Gee-Gees avenge last year’s early exit
The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees flew to Charlottetown at the beginning of this week to continue their outstanding 2024 season at the 2024 U SPORTS Championship.
The brackets were announced last weekend, which showed the eight participant teams who would be strumming off for the champion title. Along with the Gee-Gees, who are RSEQ finalists, and Laval Rouge et Or, who stripped Ottawa of their RSEQ champion title, the UBC Thunderbirds, the Acadia Axewomen, the Queen’s Gaels, the Guelph Gryphons, and the Victoria Vikes are on the pitch this week, plus the UPEI Panthers. The Panthers enter as hosts..
The Gee-Gees trip commenced against the Gryphons, who finished their season with a suprising win over Queen’s in the OUA finals., The Gryphons provided a very tough game and an insane level of rugby in the quarterfinals of this championship.
The game started at noon on Wednesday — the perfect way to start the afternoon — and the pressure was on right away. Hard tackles were made, and great balls were thrown. The garnet and grey started off by kicking to Guelph and running up to meet them right at the ten-yard line. A fantastic defence by the Gee-Gees saved them from a breakthrough by the Griffins; however, it did not save them from Guelph playing the ball down the field and first-year Gryphon Brooklynn Feasby gaining the game’s first try.
The game was played throughout the whole field, with both teams taking turns at the offensive and defensive pose; with both Guelph and Ottawa being physically strong and fast teams, it was a game that got played with the heart.
By halftime, the scoreboard was 7-5. Both teams got one taste of the end zone, and the Gryphons made their kick, achieving that little lead to push them forward. However, with both teams’ semi final chances on the line, neither seemed to relent in their hunger for the lead, making for a tight and highly entertaining game.
The second half started with the same intensity as the first one ended, and the Gee-Gees proved they’re not one to stay the underdog for long. First-year Sydney Noseworthy scored the second try for Ottawa with an impressive breakthrough, raising the Garnet and Grey from the ground, making the scoreboard 10-7 plus the conversion kick, adding two points, making it 12-7 in favour of the U of O team. This was followed by another try off an impressive performance by the forwards from second row Marley Magnusson; the Gee-Gees then led 17-7.
The Guelph team, however, did not let this rock them down and stole Ottawa’s try fever, with their eight-man, Emily Clark, scoring seconds after Ottawa kicked to them, bringing them within five points.
After a very contested game, the Gee-Gees erupted in emotion after hearing the final whistle, signalling their continuation in the championship and their chance at semi-finals this Friday, at 12 p.m. against UBC, marking what could be either the end of the Gee-Gees’ championship hopes or their ticket to the finals.
