LANGLEY, British Columbia – The No. 5 Guelph Gryphons Kobe Faust scored on the final play of the match to defeat the No. 4 Trinity Western Spartans 12-10 in the third quarter-final match at the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship Wednesday afternoon at the. Willoughby Community Park Stadium at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The win by the Gryphons sends them to the championship semi-finals Friday evening.
 
Leading the way for the Spartans was third-year Matthew Willemse (Maritzburg, South Africa) with 10 points on a PK and a converted try. While the Gryphons had a conversion by Tomas Dallan, a try by Brenden Black, and the winning try by Kobe Faust
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans had a strong push into the Gryphons' end to start the match but were unable to get the ball across despite being inside the Guelph five-meter line for several attacking phases.
 
Trinity Western got on the scoreboard at 21:10 with a penalty kick by the Spartans' Matthew Willemse to make it 3-0 for TWU. It proved to be the only scoring of the opening period.
 
The Spartans' persistence in the Guelph end finally paid off at 39:20 with Matthew Willemse getting the try and conversion to put TWU up 10-0.
 
Guelph finally found the end zone at 46:55 with the conversion by Brendan Black to make it a three-point game, with TWU up 10-7.
 
The Spartans had a line out at 55 minutes and were unable to retain possession with the Gryphons intercepting the throw-in. Guelph maintained control and worked their way down the pitch and eventually saw Faust be awarded the try at the 60-minute mark. Guelph missed the conversion, as the final play of the match.

QUOTABLE
TWU head coach: Andrew Evans
I think overall our men have a lot to be proud of. Guelph is a great team, the best team from the east and we pushed them beyond the 60-minute match. So our guys have a lot to be proud of. I thought our forwards had an exceptionally strong match that put Guelph under a lot of pressure. We studied them hard and contested their lineouts throughout the match.
 
Credit to our full Spartan squad. Some of the guys who weren't selected for nationals really helped to prepare us. Without their preparation we couldn't have had as close a match as we had with Guelph.
 
In terms of missed opportunities:
Guelph defended really well today. But in the first half we left points on the table and ultimately that is what probably cost us the match. We just have to be more clinical throughout the rest of the tournament.
 
On creating turnovers:
We asked the men to play, what we call is a 'blood' mindset. We are warriors and we wanted to put Guelph under as much pressure as we could and contest possession throughout the full match. With that pressure we create turnovers. Unfortunately, we weren't able to change those turnovers into points on our side on all occasions.
 
On regrouping for Friday's match.
We are devastated. We really wanted to be in the top bracket. But now we have to refocus on finishing fifth. And playing by faith and really backing the way that we can play. It's just back to business. We don't like losing. Unfortunately, we only play really good teams. So we just have to keep at it and have faith in ourselves in all that we are about. But faith is much more than just in ourselves or our teammates. We have faith in God and that he has got a good plan for us.

 
UP NEXT   
No. 4 Spartans will now play at in the consolation semi-finals against the loser of No. 8 Calgary and No. 1 UBE. While No. 5 Guelph will play against the winner. Both matches will be played on Friday.
 
First Half
TWU – PK 10 Matthew Willemse, 21:10, 3-0
 
Second Half
TWU – Try 10 Matthew Willemse, 39:20, 8-0
TWU – Con 10 Matthew Willemse 40:30, 10-0
GUE – Try 10 Brenden Black, 46:55, 10-5
GUE – Con 11 Tomas Dallan, 47:45, 10-7
GUE – Try 13 Kobe Faust, 60, 10-12
 
 
Final
Guelph – 12
Trinity Western – 10
 
Players of the Match
Guelph: 10 Brenden Black
TWU: 10 Matthew Willemse

FRIDAY'S MATCHES
 
CONSOLATION SEMI-FINAL 1
11 a.m. Queen's vs Ottawa | WATCH
 
CONSOLATION SEMI-FINAL 2
2 p.m. Calgary at Trinity Western | WATCH
 
CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL 1
5 p.m. Memorial vs Victoria | WATCH
 
CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL 2
7:30 p.m. Guelph vs UBC | WATCH

-TW-