by David Weatherall

Before last Saturday, the Bishop’s Gaiters had had only three losses in three years. The first was to Concordia in last year’s upset win in the provincial final. The second was a game in this year’s regular season. After last Saturday’s provincial final against Concordia, better make that four.

“It was a war out there. I almost got my face torn off in the first three minutes,” said flanker Chris Chapman.

Head coach Gerry Clayton said, “Full credit to the Bishop’s side. They played the best rugby I’ve ever seen 13 guys play. The turning point in the game was when we scored the try just before half time. After that, we just lived by our defense.”

Not only by their defense, but also by the boot of Mathieu Garston. The third-year TESL student successfully kicked the conversion on Concordia’s only try and put four penalties through the uprights, including what would prove to be the game-winner 10 minutes from the end of the game from 25 metres out.

This being the last year for Loeiz Cadiou, an exchange student from Quimper, France, the win couldn’t be sweeter.

“It is unbelievable, I couldn’t be happier,” he said. “In the last university I was at in Germany, we also won the championships, so now I have two medals. It was a great team to be a part of and I was glad for the opportunity to play with them.”

As for the future, Clayton is optimistic. “We have a good core of players returning next year, I hope to return as head coach, as long as the school wants me back and work keeps me in Montreal.”

Assistant coach Tom Smith revels in the present. “These guys are an absolute credit to the university. I feel privileged to have been able to coach them.”