Redbirds rout Ravens 73-3 in soggy RSEQ rugby opener

MONTREAL – A steady downpour couldn't dampen the spirits of the McGill Redbirds on Wednesday night, as they opened their RSEQ men's rugby season with a lopsided 73-3 verdict over the Carleton Ravens before drenched Community Safety Night supporters at Percival Molson Stadium.

Playing under constant rain and a moderate 17C temperature, the No, 8 ranked Redbirds (1-0) showed little rust in their conference debut, racing out to a 40-0 halftime cushion and never letting up. McGill dotted down 11 tries in all and secured the maximum five points in the standings by earning a bonus point, awarded to teams that score at least four tries or lose by seven points or fewer.

It was McGill's most lopsided league win in nearly a year, dating back to an 85-0 shutout over the same Carleton side on Sept. 21, 2024. The 70-point spread was the program's largest margin of victory since that meeting, reaffirming McGill's dominance over the Ravens in recent RSEQ play. The Redbirds lead the all-time head-to-head series 4-0 since Carleton joined the Quebec conference in 2022.

Eloi Achte, a freshman from Chatou, France, opened the scoring in just the third minute and set the tone for a relentless opening half. Harry Corkum, a senior from the U.K., added a pair of tries, while William Simpson of London, Ont., and Montrealer Roberto Frascione each touched down before the 30-minute mark. Veteran Ian McDowell, a PhD candidate in neuroscience, closed the half with McGill's sixth try, leaving Carleton reeling at the interval.

The hosts pressed on after the restart. Rookie Lennon Lazare of Vancouver, B.C., scored in the 45th minute, followed by freshman Mason Graves-Brown, also from the U.K., and McDowell, who tallied his second of the evening. Carleton avoided the shutout when Liam Power, a junior from Ottawa, slotted a penalty kick in the 65th minute, trimming the deficit to 59-3. But the Ravens had no answer for McGill's depth, as Elliot Descarreaux of Quebec City and Ashton Wright of Peterborough, Ont., both seniors, rounded out the scoring barrage in the late stages.

The Redbirds were equally efficient from the kicking tee. Place-kickers Martin Laval (5) and Max Bernhart (4) combined for nine successful conversions, adding polish to an attack that was rarely slowed by the slick, rain-slicked turf.

For head coach Ian Baillie's squad, the result offered a statement of intent in a league that has grown increasingly competitive in recent years. McGill's ability to generate offence from multiple positions — with nine different players scoring tries — underscored the team's balance and depth heading into the heart of the season.

The loss dropped Carleton to 0-1, continuing a string of heavy defeats against McGill in RSEQ competition. The Ravens will try to rebound quickly with a Sept. 13 matchup against the Université de Montréal Carabins at 3 p.m. McGill, meanwhile, will look to keep its momentum rolling when it travels across town for a Sept. 14 clash at École de technologie supérieure (ETS), the defending national champions, with kickoff set for 4 p.m. at Collège Notre-Dame.