LANGLEY, British Columbia – The No. 7 Queen’s Gaels earned a tight 14-13 victory over the No. 3 Ottawa Gee-Gees in the first consolation semi-final match at the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship Friday morning at the Willoughby Community Park Stadium at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C.
Leading the way for the Gaels was James Webb with two converts, and Daniel Svoboda and Eric Godden with a try each. Scoring for the Gee-Gees were Andreas Dionisopoulos and Jamie Armstrong with a try each and Glenn Roy with a penalty kick.
AS IT HAPPENED
Ottawa jumped out to a quick lead with an unconverted try by Dionisopoulos at 2:30 to take the 5-0 lead. Queen’s responded with a converted try from Daniel Svobada at 6:15 to take the early 7-5 lead. Five minutes later the Gee-Gees regained the lead with a penalty kick at 12:05. The back-and-forth opening 15 minutes continued with Queen’s Eric Godden putting the Gaels ahead 14-8 with the converted try at 14:40. The high-scoring opening 15 minutes turned into a defensive battle the rest of the way as neither team could find any more scoring opportunities with the half ending with Queen’s leading 14-8.
The defensive battle showed in the hard-fought second half with Ottawa having the only scoring at 48:30. Jamie Armstrong made a long run to get the Gee-Gees the five points and make the score 14-13 for the Gaels, but the conversion hit the left upright to keep Queen’s in the lead. The Gaels’ defense stood out in the remaining 12 minutes and kept the Gee-Gees from any more scoring to secure the one-point 14-13 win.
UP NEXT
No. 7 Queen’s will now play in the consolation final against the winner of No. 5 Trinity Western and No. 8 Calgary. While No. 3 Ottawa will play against the loser in the seventh-place match. Both matches will be played on Sunday.
First Half
OTT – Try, 8 Andreas Dionisopoulos, 2:30, 5-0
QUE 14– Try, 8 Daniel Svobada, 6:15, 5-5
QUE – Con, 10 James Webb, 7:00, 5-7
OTT – PK, 13 Glenn Roy, 12:05, 8-7
QUE – try, 12 Eric Godden, 13:35, 8-14
QUE – Con, 10 James Webb, 14:40, 8-14
Second Half
OTT – Try, 10 Jamie Armstrong, 48:30, 13-14
Final
Queen’s – 14
Ottawa – 13
Players of the Match
Queen’s: 14 Donovan Tran
Ottawa: James Webb
