Redbirds go down swinging as unbeaten Carabins prevail 52-34 in RSEQ rugby semifinal

McGill scores five tries in high-scoring playoff clash, but Montreal advances to championship game against ÉTS

MONTREAL — James Allan scored 14 points and Nicolas Tissier added two tries as McGill went down swinging in a 52-34 loss to the undefeated Montreal Carabins in an RSEQ men's rugby semifinal at Stade CEPSUM on Sunday.

The fourth-seeded Redbirds scored five tries against the conference's top-ranked team but couldn't contain a potent Montreal attack that crossed the goal line eight times to end McGill's season.

The 86 combined points represented the highest-scoring McGill game in nearly 14 years, dating back to a 76-15 victory over Bishop's in an RSEQ semifinal on Nov. 11, 2012.

The Carabins, who completed the regular season with a perfect 6-0 record, advanced to next Sunday's RSEQ championship game against second-seeded École de technologie supérieure (5-1). The Piranhas earned their berth with a lopsided 45-3 semifinal victory over Ottawa.

Allan led McGill's offence with a try, three conversions and a penalty goal. Tissier accounted for 10 points with his two tries, while Thomas Hyland and James Pitman added one apiece.

The Redbirds finished with 34 points on five tries, three conversions and one penalty goal.

Montreal was led by Sacha Laidouni, who contributed a game-high 17 points on one try and six conversions.

Augustin Duchêne and Arthur Marie-Olive scored two tries apiece, while Paul Decupper, Boubacar Diallo and Yassine Souihel each added one as the Carabins crossed the goal line eight times.

The result marked Montreal's second victory over McGill in nine days. The Carabins had edged the Redbirds 24-22 in a dramatic regular-season finale at Percival Molson Stadium on Oct. 23, winning on a last-minute penalty goal.

McGill, which finished fourth in the seven-team conference with a 3-3 regular-season record, saw its campaign come to an end despite producing its highest offensive output against Montreal this season.The Redbirds are tentatively slated to play at Harvard in the annual Covo Cup game, in early April.

The Carabins will now attempt to complete an undefeated campaign when they face ÉTS in the RSEQ final next Saturday.

RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS

SCORING SUMMARY

MONTREAL 52, McGILL 34

At Montreal
Stade CEPSUM

(Official chronological scoring order unavailable)

Montreal — Tries: Augustin Duchêne 2, Arthur Marie-Olive 2, Paul Decupper, Boubacar Diallo, Sacha Laidouni, Yassine Souihel. Conversions: Laidouni 6.

McGill — Tries: Nicolas Tissier 2, James Allan, Thomas Hyland, James Pitman. Conversions: Allan 3. Penalty goals: Allan 1.

Individual points — Montreal: Laidouni 17, Duchêne 10, Marie-Olive 10, Decupper 5, Diallo 5, Souihel 5. McGill: Allan 14, Tissier 10, Hyland 5, Pitman 5.