After a dominating season opener, Queen's Men's Rugby faced a much tougher challenge in Guelph on Saturday, suffering a narrow 35-31 defeat at the hands of the Gryphons.

The Gaels came out of the gate hot, replicating their early season form by storming to a 21-0 lead within the first 15 minutes. Tries from Cameron Bubyn, Ben Greenstein, and Eric Godden, all converted by Marcus D'Acre, put Queen's firmly in control. D'Acre, following up on a strong opening performance, continued to shine by connecting on all his conversion attempts and adding a penalty kick to make it 24-7 at the 25-minute mark.

However, Guelph responded just before halftime. Led by their captain, Sebastiano de Grandis, and kicker Thomas Dallan, the Gryphons slowly began to claw back into the game. Guelph's comeback kicked into full gear in the second half, where they found success with their aggressive play around the breakdowns. A pivotal moment came in the 53rd minute when a penalty try awarded to Owen Williams put the Gryphons ahead 28-24.

Queen's fought back valiantly with Tao Nichol's try in the 64th minute, again converted by D'Acre, briefly putting them back in the lead at 31-28. However, Guelph's Williams struck again with a powerful run in the 73rd minute, securing the game-winning try.

While the loss will sting for Head Coach John Lavery's side, there are clear positives to build on as the Gaels head into next week's game against Waterloo. D'Acre continues to be a reliable force, contributing heavily on both offense and defense. Cameron Bubyn's early try hints that the winger may be a breakout player to watch, while Nichol's ability to score under pressure shows the team's depth.

Defensively, though, the Gaels will need to tighten up where Guelph capitalized on penalties and errors. Coach Lavery will also look to address their ability to maintain leads after early dominance, a factor that could become crucial in tighter contests throughout the season.

With the team's first loss of the season now behind them, they'll aim to bounce back in their next game on the road against Waterloo.