Guelph, Ont. (November 15, 2015) – The Gaels men's rugby team won their fourth consecutive OUA Championship. Queen's held on to defeat the Gryphons 24-23 in a gripping, intense match, the second consecutive OUA Final that Guelph has lost to the rivals from Kingston.
After the Gaels were penalized for a straight arm in the opening minutes, the Gryphons got things started with a kick from just inside the halfway line of the pitch for a 3-0 Guelph lead.
Queen's began to pick things up offensively as third-year winger
Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga, Ont.) got the Gaels on the scoreboard with a try (his first of two in the match) and the subsequent conversion made it 7-3 for the Gaels. Guelph responded immediately when the Gaels muffed a lineout and turned the ball over. Guelph's Benjamin Wust ran in the Gryphons first try and the convert made it 10-7 for the Gryphons.
Guelph added to their lead when Adam Maahs ran in another try but a missed conversion meant the hosts went into the half up 15-7. The Gryphons were given a yellow card as the half ended and Queen's took full advantage with Guelph down a man.
With both sides desperate, there was a flurry of scoring early in the second half. After Lloyd earned his second try, Guelph fullback Jonathan West scored three points on a drop goal. OUA MVP
Lucas Rumball (Toronto) then added another try for the Gaels with
Alex Colborne (London, Ont.) making the convert to give Queen's a 24-18 lead entering the late stages of the game. The Gryphons DiNardo had a run for a try late to bring the game to within a single point. The Gryphons missed the convert which kept the Gaels in the lead and ultimately held up as the difference in the game.
With the win the Gaels claimed their fourth consecutive OUA championship and have now won the most OUA men's rugby titles with 22 as they pass Toronto who had also won 21 in their history.
Queen's Scoring Leaders
Kainoa Lloyd – 10 pts
Alex Colborne – 9 pts
Lucas Rumball – 5 points
Guelph Scoring Leaders
Nathaniel Stein – 5 pts
Benjamin Wust – 5 pts
Adam Maahs – 5 pts
Riley DiNardo – 5 pts
Jonathan West – 3 pts
