MONTREAL -
Ewan Lawton (Halifax, U.K./Queen Ethelburga's College) scored a try in the 65th minute that proved to be the game-winner for the Bishop's Gaiters men's rugby team on a blustery Saturday afternoon in Montreal. They survived a late push from the McGill Redmen in one of two RSEQ semifinals. The Gaiters held onto win 19-17 and return to the RSEQ Championship for the first time since 2009.
Coach Charles Goode:
The Gaiters controlled possession for the majority of the first half. Bishop's captain and RSEQ all-star
Carter Filion (St. Catharines, Ont./Ridley College) put the first points on the board with a try in the 19
th minute. Conference Most Outstanding Player
Josh Bray (Lennoxville, Que./Bishop's College School) booted through the conversion. They Gaiters extended their lead in the 35th minute when
Jack Oatway (Peterborough, Ont./Adam Scott C.V.I.) was the beneficiary of a brilliant
Andrew Harrison (Calgary, Alta. /William Aberhart S.S.) run and offload for another try. Bray again converted for a 14-0 advantage.
Things got interesting as the 40th minute approached. McGill elected to not to take points on a penalty 25 yards out in the middle of the field. Instead, they kicked for touch and a line-up. After the line out the Gaiters forced a turnover.
Following a small melee, Bishop's player
Louis Millet (Toulouse, France/Lycee Polyvalent Bellevue) was assessed a yellow card and the Redmen took over and took advantage. They scored on the last play of the first half but were unsuccessful on the conversion. The Gaiters held a 14-5 lead at the break.
Lawton's score put Bishop's up 19-5. McGill refused to quit. Dylan Havelock and Alexander Pantis scored tries for the Redmen but Elliot Esposito-Menard was only able to connect on one conversion and left McGill trailing by two. Possession flipped back and forth at midfield as the clock ticked to the 80
th minute. Eventually the ball ended up in Bray's hands, and he booted it to touch for the final whistle and the Gaiters win.
The victory is the first Gaiters post-season victory over McGill since 2003.
NEXT UP
The Gaiters move onto the RSEQ Final next weekend. They travel to Montreal to face the Concordia Stingers at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10.
Stay tuned to www.gaiters.ca or @BishopsGaiters on social media for all the game details. It will mark the first time since 2009 Bishop's will play in the championship and they look for their first title since 2003.
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