A year of redemption in Gryphons rugby
Three overtime periods.
Two rounds of penalty kicks.
One kick to finish it all.
For the first time since 1998, the Gryphons’ men’s rugby team won the Turner Trophy and OUA gold for their victory on Nov. 13. The win marks a double-gold for both the men’s and women’s rugby teams this season.
For the Gryphons, this year’s win means redemption for the last four seasons, in which they consistently finished on the podium, but could never beat the defending champs, the Queen’s Gaels. Last year, the Gryphons lost to the Gaels in the OUA final by a single, heart-breaking point.
Queen’s had won the OUA championship four years running, so this year’s championship would have completed their “Drive for Five.” In honour of the game, Queen’s delivered multiple busses full of fans to Varsity Field, all touting matching neon orange “Queen’s Rugby” hats.
It was a long, harrowing night for Gryphons and Gaels fans alike. The stands were overflowing and supporters surrounded the field on three sides, halted only by blockades around the fourth, designated for the away team.
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The match began with intensity as the Gryphons got the better of the Gaels in the first half. Successful tries from winger Adam Maahs and hooker Jack Caylor, with a conversion by scrum-half Cody Weese-Burton, gave the Gryphons a 12-7 lead at halftime.
In the second half, an illegal hit by Gryphon captain Jeremy Wright resulted in a red card. His ejection from the game meant the Gryphons would finish the match short one player.
Queen’s rallied late in the second half with a penalty kick from Alex Colborne and a try by Michael Douros, bringing the score to 17-12 in favour of the Gaels. Not long after, the Gryphons worked the ball back up the pitch and a try by winger MacLain Wakefield in the 74th minute of play tied the game and took the contest into overtime, which would consist of two extra 10-minute halves.
More than once, the Gryphons laid it all out in critical stops at their goal line. Their airtight defense was key in stopping Queen’s from getting ahead.
In the first half of overtime Maahs broke through the Gaels defense to score his second try of the night, followed by a successful conversion by Mario Van Der Westhuizen, which established a thrilling 24-17 lead over the Gaels. Excited fans broke through the gates surrounding the field to celebrate with the team, but their eagerness was premature. According to OUA regulation, the play had to continue into the second half because this round of overtime wasn’t sudden death.
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Multiple knock-ons by the Gryphons resulted in a costly turnover in favour of the Gaels. In the 96th minute of play, Gaels’ number 8, Nicholas DeLallo, broke through the Gryphon defense to score a try on a major counterattack. The conversion by Colborne tied the game for a second time at 24-24.
The Gaels, in the final moments, chanced a penalty kick from half, which hit the upright goal post and bounced out. The Gryphons were still in the game—if only by half an inch.
A third period of overtime—this time sudden death—was added to the game. Exhausted, both teams exhibited valiant efforts, but no points were scored. The Gaels’ speedy fullback Kainoa Lloyd nearly broke through the Gryphons’ defensive formation multiple times, but the lineup adjusted to shut him down long before he could see the goal line.
With the score still tied 24-24 after 110 minutes of play, the game would be decided by a series of penalty kicks, which are unheard of in rugby. The first round of kicks took place 22 metres out. The Gaels’ second kicker, Colborne, set their lead early. Fruitless efforts by the first four Gryphon kickers left it up to fly half Mark Perrin.
Luckily, Perrin normally takes the kick-offs during regular play for the Gryphons. His well-placed kick secured yet another tie as he single-handedly kept the Gryphons in the game.
A second round of penalty kicks ensued—this time from 35 metres out. This round, the Gaels couldn’t match successful kicks from Guelph’s first and last kickers Van Der Westhuizen and Perrin. Their focus and precision would clinch the game.
As Perrin’s final shot flew through the uprights, players, coaching staff, and frenzied fans sprinted onto the field in celebration. This OUA championship marks not only the end of the Queen’s dynasty, but an undefeated season for the Gryphons.
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By all means, this year’s roster was the dream team. The 2016-17 Gryphons boast six all-star players, the league’s Most Valuable Player for veteran hooker Eric Howard, who was absent from the final to compete for Team Canada on their European tour, and Coach of the Year.
Although it’s only his first year as head coach, Cory Hector has achieved what the Gryphons have been vying for since 1998.
“We hoped we would win and thought we did everything we needed to do to win, but I didn’t think the game would go that way,” said Hector in an interview with The Ontarion. “I think next year we might have to make [penalty kicks] a game at the start of the season and carry it out throughout in case we run into that situation again, so that we’re a little bit better prepared.”
Although the penalty kicks were a surprise, the Gryphons have been OUA playoff contenders for the last four years.
“It’s four or five years of a lot of hard work and sacrifice. The coolest thing for these guys, […] they started with bronze and now they’ll have one of each colour.”
Even further, 2016 has been a big year for Guelph’s entire rugby program. The women’s varsity team also went undefeated in OUA play, handily beating the defending champs, the McMaster Marauders, 24-7. McMaster’s team is also ranked number one in Canada. This double-victory is even sweeter considering last season’s upset in the championship game, also against McMaster.
The team went to the CIS Championships in the first week of November, ultimately losing the bronze medal game against the Calgary Dinos. What this shows, however, is that Guelph has built a program worthy of competing at the national level.
Both the men’s and women’s teams proved their unwavering defensive skill and tenacity on the field. The 2016-17 Gryphon rugby teams will go down in history for their remarkable efforts this season.