Gryphons set tone for the season ahead
The Guelph Gryphons men’s rugby team took down fierce opponents Queens in the season’s home opener at Varsity Field on Sun, Sept. 11. Emotions ran high for Gryphons as they looked for redemption from last year’s heartbreaking OUA final loss against Queens.
These two teams have faced each other in many hard battles and, for the Gryphons, losing to Queens by one point in the final last year was devastating. Determination was smeared across their faces as the game began.
Guelph pressed hard in the early stages of the game, holding Queens in their own half until a sudden break began to change the pace of the game. Nerves started to set in for the Gryphons when Gaels’ powerhouse Kainoa Lloyd darted down the right wing past several defenders to score a try. The Gaels’ kicker couldn’t convert the try, leaving the score at 0-5 for Queens.
“The game quickly turned choppy with both teams biting into the tension in the air.”
The game quickly turned choppy with both teams biting into the tension in the air. Guelph’s desire to take down the four-time reigning OUA champions was evident. Sunday’s match was a game of heart and the Gryphons appeared to want it more.
The remainder of the first half saw both teams trying to run through each other and missing opportunities to move the ball to the outside of the field. Queens gave away two penalties which allowed Guelph kicker Mario Van Der Westhuizen to score two field goals, taking the score to 6-5 for the Gryphons at half time.
“We feel like we’re fit and fast and strong, so that’s how we’re going to play and try to get teams to keep up with us” said head coach Cory Hector.
The Gryphons made their own luck in the second half, kicking off with high intensity as both teams played tough defense. Guelph got their first breakthrough as they patiently passed the ball one yard out from the end zone until veteran Eric Charest-Pekeski dove in for the Gryphons’ first try of the game.
Charest-Pekeski’s try opened up the play for the Gryphons and the momentum began to shift as they moved the ball with finesse. Guelph wing Adam Maahs barreled down the left side of the pitch to score a try and Van Der Westhuizen converted from a tough angle to make the score 18-5.
Queens knocked on the Gryphons door near the end of the game, scoring a try right between the posts and converting easily. With the end in sight, Guelph’s defense allowed them to hold on to win their home opener against their rivals 18-12.
“Guelph’s defense allowed them to hold on to win their home opener against their rivals 18-12.”
“We kind of got away from our game plan there, but when push comes to shove and you’re not doing as well as you want you just go to smash rugby and we’re good at that” said Gryphon captain Jeremy Wright. “We’re pretty used to getting a dog fight with those guys, so we’re just happy we came out with the win.”
Hector was satisfied with the win, but acknowledge that there is still a long way to go this season.
“It was a good game, but there’s still lots to work on,” said Hector. “I look forward to having a number of weeks ahead to start repairing things. I think we get a lucky bounce and we score, they get an unlucky bounce and don’t score—it could easily go the other way. In the grand scheme of things, it’s a win—any win is a win—but we try to look at one game at a time.”
This win takes the Gryphons to a 2-0 record and another big faceoff against Brock next weekend. Kicker Mario Van Der Westhuizen was named Guelph Gryphon athlete of the week for his outstanding performance in the game against Queens.
Image by Tasha Falconer.