SEMIFINAL SATURDAY IN OCAA MEN'S RUGBY

TORONTO - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is down to its final four in men's rugby, with two semifinals set for Saturday.

The two top teams during the regular season, the Durham Lords and Humber Hawks, received a bye directly into the semifinals and will play host to these matches. The Conestoga Condors and Georgian Grizzlies will be the opposition having won their quarter-final matches last week.

Winners of the semifinals will compete in the OCAA gold medal match, while the losing teams will be relegated into the OCAA bronze medal match.

Both semifinals will be streamed on OCAA LIVE.

Conestoga Condors, Kitchener (3-3, 4th OCAA) at Durham Lords, Oshawa (6-0, 1st OCAA)
Saturday, Nov. 8 - 1 p.m.

The well-rested Durham Lords will put their undefeated record on the line as they play a Conestoga Condors squad coming off an emotional quarter-final victory.

The Lords are led offensively by first-year player Devonne Henry (Whitby) who scored an OCAA-high 79 points on 10 tries, 10 converts and three penalty kicks in six matches during the regular season.

The Condors outlasted the Seneca Sting 37-33 in last Saturday's quarter-finals. First-year flanker Carlo De Grandis (Brantford) was impactful on both sides of the ball scoring a pair of tries while making several big defensive stops for the Condors.

These teams met in the regular season, with Durham winning 19-12 on the road in October. Henry contributed a match-high nine points with a try and two converts.

The Condors are looking to advance to their second straight OCAA championship match. The Lords last played for gold in 2022.

Georgian Grizzlies, Barrie (5-1, 3rd OCAA) at Humber Hawks, Toronto (5-1, 2nd OCAA)
Sunday, Nov. 8 - 1 p.m.

Like the Lords, the defending OCAA champion Humber Hawks are well-rested sitting out last weekend's quarter-finals.

Third-year wing Cooper Markou (Mississauga) led the Hawks in tries during the regular season, reaching the end zone nine times. Second-year teammate Joshua Dunbar (Toronto) scored one less point contributing 17 converts and a pair of tries in six matches.

The Grizzlies are coming off a 38-10 statement win over the St. Lawrence Surge in last Sunday's quarter-final. Second-year centre Kade Rennie (Collingwood) scored a pair of tries for Georgian in the victory.

Despite being the No. 3 seed, the Grizzlies scored a league-high 299 points in the regular season while allowing an OCAA-low 79 points against.

These teams met in the regular season, with Humber winning at home 22-19 back in September. Markou scored a match-high two tries.

Georgian saw its streak of eight straight seasons with an OCAA medal ended in last year's bronze medal match.

- OCAA -

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