MONTREAL -- Sayf Al-Omaishi and Michael Modafferi each scored a pair of tries as the McGill Redmen defeated the Concordia Stingers 46-3 to open the RSEQ men's rugby season, Sunday, at Percival Molson Stadium.

The Redmen, who are seeking to defend their title as Quebec league champions under the guidance of second-year head coach Ian Baillie, feature a balanced lineup composed of seven seniors, eight juniors, four sophomores and six freshmen. Concordia, which appointed former McGill bench boss Craig Beemer as their new head coach last month, is in a rebuilding fase with 15 rookies to go along with two sophomores, four juniors and only a pair of seniors.

Al-Omaishi, a science junior from Markham, Ont., scored both his tries before the intermission, while Modaferri, an engineering student from Laval, Que., scored the last try of the first stanza before opening second-half scoring in the 46th minute.

McGill led 27-3 at the half on the strength of five tries, one of which was converted by Andrew Manson, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound exchange student from Scotland. Manson successfully converted two more tries in the second half to finish with six points.

Jamie Wilson, a fourth-year honours student in investment management from London, England, gave the Redmen the lead early with an unconverted try in the seventh minute. Rounding out the try scoring for McGill was senior Felix Grignon, a native of France, plus senior Danick Arnaud of Terrebonne, Que., and Kaleb Nimat, a senior from Sherbrooke.

The Stingers' only scoring play was a penalty goal by rookie Julien Cantin in the 11th minute, which narrowed the gap to 5-3.

Concordia (0-1) next plays Bishop's (0-1) on Sept. 16, while the Redmen (1-0) visit the Piranhas from École de technologie supériore (0-0-1) on Sept. 18.

 
SCORING SUMMARY
 
FIRST HALF:
1. McGill - Jamie Wilson TRY (conversion failed), 6:00 (McGill 5-0)
2. Concordia - Julien Cantin PENALTY GOAL, 10:00 (McGill 5-3)
3. McGill - Sayf Al-Omaishi TRY (conversion failed), 16:00 (McGill 10-3)
4. McGill - Felix Grignon TRY (conversion failed), 28:00 (McGill 15-3)
5. McGill - Sayf Al-Omaishi TRY (conversion failed), 32:00 (McGill 20-3)
6. McGill - Michael Modafferi TRY (conversion by A. Manson), 40:00 (McGill 27-3)
 
SECOND HALF:
7. McGill - Michael Modafferi TRY (conversion by A. Manson), 45:00 (McGill 34-3)
8. McGill - Danick Arnaud TRY (conversion failed), 58:00 (McGill 39-3)
9. McGill - Kaleb Nimat TRY (conversion by A. Manson), 75:00 (McGill 46-3)
 

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:
Kirsten Whelan or Earl Zukerman
McGIll Sports Info Office
(514) 398-7012