MONTREAL – Rookie Jack Shaw (Oakville, Ont./Shawnigan Lake School) scored the lone try for the Bishop's Gaiters men's rugby team on Friday night but it, coupled with Josh Bray's (Lennoxville, Que./Bishop's College School) kicking, propelled Bishop's to a 13-7 victory over the Montreal Carabins in Montreal.
 
The win clinched a playoff spot for the Gaiters who finish the regular season 4-2-0 (18 points). They leap-frogged Sherbooke (3-2-0, 15 points) into third place in the RSEQ University conference, while Montreal falls to 0-5-0.
 
"There was a lot of talk about Montreal being a winless team," said Gaiters head coach Charles Goode. "I thought it would be a tough game after their result against McGill."
 
A physical start from Montreal saw them sanctioned with a yellow card that Bray took advantage of by booting through Bishop's first three points on a penalty goal. The score remained 3-0 into the halftime break.
 
A dangerous tackle by Bishop's led to a yellow of their own early in the second half and Montreal wasted no time taking advantage. They scored a try and converted for a 7-3 lead.
 
When Bishop's returned to 15 men they started to control the game. Shaw scored his try, Bray converted and kicked through another penalty to make the final 13-7 in favour of the Gaiters.
 
"I felt like once our yellow card ended, we really dominated the rest of the half," Goode added. "We missed some opportunities but overall we were defensively strong.
 
"Jack Shaw (Oakville, Ont./Shawnigan Lake School) is an outstanding rugby player at just 18 years old.  He did well breaking the line and kicking to touch. Andrew Harrison (Calgary, Alta. /William Aberhart S.S.) also had a heck of a game despite not being 100 percent."
 
Next Up
Bishop's now will enjoy a bye week as the RSEQ finishes the regular season. They will be keen spectators when Sherbrooke plays McGill as teams jockey for playoff positions. A McGill victory and Bishop's will play the Redmen in the semifinal while a Sherbrooke victory means the Gaiters would fall to fourth place and travel to Concordia
 
Stay Social
Follow the Gaiters and their playoff push anytime at www.gaiters.ca or on social media using @BishopsGaiters or #GaiterNation.
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