2021 CUMRC Recap: Game 3
Recap of our consolation final vs. University of Calgary Dinos
Game 3: Consolation Final vs. University of Calgary - The Last Dance
After running rampant against RMC in the second half of the consolation semi-final, the boys got themselves ready for the last dance of the season: a fifth and sixth place consolation final against first year participants, the University of Calgary Dinos, on Sunday November 26th.
During the regular season, Concordia were not necessarily a team that started games lightning fast, but it seemed they wanted to shake this notion against the Dinos. Winger Jean-Christophe Vinette took the opening kick off right out of the hands of the Dinos and, after the boys played one more phase, he decided to hit a gap down the blind side and score after just 23 seconds. A CUMRC record for the fastest try ever scored.
The Dinos answered right back, though. After taking a Concordia turn over down to the 5 metre line, they set up the maul drive and this was enough to level up the scoring four minutes into the game. What a contest we were set up for on this snowy November afternoon in the Lime City.
The boys in maroon and gold then punched back. “Expansive rugby” was the key phrase of the day, as the Stingers turned over the kickoff and stretched play from side to side with 6 continuous phases and 18 passes before Arthur du Chaffaut crossed the white line in the corner. The conversion wasn’t to be had and the lead was 10-5 just 6 and a half minutes into the game.
Calgary decided to slow things down a few minutes later with a three pointer to level up the score to 10-10. This, however, seemed to give them the boost they were looking for, as they maintained possession inside the Concordia half for several phases before putting a nice kick in behind the defensive line. At the ensuing 5-metre scrum, an 8-man pick saw them score their second try of the day and open a 17-10 lead.
Calgary continued to mount the pressure, but after the Stingers’ defence held up, the boys in maroon and gold slowly made their way back down the field. With width in attack and good wide passing, they continued to find space in the wide channels and, after an Aidan McMullan break took them all the way to the 5-metre line, the big boys got to work and Laurence Olivier Belley punched it in from short range. 17-15 Dinos, with 5 minutes left in the first half.
The boys came out of the gates quickly in the second half. After third year centre Brendan MacKenzie blocked a Dinos clearing kick with his face to force a goal line drop out, the Stingers started to mount the pressure again. Some good carries from the big boys opened up some spaces out wide where the French connection of Stanislas Blazkowski and Arthur du Chaffaut went to work. Stan saw the 2 v 2 as an opportunity to stab a little grubber kick through and du Chaffaut collected it nicely to dot down his second of the day.
As the flurries of snow picked up, the boys continued to try and play their style of rugby. The Dinos put the kickoff out the back of the end zone, so the Stingers launched their attack from a scrum centre. They continued to make their way into opposition territory, where flanker Mo Almoalim punched in another try from short range. 27-17 Concordia with 18 minutes left on the clock.
Although the boys spent the next 9 minutes in the Calgary half, the Dinos defence continued to frustrate them and the boys had to show some patience. It was a Luca Milne line break that shifted the momentum and Aidan McMullan made use of his 205 pound frame to beat 4 defender from 22 metres out. With the weather now looking and feeling more and more uncomfortable, the scoreline was looking a little better at 32-17.
Time was now slowly running out and with Calgary not gaining any territory, the boys in maroon and gold had the chance to launch one more attack from a lineout on the 22-metre line. After building the phases and making a little break down the far touch line, first year number 8 Thomas Artmann punched in the final try of the day. McMullan added the two points for a final score of 39-17. Mo Almoalim was named the Pinnacle Player of the Match - a worthy sign off for one of our four graduating players.
Graduating Class of 2021
Congratulations to the following players on an incredible career in the maroon and gold:
Dylan MacDonald | Lock | 5th Year | M.Sc. Management
Mohamed Almoallim | Flanker | 4th Year | Finance
Andrew Agoustis | Prop | 4th Year | Industrial Engineering
Joseph Corbisiero | Lock | 4th Year | Mechanical Engineering
Jean-Christophe Vinette | Winger | 4th Year | Accounting/Finance
More to come on these lads soon!