TWU vs McGill 20221202
Photos from the 2022 CUMRC Championship Semi-final between TWU and McGill.
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MCGILL 17, TWU 11
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McGILL DEFEATS TRINITY WESTERN TO BOOK SPOT IN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
By Michael McColl (UBC Communications)
A dramatic late Jack Tucker try sent the McGill Redbirds into their first Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship game after a tense and nervy 17-11 victory over the Trinity Western Spartans at Thunderbird Stadium on Friday evening, in a closely contested semi final that saw the lead change four times.
Both teams had upset higher seeds in their quarter finals and they served up an entertaining game that saw the action flow quickly up both ends of the pitch, in a matchup where penalty conversions and misses played their part and the big tackles were in plentiful supply.
Trinity Western set their stall out early that they wanted to get points on the board when they were presented with opportunities to do so, with Matthew Willemse kicking two penalties within the opening 12 minutes.
Those points came either side of a converted McGill try, when Alexander Armstrong got the ball just over 30 yards out and powered his way through the middle of the Trinity Western defense to go over for the first five pointer of the game. Monty Weatherall converted to give the Redbirds the narrow lead.
Willemse missed another penalty attempt in the 16th minute for the Spartans and another in the dying seconds of the half, but his Redbirds counterpart Weatherall made no mistake from 44 yards to extend McGill’s lead to four with six minutes of the half remaining and they took that advantage into the break with all still to play for.
The second half started as a cagey affair, as a series of stoppages broke the action up and disrupted the flow for both teams.
The half had predominantly been played in McGill half and Trinity Western finally got the reward their territorial dominance deserved when Favour Olaniyan carried it over the tryline in the 41st minute after a series of pick and gos. Willemse conversion attempt crashed off the uprights and the Spartans had to be content with the slenderest of slender leads.
The Redbirds were reinvigorated by falling behind and took the game to the Spartans, but were unable to find a way through their resolute defense, as forced and unforced turnovers were starting to prove costly.
As the minutes ticked down, McGill upped the pressure and a failed clearance allowed Tucker to scoop up the loose ball and power over the tryline to give the RSEQ champions a lead they weren't to give up.
Weatherall hit the conversion to leave Trinity Western needing a converted try to win it, but McGill comfortably saw out the last few minutes to book their berth in the final.
Alexander Armstrong was named Player of the Game for the Redbirds, with Favour Olaniyan getting the honour for the Spartans.
The fifth ranked Redbirds will now look to claim their first men’s rugby championship on Sunday in a final showdown against defending champions, UBC Thunderbirds. That final will take place at Thunderbird Stadium on Sunday, Dec 4 at 3.30 p.m. Tickets for the game are on sale now and can be purchased here.
Trinity Western will now battle for bronze against the Guelph Gryphons on Sunday at 1 p.m.
SCORING
First Half
TWU - Penalty Convert, Matthew Willemse 6’ 3-0
MCG - Try, Alexander Armstrong (Monty Weatherall convert) 8’ 3-7
TWU - Penalty Convert, Matthew Willemse 12’ 6-7
MCG - Penalty Convert, Monty Weatherall 24’ 6-10
Second Half
TWU - Try, Favour Olaniyan (convert unsuccessful) 41’ 11-10
MCG - Try, Jack Tucker (Monty Weatherall convert) 56’ 11-17
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MCGILL 17, TWU 11
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McGILL DEFEATS TRINITY WESTERN TO BOOK SPOT IN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
By Michael McColl (UBC Communications)
A dramatic late Jack Tucker try sent the McGill Redbirds into their first Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship game after a tense and nervy 17-11 victory over the Trinity Western Spartans at Thunderbird Stadium on Friday evening, in a closely contested semi final that saw the lead change four times.
Both teams had upset higher seeds in their quarter finals and they served up an entertaining game that saw the action flow quickly up both ends of the pitch, in a matchup where penalty conversions and misses played their part and the big tackles were in plentiful supply.
Trinity Western set their stall out early that they wanted to get points on the board when they were presented with opportunities to do so, with Matthew Willemse kicking two penalties within the opening 12 minutes.
Those points came either side of a converted McGill try, when Alexander Armstrong got the ball just over 30 yards out and powered his way through the middle of the Trinity Western defense to go over for the first five pointer of the game. Monty Weatherall converted to give the Redbirds the narrow lead.
Willemse missed another penalty attempt in the 16th minute for the Spartans and another in the dying seconds of the half, but his Redbirds counterpart Weatherall made no mistake from 44 yards to extend McGill’s lead to four with six minutes of the half remaining and they took that advantage into the break with all still to play for.
The second half started as a cagey affair, as a series of stoppages broke the action up and disrupted the flow for both teams.
The half had predominantly been played in McGill half and Trinity Western finally got the reward their territorial dominance deserved when Favour Olaniyan carried it over the tryline in the 41st minute after a series of pick and gos. Willemse conversion attempt crashed off the uprights and the Spartans had to be content with the slenderest of slender leads.
The Redbirds were reinvigorated by falling behind and took the game to the Spartans, but were unable to find a way through their resolute defense, as forced and unforced turnovers were starting to prove costly.
As the minutes ticked down, McGill upped the pressure and a failed clearance allowed Tucker to scoop up the loose ball and power over the tryline to give the RSEQ champions a lead they weren't to give up.
Weatherall hit the conversion to leave Trinity Western needing a converted try to win it, but McGill comfortably saw out the last few minutes to book their berth in the final.
Alexander Armstrong was named Player of the Game for the Redbirds, with Favour Olaniyan getting the honour for the Spartans.
The fifth ranked Redbirds will now look to claim their first men’s rugby championship on Sunday in a final showdown against defending champions, UBC Thunderbirds. That final will take place at Thunderbird Stadium on Sunday, Dec 4 at 3.30 p.m. Tickets for the game are on sale now and can be purchased here.
Trinity Western will now battle for bronze against the Guelph Gryphons on Sunday at 1 p.m.
SCORING
First Half
TWU - Penalty Convert, Matthew Willemse 6’ 3-0
MCG - Try, Alexander Armstrong (Monty Weatherall convert) 8’ 3-7
TWU - Penalty Convert, Matthew Willemse 12’ 6-7
MCG - Penalty Convert, Monty Weatherall 24’ 6-10
Second Half
TWU - Try, Favour Olaniyan (convert unsuccessful) 41’ 11-10
MCG - Try, Jack Tucker (Monty Weatherall convert) 56’ 11-17
