Gaels book ticket to OUA Championship with 61-0 shutout of McMaster
The Gaels men'srugby team claimed a 61-0 shutout victory against the McMaster Marauders this Saturday in their OUA Semi-Final match sending them on to the OUA Finals. The Gaels redeemed themselves against the Marauders who handed Queen's their first loss in two years earlier this season.
The Gaels men'srugby team claimed a 61-0 shutout victory against the McMaster Marauders this Saturday in their OUA Semi-Final match sending them on to the OUA Finals. The Gaels redeemed themselves against the Marauders who handed Queen's their first loss in two years earlier this season.
The Gaels dominated the pitch right away, diving into the Marauders end with David Williams(Toronto) putting down the first try of the game in the second minute completed with a successful conversion by Adam McQueen (Canmore, Alta.). The Marauders responded with an offensive push deep into Gaels territory which was the last time they reached the Gaels 22 until the second half.
The Gaels performed strong lateral action pushing the Marauders back into their half with Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga, Ont.) finding a seam in their defence to break through and put down his first try of the game with a successful conversion. Keeping up the momentum, Lloyd broke through the McMaster defence once again dodging tacklers and crossing the ball to the left of the field where the Gaels outnumbered the Marauders allowing Tommy Kirkham (Vancouver) to put down a try. Wasting no time Brendan Sloan (Peterborough, Ont.) put down a try of his own for the Gaels immediately after with another successful McQueen conversion. The Gaels continued to push forward winning a scrum at the five metre line to put James Dent (Toronto) through with a try and a conversion kicked successfully by McQueen. Before closing the half the Gaels surged again into the Marauders end with crisp passing and a long run by McQueen culminating with Lucas Rumball (Toronto) scoring his first try of the game to put the Gaels up 40-0.
The Marauders picked up their defense in the second half, successfully keeping the Gaels off the boards until the 20th minute of second half play when Fraser Bruce (Toronto) broke through the defensive line putting down the try. Lloyd grabbed his second try of the match off a kick from Charette putting any chances for the Marauders to catch them out of reach.
In the final ten minutes of play the Marauders pushed into the Gaels 22 for the second time, grappling to get a try on the board. The Gaels denied their efforts, determined to maintain their shutout lead, and pushed back with Williams managing to put down his second try of the game. David Worsley(Vancouver) completed all three conversions of the second half, the final convert ending the game with a 61-0 victory for the Queen's Gaels.
The Gaels now head into the OUA Finals scheduled for next Saturday, November 8 at 1pm at Nixon Field in Kingston. Their opponent will be determined by the OUA Semi-Final match at 3:30 pm on November 1 in Guelph between the Brock Badgers and the Guelph Gryphons.
