KINGSTON, Ont. (October 4, 2014) - After losing their first match in over two years last weekend at McMaster, the Gaels came home on Saturday afternoon to defeat the previously unbeaten Guelph Gryphons 33-17 on Nixon Field.
Queen's had the kick off against the wind on a rainy day in Kingston, and were immediately on the offense getting inside Guelph's 22 by the third minute. The Gaels took advantage of a Guelph high kick off a scrum and pushed
Angus MacPhail (Vancouver) over the goal line, putting the first try on the board followed by a conversion from
David Worsley (Vancouver).
The Gryphons were quick to respond, grabbing a fumbled pass as Jeremy Wright scored Guelph's first try of the match. The Gryphons attacked again, forcing a scrum at the five meter line, which allowed James McLeod to put down the second try for Guelph.Joe Newman completed one of the two conversions as the Gryphons pulled ahead. The Gaels pushed back with a beautiful chip assist from
Andrew Carr (King City, Ont.) just across the goal line, put down by
Teddy Taggart (Ottawa), tying the game at 12-12. Guelph's Brandon McLeod put down one more try, as the Gryphons led the Gaels 17-12 at halftime.
With the wind at their backs in the second half, the Gaels turned up the heat in a series of offensive attacks, including a 20 yard kick from Worsley dying just short of the Gryphons 22, causing a lineout for the Gaels. In a team effort, the Gaels pushed a ruck across the goal line, with
Brendan Sloan (Peterborough, Ont.) getting credit for the try. A completed Worsley conversion gave the Gaels a two point lead against the Gryphons, which they never relinquished.
Maintaining the momentum, the Gaels charged the defensive line again with
Joseph Yelle (Brantford, Ont.) putting down a try with another conversion by Worsley. The Gryphons kept up the pressure forcing the Gaels line back only to be denied as
Fraser Bruce (Toronto) intercepted a failed chip forward and added his own try to the board. The Gaels held onto their lead for the last minutes, ending the match with a 33-17 win against Guelph.
The Gaels will be on the road next weekend when they take on the Toronto Varsity Blues at 7pm.
