RECAP: Men’s rugby overcomes 11-point deficit in final three minutes to beat Bishop’s

When a team earns both the offensive bonus point for scoring four or more tries and the defensive bonus point for losing by a try or less, you know it was an entertaining rugby game. 

Down 39-28 inside the final three minutes, the Gee-Gees men's rugby team showed their resolve by flipping the script and defeating the Bishop's Gaiters 42-39 in front of a packed Matt Anthony Field Saturday afternoon. 

Graeme Neill-Klein scored with two minutes to go, and Evan Roy punched the ball across the line on the last play of the game to give Ottawa a thrilling victory over the previously unbeaten Gaiters. 

"I'd rather not come back from two tries with three minutes to go," said level-headed Ottawa head coach Andrew Armstrong. "Our whole program has been geared towards winning that game – not specifically against Bishop's – but that game where we've got the ball and we need a score. We finally did it and hopefully it's onward from here." 

"We talk about resilience, being hungry and urgency," said Gee-Gees front row Theo Espagnol. "We wanted that ball, and I think it showed in the last ten [minutes]. We played hard, battled, and got the dub in the end." 

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with the Gee-Gees leading 14-12 at the half. 

Bishop's looked to take control with a strong start to the second frame, but Ottawa hung around, never letting the Gaiters build a lead of more than two scores.

With time winding down, Neill-Klein burst through the line untouched for his second try of the contest, narrowing the lead to 39-35 after a Zak Campbell convert.

Ottawa received possession back and played disciplined rugby as they moved the ball down the field. The forwards then won the most important scrum of the match deep in Gaiters territory, stealing the ball to setup a frantic, last second push at the goal line.

Roy, a second-year lock from Ottawa, scooped up the ball and dove into the try zone. The officials conferred to ensure the play was up to standard, but ultimately awarded Ottawa the try, sending the players and fans into a frenzy.

The win is a crucial one for Ottawa (2-1, nine points), as they'll be jockeying with Bishop's (2-1, 12 points) for playoff positioning. The Gee-Gees earned one bonus point, while the Gaiters earned two. 

Five teams are now in a log jam in the RSEQ: the Gee-Gees and Gaiters among them. Ottawa officially finds themselves in fifth due to bonus points and tie breakers.

The Gee-Gees are back in action at Matt Anthony Field on Friday, Sept. 30 against their crosstown rivals from Carleton. Tickets for the much-anticipated "Pumpkin Bowl" are on sale at tickets.geegees.ca.