Guelph Redcoats keep their grip on OWL Firsts Cup
MARKHAM – The Guelph Redcoats pulled out the same script for their Rugby Ontario Women’s League Firsts Cup final that they’d used in the semifinals nine days earlier.
The Redcoats held a slim lead at halftime before turning in a dominant second half to claim their third consecutive league title Saturday at Fletcher’s Fields with a 53-22 victory over the Toronto Nomads.
A pair of converted tries seven minutes apart late in the opening half gave Guelph a 28-17 lead at halftime.
In the semifinal at the Guelph Lake Sports Fields, the Redcoats held a 5-0 lead over Scarborough RFC before running to a 32-12 victory.
The Redcoats completed an undefeated season with Saturday’s win. They won all nine of their regular-season games to finish first and get a bye in the quarter-finals.
It was the fourth consecutive championship-game appearance for the Redcoats as they had defeated the Nomads 36-12 in the 2022 final and the Brantford Harlequins 65-33 in the 2019 final. The 2020 and 2021 seasons were lost to COVID. Guelph lost the 2018 final 46-36 to the Toronto Saracens.
Redcoats Men
The Redcoats were nipped 28-25 by the Vaughan Yeomen in Marshall Intermediate Cup play Saturday at St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic High School in Vaughan.
Vaughan scored four tries in the match, one more than the locals.
The Redcoats had finished fourth in the West Division while the Yeomen were fourth in the South.
Guelph is to face the Niagara Rugby Union Men’s A Division champion Sarnia Saints in a two-game series with the winner playing in the Marshall Division next year and the loser playing in the NRU.
The Redcoats and Saints are to play at Sarnia’s Norm Perry Park Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and at the Guelph Lake Sports Fields Aug. 26 at 3:30 p.m.
- Guelph Sports Journal