RECAP: Redbirds outlast men’s rugby in Montreal

Despite an encouraging start, the McGill Redbirds men's rugby team proved too much for the Gee-Gees, downing Ottawa 31-19 Saturday afternoon at Percival-Molson Memorial Stadium.

Theo Espagnol, Graeme Neill-Klein and Connor Williams scored the tries for the Garnet and Grey.

Ottawa got the scoring going inside the first five minutes. Feeding off a raucous McGill crowd, Espagnol plowed into the end zone for his first try of the season.

McGill responded with a penalty kick and a converted try. Ottawa had the chance to answer back before the halftime break, but couldn't get the ball down in the try zone and the hosts led 10-5 at the break.

The teams traded tries throughout the second half. Neill-Klein and Williams both scored, but McGill's three converted tries gave the Redbirds the victory. An unfortunate miscommunication on a late lineout allowed McGill to score a last-minute try. Had they not scored late, Ottawa would have earned a defensive bonus point for losing by a try or less.

Espagnol was named the match MVP for the Gee-Gees, while Owen Cumming earned the honour for the Redbirds. 

Jamie Armstrong, Ottawa's all-time leading scorer in RSEQ action, returned to the starting lineup and converted two of the team's three tries. 

Ottawa (1-1) returns to Matt Anthony Field on Saturday, Sept. 24 to take on the Bishop's Gaiters (2-0). The Gee-Gees have won their last two meetings with the Gaiters, but the latter are off to a very strong start to the 2022 season. Tickets for the match are on sale at tickets.geegees.ca. 

McGill (2-0) faces the four-time defending RSEQ Champions from Concordia next week, who are off to a shocking 0-2 start to the year.