MONTREAL – Arthur Du Chaffaut connected on three penalty kicks as Concordia defeated McGill 14-6 in a hard-fought men's rugby game for the Dave Hardy Cup, Saturday. The game was played in a constant drizzle at Concordia Stadium
 
The teams were tied 3-3 at halftime but Concordia won the second half 11-3, scoring the only try of the contest in injury time, an unconverted major by Victor Brisson on the final play. That try was a costly one for McGill, which lost a bonus point in the standings. Bonus points are awarded to teams that score four tries or lose by seven points or less.
 
The Redbirds fell to 2-1 and sit four points in arrears of second-place Concordia (3-1).
 
Fly-half Monty Weatherall, who hails from England, opened the scoring for McGill with a penalty kick on a challenging 40-yarder from near the sideline in just the fourth minute of play. After three consecutive penalty goals by the Stingers, Martin Laval added a 25-yarder in the 70th minute, narrowing McGill's deficit to 9-6.
 
It was a rugged affair, typical of many confrontations between these bitter cross-town rivals, and yellow cards were issued to both sides, which resulted in teams playing shorthanded for 10 minutes. Concordia's Jean-Christophe Vinette was flagged in the fourth minute, leading directly to McGill's first scoring play, while McGill's Jeremy Ockomichalak was penalized with four minutes remaining in regulation time.
 
"Purists would have loved this game for the physicality and the tactical work of both sides," said McGill head coach Ian Baillie. "The skill level was high. In very wet conditions the handling and the tackle completion by both sides was very good."

It was the second-straight conquest for Concordia in the annual Hardy Cup rivalry game, named in honour of Dave Hardy, who coached rugby at both institutions. Hardy spent many years as a head coach at both institutions and is considered to be one of the pillars of Quebec rugby,  mentoring players, coaches and officials over his six decades of involvement with the sport. The inaugural Cup, played on Sept. 14, 2019, resulted in 23-21 victory for the Stingers. There was no game in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both teams return to action on Saturday, Oct. 9. Concordia (3-1) will host last-place Sherbrooke (0-3) at 1 p.m., while McGill plays host to Ottawa (3-1) in a 3 p.m. kickoff.
 
RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS


SCORING SUMMARY
Concordia 14, McGill 6
(2nd DAVE HARDY CUP)

FIRST HALF:
1. McG: Monty Weatherall (PENALTY-KICK), 4' (McGill leads 3-0)
2. CON: Arthur Du Chaffaut (PENALTY-KICK), 6' (tie 3-3)

SECOND HALF:
3. CON: Arthur Du Chaffaut (PENALTY-KICK), 46' (Concordia 6-3)
4. CON: Arthur Du Chaffaut (PENALTY-KICK), 64' (Concordia 9-3)
5. McG: Martin Laval (PENALTY-KICK), 68' (Concordia 9-6)
6. CON: Victor Brisson (TRY; convert missed), 80'+ (Concordia 14-6)


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