The Queen’s men’s rugby team gave the large tricoloured home crowd exactly what it wanted when they beat the Laurier Golden Hawks 67-5 on Saturday at Nixon Field, Laurier’s first loss of the season. Below are The Journal’s top moments from the blowout victory.

#1: Nicholas DeLallo’s game-opening try

Four minutes into the first half, 8-man Nicholas DeLallo opened the scoring for the Gaels. The Gaels kicked the ball deep into Laurier’s territory and after a series of well-hit tackles – particularly by the Gael’s loose-head prop, Patrick Lynott — the Gaels were in possession of the ball once again.

DeLallo received the ball out of a ruck and was quick to feed it to the Gaels’ back line. He then swung around the play to the north side of the field, where he had the ball returned to him by lead scorer Kainoa Lloyd mid-tackle. DeLallo outran the Golden Hawks, bringing the ball to the edge of the pitch before swinging back around to score the first try of the game.

DeLallo scored another two tries later in the game, but his first was by far the most well received by the excited crowd.

#2: Evan Underwood’s breakaway try

Midway into the first half, it looked as though the Golden Hawks were going to secure a try as they quickly encroached on the Gael’s half, getting dangerously close to the try line. After a successful line out in their favour, the Golden Hawks were in possession of the ball and mere metres away from scoring.

The Gaels defensive effort looked for a moment as if it were in vain as the Golden Hawks began to inch closer and closer. However, a beautiful tackle by the Gaels’ fly-half resulted in a turnover and a chance for the home team to make a run with it. Fullback Kainoa Llyod fed the ball to Underwood, who outran three Golden Hawks players to secure the fourth try of the day for the Gaels.

#3: Kainoa Lloyd’s performance

Kainoa Lloyd, who currently holds the position of most points in the OUA men’s rugby standings with 39, had a fabulous game this weekend, particularly in the second half. Lloyd opened the second half with a try for the Gaels in response to the sole Laurier try that was scored at the close of the first half.

Lloyd then took over kicking duties for the Gaels and had a pair of successful conversions to accompany his pair of tries, which was a difficult feat given the conditions changing suddenly to wind and rain in the second half of the game. Lloyd played a key role in many of the tries made by his teammates throughout the game and had a series of cross-field sprints, much to the joy of the crowd.

The Gaels are 2-1 and will look to continue their recent string of wins next week when they host the McMaster Marauders next Saturday at 1 p.m. at home on Nixon Field.