November 11, 2017

Queen's men's rugby takes OUA Championship with dominant 62-17 win over Guelph

KINGSTON, Ont. (November 11, 2017) - The Queen's Gaels men's rugby team capped off an undefeated season with a convincing 62-17 win over the Guelph Gryphons to claim the OUA banner and Turner Trophy.

The Gaels scored early and often in the opening half, a penalty goal from Alex Colborne put the Gaels in front 3-0 just two minutes in.

The defensive play began to prove it's worth for the Gaels as Kainoa Lloyd intercepted a Guelph pass an ran half the field for a try with a conversion from Colborne. The Gaels were in business early up 10-0.

The Gryphons did manage a deep penalty goal strike of their own off the foot of John Sheridan, but again the Gaels were able to put points on the board. Dylan Young and Mihai Rusu added tries before Lloyd put down his second of the afternoon before the half to put the Gaels up 29-3 after 40 minutes.

Queen's extended their lead out to 43-3 after Charlie Tremblay took a pass from Young to put down the Gaels sixth try of the afternoon which was converted for another two by Colborne.

Guelph finally put down their first try of the game in the 60th minute out of a scrum at the Queen's two-metre line, but it was too little too late.

Lloyd capped off the afternoon for Queen's with his third try off a 10-metre run, and the Gaels finished off the game with a 62-17 win.

"Losing last year in overtime (penalty kicks) is just not a way you want to lose," said Lloyd after the match. "It's good to come back after last year and just show that we are the dominant force in OUA rugby."

Lloyd was named the man of the match with his three-try performance.

"This is the pinnacle of the whole season," said first-year head coach David Butcher after the win. "To win in such a fashion was fantastic. The boys just epitomized what we've been doing all year in terms of the process and performance and right from the first whistle to the last whistle they were fantastic."

Prior to the match the trio of Peter Huigenbos, Gary Gilks and Luke Follwell were honoured in a special presentation for their dedication to the Gaels. From 2004 to 2016, with this trio at the helm of the program, the team had won five OUA Championships, had 20 OUA major award winners and 72 OUA All-Stars and produced a 101-26-2 record. They also moved Queen's into the top spot for total OUA Championships won by any school with 22. Today's championship puts the Gaels at 23 total Turner Trophy titles.