After an unlikely 14-12 RMC lead at halftime, men’s rugby came through in the end with a 33-19 victory.

While Queen’s moved up to 3-1 with the victory, RMC fell to 0-3 on the season. Last season, RMC won just two games of their eight, which made the matchup a mismatch on paper against the powerhouse Gaels.
 
“We understood that RMC was playing the best game they have played against us,” head coach Gary Gilks said via email. “We needed to up the tempo.”

“The feeling at halftime was one of reserved confidence,” Gilks added. “We talked about missed opportunities and better decision-making.”

Captain Lucas Rumball led the game in scoring, picking up four tries on the day for the Gaels.

While he’s aware his team wasn’t playing to their potential for much of the day, Gilks credited RMC for their first half performance.

“The scoring from RMC in the first half was well-deserved,” he said. “They fed off our miscues and were rewarded for it.”

The Gaels weren’t playing with a full lineup on the day, with absences due to both injuries and other commitments. “However, [the absences] should not be considered a factor for the result in the game,” Gilks said.

Gilks also gave credit to many of his players for their performance, including many who aren’t regulars in the lineup.

“Fraser Bruce played well in the centers, making several tackles and slowing down the ball for RMC,” Gilks said. “Tristan Ruse was great in the line-outs winning quality ball for our team. The bench also made a great impact with players like Eric Bleim, Christian Futshik, Patty Graham and Chris Houston bringing a much-needed injection of power and pace into the second half to confirm the win.”

The Gaels play this Saturday in London against the Western Mustangs. Gilks said a fast start will be crucial.

“Even though teams are scoring points against us, our defense is still one of our best weapons,” he said. “We will look to test Western all day.”