RECAP: Record-setting home opener for men’s rugby

The Gee-Gees enjoyed an offensive explosion not seen before in program history, downing the Sherbrooke Vert & Or 65-0 in front of a sold-out Matt Anthony Field crowd Saturday evening.

Elias Hancock stole the show, scoring four tries, the most by a single player in a single game in program history. Prior to Saturday, no Gee-Gee had more than two in a single game. It was a special performance for Hancock, who was coming back from an injury that forced him to miss the 2019 season.

"It's an honour, especially for myself because I was injured for a full year," said Hancock. "It was an incredible feeling with all the fans. The university really did a good job organizing a double header [with the women's team] and getting it on social media."

Duncan Hladik also had three tries, while six different Gee-Gees found pay dirt. The 65 points scored was the most in a single game in program history, giving the Gee-Gees an emphatic start to the 2021 season.

"Credit to Sherbrooke, it's tough to travel four hours on the road for your first rugby game in two years," said Gee-Gees coach Andrew "Bones" Armstrong. "The number of points we put up I think shows athleticism. We've got guys who, if they can get into space, can create trouble for the other team."

Saturday also marked the first time in RSEQ play the Gee-Gees shutout an opponent.

"We've emphasized the preseason that we have to be committed to defence," said Armstrong. "It's something in the past that has not been a strength of ours. For us to come out and hold them to nothing is massive for us."

The Gee-Gees (1-0) hit the road next week to take on the defending RSEQ Champion Concordia Stingers (1-0), before returning the following week to Matt Anthony Field to face Montreal (0-1).