HUMBER 29, TRENT 18

PETERBOROUGH, Ont. - Saturday saw Trent host the OCAA Men's Rugby Championship for the second time in three years at Justin Chiu Stadium. As such, Trent men's rugby enjoyed home field advantage for the gold medal game versus the Humber Hawks. The Hawks, who were the favorites going into the game, secured their fifth consecutive championship title in the OCAA with a win over Trent Excalibur. However, the game was unlike any other Humber had played this season. Touted as the underdog, Trent gave an incredible performance against the Hawks, a team with a juggernaut record.

In the first half, Trent took a 6-5 lead over the Hawks on two penalty kicks made by Jesse Leadbetter from 45 and 40 metres out. These were the first points Humber had allowed all season, and the first lead Humber had given up in three seasons. Through the rest of the first half, and much of the second Trent defended against a Humber squad who increased the score to its biggest margin at 24-6.

Cue the comeback. First, Trent's winger Hayden Ryan put it past the Hawks and into the try-zone making the margin 24-11. Then Alex Douglas put it across the line again, with Leadbetter making a conversion to bring Trent's score to 18. With just under four minutes left on the game clock Trent had possession, and for a moment it appeared that Humber's fifth consecutive championship was on the line. With momentum, Trent began a sequence of offloads down the right side of the field, but Humber closed the holes, and regained possession. In a last minute play the Hawk took one more try against Trent, and the gold medal by a final score of 29-18.

With the game in books Trent ends perhaps its most successful season ever. The team secured Trent's second OCAA silver medal. At the medal ceremony immediately following the game Trent's Jordan Buck was awarded the man-of-match for Trent, while Johnny Sheridan, Humber's captain, received the award for his team. Later that evening at the awards banquet in Champlain College's Great Hall, the league honored the teams who participated in the bronze, and gold medal games.

Trent's head coach David McCully was announced as the east division and league coach of the year award by the OCAA. Of the game McCully was quoted by the Peterborough Examiner, "I really feel the guys gave a championship performance. We didn't get the outcome we wanted but literally the ball was in play with us one score away from winning it in the last seconds. I'm immensely proud of that performance."

Trent men's rugby was also award the east division championship title. The east division rookie of year went to Trent's own Hayden Ryan who finished 12th in the league scoring race and second overall on Trent. Trent's OCAA team all-star honours were given to Spencer Sheffield and Allen Vo.

Trent Excalibur would like to thank OCAA for the championship this year, but also the 600 fans who turned out to support Trent men's rugby despite the weather. The team looks forward to 2015 when it returns to compete for the Excalibur.

Source: Trent University