MONTREAL – Benjamin Russell, a native of England, scored two tries and was one of five Redbirds to score a major as McGill clinched the RSEQ regular season title with a convincing 36-3 victory over visiting Sherbrooke at Percival Molson Stadium, Saturday.

It was McGill's first divisional pennant since 2016. The Redbirds posted an identical 5-1 record with Concordia but finished ahead of the Stingers with five bonus points  – two more than Concordia – which are earned by scoring four tries or more in a game.

Other try scorers for McGill were senior Sam Elrington and freshman Gaspard Poire, who both hail from France, along with junior Ian McDowell of Dorval, Que., and Thomas Richards, a senior from Beaconsfield, Que.

Rounding out the McGill tally was junior Jack Tucker of Toronto, with a pair of conversions and Owen Cumming, who converted one.

The lone point-getter for the Vert & Or was William Couture, who opened the scoring in the 23rd minute of play with a penalty goal.

The game ended on a sombre note when one of the Sherbrooke players was injured in the final minute and dispatched to hospital. Further details were not immediately available.

Division-leading McGill (5-1) will host fourth-place Bishop's (3-3) in a sudden-death semifinal on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 12 noon. The other semi will feature third-place Ottawa (4-2) playing at second-place Concordia (5-1). The RSEQ championship game is slated for Nov. 6.


SCORING SUMMARY
McGill 36, Sherbrooke 3
(at Percival Molson Stadium)

FIRST HALF:
1. Sherbrooke: William Couture, PENALTY GOAL, 23:00 (Sherbrooke 3-0)
2. McGill: Sam Elrington, TRY (converted missed by O. Cumming), 35:00 (McGill 5-3)
3. McGill: Benjamin Russell, TRY (conversion by O. Cumming), 39:00 (McGill 12-3)
 
SECOND HALF:
4. McGill: Thomas Richards, TRY (conversion missed by O. Cumming), 49:00 (McGill 17-3)
5. McGill: Gaspard Poire, TRY (conversion by Jack Tucker), 60:00 (McGill 24-3)
6. McGill: Benjamin Russell, TRY (conversion missed by Jack Tucker), 71:00 (McGill 29-3)
7. McGill: Ian McDowell, TRY (conversion by Jack Tucker), 76:00 (McGill 36-3)

OFFICIAL SCORESHEET (PDF)

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