McGILL CROWNED EASTERN CHAMPS IN 19-17 VICTORY
McGill Takes First Eastern Canadian Crown in Nail-Biting Victory; Club Side loses in Close Match
As the day wound down, hours upon hours rolled into one as our vessel of transport smoothly traversed the rugged countryside of Eastern Quebec and the majestic province of New / Nouveau Brunswick.
It was a true test of mettle for those brave enough to arise at the early dawn, fight off the demons of the night before and make it to the bus.
Read on . . .
McGILL MAKE IT FOUR IN A ROW!
In 55-7 Victory McGill Take QSSF Title Once Again!
White tape wraps around flexed fingers. Tension precipates onto creased foreheads in the McGill change-room. The QSSF final is minutes away. 17-year old McGill hooker Keelan Chapman sports a Jason Bourne grimace. With great ritual, James Stellick pulls a pro-fit jersey over his herculean pecs. John “Wookie” Lee’s cheeks blossom cherry red as competitive spirit courses through his (alcohol dehygrogenase deficient) veins. Trevor Clarke Kent fills out the pregame paperwork with humble rookie devotion. 8-man Anton Nestle passes a hand through his tornado-tousled hair. Josh Resnik and Sam Skulsky stroke their embryonic Movember mustaches, perplexed by the referee’s pregame speech: “All I can say is, ze ball iz out when ze ball is out.”
Read on . . .
ALUMNI WEEKEND RECAP
This year’s Redmen Alumni Weekend proved to a big success. Attendance improved upon last year’s inaugural alumni event, and for the first time, McGill RFC organized a 7-a side tournament open to current varsity and club players and their Alumni. Apart from the brisk Montreal weather, it was a huge hit, and produced several competitive games that our alumni enjoyed!
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MCGILL 45 vs SHERBROOKE 0
An asphyxiating 45-0 McGill victory strangled Sherbrooke’s season to an end in the 2009 QSSF semi-finals. With no answer for McGill’s dominance, Sherbrooke resorted to fisticuffs and dirty tackles. The Redmen realized it wasn’t worth taking the bait. For when you are going to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.
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MCGILL 34 vs SHERBROOKE 3
McGill's Varsity side beat Sherbrooke 34-3 in rainy weather this Saturday, in their lowest scoring outing this season. They advance to the Semi-finals of the QSSF, which take place next Friday at Molson Stadium.
MCGILL 43 @ CONCORDIA 13
Its hard enough for Concordia to suit up against the Redmen juggernaut. This year they had to do it twice in a row.
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MCGILL B 0 @ OTTAWA 24
The maternal doting and gluttony of Thanksgiving weekend can reduce a man to the consistency of gravy-doused stuffing. You could tell this was the case with the McGill Club team in their match against Ottawa. Ankles rolled as people got off the bus. Mysterious concussions arose during the warm-up. Old injuries resurfaced..
Read on . . .
ALUMNI WEEKEND COMING UP!!
Did you ever play McGill Rugby? Come out to McGill this weekend for our second annual McGill Rugby Alumni Weekend! Featuring a sevens tournament, three home games, socials, and more, the Alumni weekend is great way to get back in touch with the club and former teammates!
Most of all, this weekend promises to be full of good times! Check out more information in the Alumni Section!
McGILL C 25@ DAWSON 0
When a swarm of red tracksuits climbed out of a rumbling blue van in Verdun, many thought they were witnessing a remake of the A-Team: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SukN96byd3w). Instead, it was the McGill Club B-team taking to the trenches against Dawson College, in Verdun, Montreal...
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McGILL 57 @ CONCORDIA 10
This is the way a Stinger defends,
Not with a bang but a whimper.
The first McGill – Concordia collision of the year is a highly anticipated affair. Following rumors of Concordia’s recruitment of nationally capped forward Dave Biddle, many predict a close margin. But there is a faint hint of ozone in the air as the satellitic opening drop kick launches from the deft boot of Fullback Alastair Crow. One can sense any remaining flicker of Stinger hope start to fizzle...
Read on . . .
McGILL B 0 vs OTTAWA 15
The McGill club team fell to an impressive side from the University of Ottawa this past Sunday, Oct 4th.
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McGILL 69 vs BISHOPS 0
There are events in the course of human history whose immensity no scintillating outpour of prose can fully capture. Take Redmen v.s. Bishops 2009 part deux, for example...
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McGILL 57 @ BISHOPS 5
Cold and darkness set on Lennoxville Quebec. The McGill Redmen take the Bishop’s field beneath Friday night lights. Hands rub together with murderous intent...
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MATCH PREVIEW: McGILL @ BISHOPS
What do you do when life gives you alligators? You make purses. The McGill Rugby Redmen hope to improve on a 48-0 drubbing and skinning of the Bishop’s Gators the marked the beginning of the 2008 season...
Read on . . .
MATCH PREVIEW: McGILL B, C @ St MICHAELS
This Saturday, the McGill Rugby Club will be shipping two teams south of the 49th parallel to battle St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont. These two institutions have met on the rugby pitch once before on October 9th, 2006 where amidst an autumnal scattering of leaves on Forbes Field, McGill earned a victory. With the inevitability of winter, the Redmen pulled away in the second half to earn a commanding score-line: 24-10.
Read on . . .
PRESEASON CAMP - NEWCOMERS WELCOME
Preseason training for returning and new players is slated to begin Wednesday August 19th and continue to September 3rd. Newcomers are encouraged to participate in the training camp.
On September 3rd two full sides from McGill will depart on our season kick-off fall tour. This year will see the exciting addition of a match against University of Western Ontario in London, followed by a trip to the USA to play against Dartmouth and Westpoint in the Classic. Both sides are to return September 5th.
In-season practices are currently scheduled for 5pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, with Friday practices at 7pm.
A schedule for McGill's three sides will be posted to the calendar once all games have been finalised.
McGill heads into its third year as Champions of the QSSF and with the opportunity to make a statement to the OUA.
A final note to all newcomers: Please feel free to contact us for help answering questions concerning coming early to McGill. McGill Residences does offer early move in, as a courtesy to many students such as athletes, and can be contacted for arrangements. Our rugby executive would be glad to help out as well.
Any questions can be directed to the Coach Craig Beemer and any of the McGill Rugby Executive. Contact info can be found here.
Get ready for a great season!
McGILL CROWNED QSSF CHAMPIONS
By John Edwards, Bishop's & Earl Zukerman, McGill
MONTREAL – Josh Reznick of Toronto, Matthew Edwards of Guelph, Ont., and Anton Nestel of Bridgewater, N.S., each scored tries as McGill coasted to a 21-0 whitewash over Bishop’s to capture the Quebec University Rugby League championship before 400 in rainy conditions at Percival Molson Stadium, Saturday.
It was the third consecutive provincial rugby crown for the Redmen, who reached the conference title game for the eighth straight year.
"To consistently finish at the top or in the final is a good testament to both the guys that are competing and our program in terms of our developmental side," said co-head coach Sean McCaffrey, in his 12th year with the Redmen.
"Every year we come in and anything short of a championship is a failure," added co-coach Craig Beemer. "I don't want to sound cocky but it would have taken something unforeseen for us to lose this game."
McGill took the early initiative off the opening kickoff, pushing the ball to within 10 yards of the Gaiters’ goal. Bishop’s responded with a multi-phase possession through the next 10 minutes, but could not get penetrate the McGill 22-metre line.
Late in the first half, the Redmen applied steady pressure and finally broke through in the dying minutes, as Reznick stole a five-metre scrum and put the ball down in the endzone. The conversion attempt by Calgary’s Sam Skulsky’s made it 7-0 heading into the halftime break.
Early in the second stanza, McGill continued to hold the majority of the possession time and Redmen stretched their lead to 14-0 at the eight-minute mark, when Edwards scored his second try of the season, converted by Skulsky.
The Gaiters had their best chance to reply almost immediately with a penalty goal attempt by fly-half Bill Murphy but BU was unable to recover the ball five metres out from the goal. The Bishop’s pack pushed the ball to within a metre out, but could not force it over.
McGill closed out the scoring on the final play of the game, as Nestel found the end zone.
"It took us the whole first half to get seven points on the board," said Bryce Thomassin, an alternate captain and engineering junior from Pointe Claire, Que. "In weather like this it's tougher but I knew we were eventually going to crack one over and once we did, we started rolling and got a couple more."
It was the 11th consecutive rugby championship for Thomassin, dating back to his high school years.
"I've been pretty lucky," he said. "I have been on some very good rugby teams, had really good coaches and been with great players. It's a wonderful feeling to win again."
According to McCaffrey, the success and consistency of the McGill rugby program is largely due to "the dedication of the developmental team to stick it out and really work toward the goal of making the senior varsity club."
The Redmen completed their season with a 7-2-1 record overall and although the recently proposed national championships have been postponed for a year, the team can look forward to an Eastern Canadian championships next week, against the two top university teams in the Maritimes.
The program will be looking to deliver a fourth title next year, despite the departure of graduating players Matthew Edwards, Adam Sommer, Jon Phelan, Jacob Chai, Jonathan Glancy and Jesse Myers, as well as the loss of exchange students Peter Klestov and Ian Turner, who will return to Queensland University in Australia.
“Everybody left it on the field today,” said a disappointed Gaiters head coach Bill Robson. “We were a completely different team from the start of the year to the end, and this was the toughest game McGill had all year.”
Robson's Gaiters finish the year with an overall record of 6-4, including a 4-2 mark in regular season play.
