sixty five minutes we performed very well," said Mustangs head coach David Knowles of the effort. "I think we lost discipline in the last 15 or 20 minutes, which is disappointing as a coach. Other than that, overall, it was a good solid win. We did play solidly for around sixty five minutes, but we need to be able to play for the full eighty."

With the win, the Mustangs improve to 3-1 on the season, while the Warriors fall to 0-4.

First to put points on the scoreboard was Western's Justin Chan, followed by a successful conversion kick from Cisneros four minutes into the game. Waterloo followed up at the ten minute mark with a try from Tristan Gingras-Hill only to see Western counter with an additional three tries and two conversions, bringing the halftime score to 26-5 for the Mustangs.

Second-year Rothman started the second half with a bang for the Mustangs scoring his third try of the game 43 seconds after the whistle.The purple and white continued to push through the Warrior's defensive line with strong runs and quick passes, adding an additional 34 points to the board. Waterloo refocused late in the second half allowing Andrew MacCulloch, and Michael Baumung to each score a try for the Warriors bringing the final score to 60-15.

Rothman led the scoreboard, contributing 15 points for the Mustangs. Also standing out was Cisneros, from Nova Scotia, who contributed 10 points throughout the game.

"Cisneros is our backup ten, we started him today, and I think he had a great game," said Coach Knowles. "He's putting pressure on [Mike Santangeli], our number one starting ten, which is good to see, a little competition in there to elevate both of their plays."

Source: Western Mustangs

Toronto 22 @ RMC 58

KINGSTON, Ont. - The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's rugby team fell 58-22 to the RMC Paladins on Saturday, September 27 in Kingston, Ont.

First-year kinesiology major Tudor Chirila led the Blues with one try, two conversions and a penalty kick.

Sophomore Kirk Regan and third-year veteran Kenzie Yango also scored single tries in the loss.

Source: Toronto Varsity Blues

Sunday, September 28

Queen's 13 @ McMaster 18

It was a match of high quality befitting two of the OUA's elite teams on Sunday.

McMaster came out on the winning side of a closely-contested 18-13 decision over the Queen's Gaels at Back 10 Field, improving their record to 5-0 and dealing Queen's their first loss of the OUA season.

The Marauders 18 points eclipsed the total (17) that the Gaels had conceded through four previous matches in 2014.

With the win, McMaster stands as one of only two unbeaten teams remaining in the conference, alongside the Western Mustangs.

Matt Rafaelic and Kieran Hurst had tries for the Marauders, while Jamie Leveridge added eight points on two penalties and a convert.

Queen's struck first on Sunday, crossing the line 18 minutes into the opening half and converting for an early 7-0 lead.

Leveridge had an opportunity to get the Marauders on the board with a penalty shortly afterward, but scuffed the kick wide.

However, the miss was quickly forgotten, as Graham Dobbs broke free of the Gaels defence, and swung the ball to Rafaelic, who touched down. Leveridge made good on the convert, and McMaster drew level at 7-all.

Queen's pressed for another opening as the first half wore on, and eventually found it in the form of a penalty, which the Gaels hit to take a 10-7 lead. But McMaster had an answer once again, as Hurst capped a beautiful sequence of passing to surge over the line along the right wing. The convert was missed from a tough angle, and McMaster took a slim 12-10 lead into the break.

The visitors were sharp to open the second half, and Queen's retook the lead with their second penalty of the match for 13-12. But, just as they had in the first half, the Marauders responded well to the Gaels move. McMaster probed deep into Queen's territory and won a penalty for their efforts, which Leveridge struck well to reclaim the lead at 15-13.

He would add another before the final whistle, and the Marauders held the dangerous Gaels at bay to seal a vital win on home turf.