LENNOXVILLE, Que. – Owen Cumming of Toronto scored a game-high nine points as visiting McGill overwhelmed Bishop's 24-9 in a key men's rugby contest at Coulter Field, Friday. It spoiled Seniors Night for the hometown team's nine graduating players.
 
McGill, which led 19-0 at halftime, tallied four tries to earn a bonus point for the fourth time this season in the RSEQ conference standings. The Redbirds catapulted into sole possession of first place with a 4-1 record and 20 points. They are perched one precarious point ahead of Concordia, also 4-1, which is on a bye week. Both teams have one game remaining before playoffs. 

"We got the job done but made it hard on ourselves with too many ball-handling errors," said McGill head coach Ian Baillie. "We had the goal of a bonus-point win and accomplished that task. I am very proud of the composure that pulled the boys together in the late stages of the game to score the final try."

Cumming, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound scrum-half, scored one try and converted two others. The 21-year-old political science senior put McGill ahead 7-0 at the eight-minute mark after converting his own try, a six-yard run, then upped the score to 14-0 with another try in the 38th minute. Cumming now ranks second among the league's leading try scorers with five and moved into the team lead in scoring with 34 points overall, nine more than injured fly-half Monty Weatherall.
 
Other McGill first half tries were scored by senior Maxime Rieuf of Orchard Park, N.Y., in the 37th minute, sophomore Evan Tennant of Kirkland, Que., in the dying seconds of the period after a Bishop's clearing attempt was blocked.

Quinn Hayhurst of Victoria, B.C., tallied the lone unconverted try for BU in the 50th minute, reducing the deficit to 19-5.

The fourth Redbirds try, which earned them a bonus point in the standings, was tallied by flanker Dakota Stevenson, a psychology junior from Sayward, B.C., with two minutes remaining in the contest.
 
The Gaiters were assessed four of the five yellow cards issued by the officials, which left them two men short for a good segment of the first half. Riley Jones was booked in the 14th minute, followed by Patrick Currie two minutes later and Matthew Skipper in 22nd minute. Their fourth booking was called on Jack Page in the 56th minute. McGill's only infraction was called on Thomas Richards in the 50th minute, which led to a BU try.
 
Bishop's (2-3) will close out their schedule at ETS (2-2) on Friday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. The Gaiters currently sit in the fourth and final playoff berth, one point ahead of the Montreal Carabins (2-3).
 
McGill (4-1) will host last-place Sherbrooke (0-5) on Oct. 23, in their final game before playoffs. The game is slated for a 3 p.m. kickoff at Percival Molson Stadium. Should McGill win that and score at least four tries, then they will clinch first place ahead of Concordia (4-1), which faces a road game against the Carabins on Oct. 23.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
McGill 24, Bishop's 5
(at Coulter Field, Lennoxville, Que)

FIRST HALF:
1. McGill: Owen Cumming TRY (converted by O. Cumming), 8:00 (McGill 7-0)
2. McGill: Maxime Rieuf TRY (converted by O. Cumming), 37:00 (McGill 14-0)
3. McGill: Evan Tennant TRY (conversion missed by O. Cumming), 40:00 (McGill 19-0)
 
SECOND HALF:
4. Bishop's: Quinn Hayhurst TRY (conversion missed), 40:00 (McGill 19-5)
5. McGill: Dakota Stevenson TRY (conversion missed by O. Cumming), 78:00 (McGill 24-5)

PENALTY CARDS:
Bishop's: Riley Jones (yellow, 14:00)
Bishop's: Patrick Currie (yellow, 16:00)
Bishop's: Matthew Skipper (yellow, 22:00)
McGill: Thomas Richards (yellow, 50:00)
Bishop's: Jack Page (yellow, 56:00)


GAME LINEUPS & STATS

RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS
 
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Off.)
m.athletics.mcgill.ca (mobile website)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca