McGILL EXTENDS DYNASTY TO FIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Over the course of the last two seasons, the McGill Redmen Rugby teams have experienced fantastic success in their play, especially when competing against their local QSSF opponents. They won games handily, demonstrating sublime individual skill and team fluidity. While there was always an inevitable sense of nervousness before each match, there was a confidence that emanated from Loose-Head Prop to Fullback on the starting roster, a security of victory.

In the 2010 campaign, it was a different story, after an extremely promising training camp and a successful game against Queen’s University, things were looking up as they had in the years past. Unfortunately this was not the case. Two troublesome and hard fought wins against Bishop’s University and a split of the season series with our Montréal rivals, Concordia. While the Redmen finished atop the standings after the regular season, there was a feeling of apprehension amongst the ranks, with the taste of defeat still on their taste buds, the McGillians were primed to prove their mettle come playoff time. After a solid win over the Sherbrooke Vert et Or, there was a one week bye going into the QSSF finals after the Bishop’s v. Concordia game culminated with a hotly contested Stinger’s victory.

Sunday, November 14th at 8pm, the QSSF finals commenced. With a sizable crowd the support was divided, as ruckus supporters were gunning for both teams. Luckily, for McGill, the cranium accessorized individual, Spencer Longley made his triumphant entrance with rainbow-dinosaur hat on head and cribbage board in hand.

Both teams came out impassioned, throwing themselves recklessly into rucks and malevolently into the mauls. There was an element of Barbary as the teams seemed to have nothing else on their mind but the goals of pillage and destruction. The usual sure-hoofed horse of a man, Gideon Balloch was erratic with his early attempts of penalty conversions, eventually corralling his bucking foot and slotting one in for a 3-0 lead. This was only to be matched by the opponents #10, one Adriano D’Angelo, 3-3, well done, Mr. D’Angelo.

The best of the Ballochs was yet to come. With game-time hero, Gideon slotting in two tries before the end of the half, earning points through the work of the entire McGill side. With both conversions made, the score was 17-3, and the Redmen entered the locker room with a wary air of confidence. As the second stanza began, it was much of the same, Concordia using their forwards as much as possible and staunch McGill defense coming up big, phase after phase.

But the Stingers were able to be that thorn (bee-sting?) in the side of McGill, with their scrum-half sneaking his was in for a converted try. Score 17-10 McGill.

Yet again, Gid Balloch (yes, I can tell them apart now), added to his De Facto Quebec Student Athlete of the Week credentials, by scoring another try in the corner. After the game, the bashful and ambivalent being had this to say about the score:

"We had the ball maybe 15 yards from the left sideline the ball went through five or six sets of hands and I was lucky to be at the end of that line and ran it in from 10 yards out,"
With such elegance, his prose excoriated away any doubt, it was comparable only to a Viennese Waltz for the senses.

Concordia could not respond despite their push to break the salient. The final score: 22-10 McGill. Complete with the 4th consecutive yellow card for one, Sam Skuh-dulsky (as pronounced by Stade Molson Stadium announcer).

It must also be mentioned that five McGill Redmen Rugby players received QSSF all-star honours; (albeit injured) Maxwell Gregory, Sam Skulsky, Liam Brown, Jon Lee, Keelan Chapman and Roderick MacKenzie taking home the ever so coveted plaques.

Extremely casual and low-key celebrations ensued with little pomp or circumstance. With great luck, a rare appearance of the wild ‘Peterborough Pete’ emerged in his natural habitat. It both enthralled and mystified the lower years on the team, sending many into rapid beverage consumption.

Despite the unofficial “Eastern Championships” being cancelled, there was still a gleeful jump in the step of all McGill Rugby Football Clubbers, we had our fifth straight conference championship to build upon. Come March, those Ivy-Leaguers better expect the worst, no, not a torn sweater vest, but a fierce McGill RFC side ready to compete for the Covo Cup.

write up by Trevor Clarke.