TORONTO – The Guelph Gryphons women's rugby team played like a team hungry for another title. The defending OUA champion Gryphons used the balance they are known for in a decisive 76-10 win over the York Lions in Toronto Friday night.

Guelph showed its power and speed in jumping out to a 33-0 lead. The Gryphons were up 45-10 at the half, before turning it on the second with another 31 points. Fourth-year centre Madison Brattan was an offensive focal point, scoring a match-high three tries, while fifth-year scrum half Chloe Runge and third-year flanker Megan Acheson had two each.

Jasmine Ing, a rookie centre from Stoney Creek, ON, was good on six conversions.

"York has some very good athletes but they couldn't contain our strong running attack," said coach Colette McAuley. "We showed balance with several forwards and backs driving over the line for tries."

McAuley said that Runge was instrumental in directing both the attack and the defence, while Brattan was able to slice through the line on most ball carries, which put the Lions' defence under constant pressure.

Fourth-year 8-man Kylie Shaughnessy scored Guelph's first try of the match at 8:40 of the first half and the Gryphons didn't look back, improving to 2-0 on the season.

"There were several standout rookie performances," said McAuley, referring to Adea Elliott and Shaughnessy, two of the four first-year players that saw time on the pitch. "Kylie was tremendous again defending and stopping the Lions' attack around the breakdown."

They are back in action Saturday, Sept. 23 when they host the Western Mustangs at Varsity Field. The match gets underway at 12 pm.