(CIS) – Concordia made things interesting with a second-half try and some late pressure, but the Guelph Gryphons managed to hang on for a 15-10 win in the CIS bronze medal game Sunday at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver.
Jane Kirby’s second try of the game turned out to be the difference for Guelph. With her side already leading 10-3, Kirby received a pass on the right wing about 20 yards from goal, stiff-armed one defender and rumbled into the end zone.
Concordia prop Lisa Hoffman was pushed across the line during a maul in the 66th minute, and all-Canadian Jackie Tittley converted the try to make it a 15-10 game, but the Stingers couldn’t quite muster any late heroics to complete the comeback.
“We tried to minimize our penalties and just went back to our traditional style of rugby,” said Guelph head coach Colette McAuley. “We kept the ball in-hand and played straight-up rugby and that seems to work well in these sort of muddy field conditions.”
Brittany Sammutt opened the scoring in the seventh minute for Guelph, taking a pass on the left wing and turning the corner, out-racing the Concordia defence for the try.
Tittley answered for the Stingers in the 27th minute with a penalty goal to keep her side within striking distance, behind 5-3 at that point.
“We were really good today and the effort was fantastic,” said Stingers head coach Graeme McGravie. “I can’t ask for anything more from the team than what we got today.”
The players of the game were Concordia’s Sarah Nesbitt and Guelph’s Jacey Murphy.
