The Gryphons traveled west on Wednesday afternoon for their season opener to take on the University of Western Ontario Mustangs.  The outcome of the day's game was not what the Gryphons were hoping for as they fell 25 - 7 in a hard fought battle with the Mustangs. 

Second year outside centre Martin Damianoff was the lone try scorer for the Gryphons and second year winger Joe Newman was good for the conversion.

The game started off as a see-saw affair with both sides working hard to gain ground in the others end.  The Gryphons were able to hold their ground numerous times deep in their own end preventing the Mustangs from scoring early.  It was until the 26th minute that the Mustangs punched in their first score.  The Mustangs kicker was not on for the day, missing all five of the possible Mustang conversions.  The first half ended with the Mustangs only have a slight advantage at five to nil.

The second half was much like the first.  Both teams played hard defense not allowing the other team much opportunity to score.  The Mustangs were able to capitalize on a couple of the Gryphons defensive mistakes and punched in a couple tries early in the half.  Down 15-0, the Gryphons kept pressuring and half way through the half, Martin Damianoff broke a couple of tackles and scampered in for a try under the posts.  Joe Newman was good on the conversion bringing the Gryphons to 7.  As much as the Gryphons defensive was as tough has it has always been, with a couple of late injuries and player shuffles, the Mustangs were able to punch in two more scores.

With a final score of 25 - 7, the Gryphons were not pleased with the outcome, but play on the field was going in the right direction for the team. 

New recruits John West and Kurt Gibson had stellar play in their first game start for the Gryphons and fellow recruits Lukas Gillingham, Steve Seccaricia and Marcus Sherry all saw time in the game and provided the punch that the coaches were looking for from off the bench. 

The Gryphons plan to rebound from their loss when they travel to Kingston on Sunday to take on RMC.