Gryphons advance to semifinals with win over X-Women
A pair of tries by Kennedy Feasby led the No. 4-seeded Guelph Gryphons as they dropped the STFX X-Women, 29-14, during the second quarterfinal of the 2023 U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship Wednesday afternoon.
Laval, QC - A pair of tries by Kennedy Feasby led the No. 4-seeded Guelph Gryphons as they dropped the STFX X-Women, 29-14, during the second quarterfinal of the 2023 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championship Wednesday afternoon.
The Gryphons got on the board quickly at the start of the game as Feasby scored the game's first try in the third minute. Several minutes later, Brianna Martey and Natalie Armatage each scored a try with Grace Jacklyn converting on one of them to put Guelph up 17-0 after just 15 minutes.
The X-Women took time to get into the game and impose their style of play. Before the end of the first half, Emma MacDougall broke the ice for STFX with a try, and Katie Murphy made good on the convert as the X-Women trailed 17-7 at halftime.
At the start of the second half, Feasby's second try of the game (unconverted) put the Gryphons up by 15. The X-Women fought back and Akwaima Akpan, the AUS rookie of the year, scored a try in the 53rd minute to cut the gap to eight points at 22-14 after Murphy kicked her second convert of the match. At the end of the regulation 70 minutes, Madelyn Ryan added the final try of the contest for Guelph and Tousani Levale converted.
Feasby was named the player of the game for Guelph, while scrum half Murphy won similar honours for the X-Women.
STFX will play No. 1-seeded Ottawa on Friday in the first consolation semifinal game, set for 1 p.m. Guelph will take on No. 8 Victoria in Friday's first championship semifinal at 5 pm.
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GAME SUMMARY
First half
GUE – Try - Kennedy Feasby Guelph – 3rd (5-0)
GUE – Try - Brianna Martey (conversion Grace Jacklyn) – 11th (12-0)
GUE – Try - Natalie Armatage – 15th (17-0)
STFX – Try - Emma MacDougall (conversion Katie Murphy) – 28th (17-7)
Second half
GUE – Try – Kennedy Feasby – 42nd (22-7)
STFX – Try – Akwaima Akpan (conversion Katie Murphy) – 53rd (22-14)
GUE – Try – Madelyn Ryan (conversion Tousani Levale) – 70th (29-14)
Players of the Game
StFX – #9 Katie Murphy
Guelph – #7 Kennedy Feasby
Katie Murphy was named the STFX Player of the Game in the quarterfinal match