MONTREAL -- Stanislas Blazkowski scored a game-high seven points, tallying the winning try in the 72nd minute as Concordia defeated McGill 24-17 to win the Dave Hardy Cup for the third consecutive time, in a hard-fought men's rugby game, Sunday, at Concordia Stadium.

it was the first win of the season for Concordia (1-2), the defending RSEQ champions.

A last-minute penalty kick by McGill sophomore Martin Laval salvaged a bonus point in the RSEQ standings for the Redbirds, who dropped to 2-1 and sit in a tie with the Montreal Carabins for the third and fourth playoff berths in the eight-team conference. Bonus points are awarded to teams that score four tries in a game and/or lose a close game by seven points or less.

The lead changed hands four times with six different players scoring tries in the game. Other major marksmen for the victors were Damien Martin-Gomes, Anthony Giannatsis and Laurence-Olivier Belley.

McGill try scorers were Alex Pantis and Ferreol Amigues. Rounding out the Redbirds scoring was Monty Weatherall with four points on a pair of conversions.

With no love lost between these heated rivals, there were a few shoving incidents in the game but only one yellow card was assessed, to Concordia's Benjamin Laurin, in the final moments.

The Hardy Cup rivalry game was named in honour of Dave Hardy, who coached rugby at both institutions. Considered to be one of the pillars of Quebec rugby,  Hardy mentored 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 and Concordia won the 2021 contest by a 14-6 margin.

Next week, Concordia (1-2) plays at cellar-dwelling Sherbrooke (0-3) on Sept. 30 at 8 p.m., while McGill (2-1) will trek across Mt. Royal to confront the Carabins (2-1) at Terrain Vincent d'Indy, on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 3 p.m.

RSEQ STANDINGS

OFFICIAL SCORESHEET (PDF)

SCORING SUMMARY
Concordia 24, McGill 17
(at Concordia Stadium)
 
FIRST HALF:

1. McG: TRY by Alex Pantis (convert made by Monty Weatherall), 26:00, (McGill 7-0)
2. CON: TRY by Damien Martin-Gomes (convert made by Arthur Amaudric Du Chaffaut), 40:00 (score tied 7-7)

 
SECOND HALF:

3. CON: TRY by Anthony Giannatsis (convert missed by Arthur Amaudric Du Chaffaut), 43:00, (Concordia 12-7)
4. McG: TRY by Ferreol Amigues (convert made by Monty Weatherall), 64:00, (McGill 14-12)
5. CON: TRY by Laurence-Olivier Belley (convert made by Stanislas Blazkowski), 69:00, (Concordia 19-14)
6. CON: TRY by Stanislas Blazkowski (convert missed by Stanislas Blazkowski), 72:00, (Concordia 24-14)
7. McG: PENALTY GOAL by Martin Laval, 80:00, (Concordia 24-17)

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca