The Brock Badgers men's rugby team sent their seniors off with a day to remember, defeating the visiting Queen's Gaels for the first time in program history on Saturday (Oct. 7). Steven Commerford's late penalty kick gave the Badgers a 22-19 win.
Early on both teams provided stingy defence, with neither team finding a score until the 26th minute. Queen's finally broke the deadlock with a try and conversion and went into the halftime break with a 7-0 lead.
The Badgers demonstrated the resilence they have been known for throughout the season, scoring six minutes into the second half off a Reuben Cantwell try. Senior Steven Commerford added a convert to even things up.
Reon White gave the Badgers the advantage five minutes later to give the Badger a 12-7 lead. Queen's did not go away, scoring a try of their own to tie things up shortly after.
A Queen's try and conversion in the 64th minute gave the visitors a seven-point lead at 19-12. Commerford had a game to remember, scoring the try and adding the convert to tie the game. In the 80th minute, the Peterborough product sealed the Brock win with a penalty kick.
Jubilation soon followed as the Badgers celebrated a program defining victory.
Head coach Sean Medeiros credited the whole team as the reason for the success they experienced on Saturday afternoon.
"This time, you know it sounds cliche, but that was a true team effort from one through 15. The players that came off the bench really drove the energy and momentum for our team."
A win like this means a lot for a program and was made evident in the emotion Medeiros showed after the game.
"I think for us it's just the culmination of so much hard work. It just really represents what this team is about and who we are. There's a lot of moments in that game where we could have kind of gone quietly into the night and the guys continued to rally, continued to build, continue to come back time and time again and really put on an amazing performance. I'm just so proud of that team right now."
Up next, the Badgers (4-0-1) are on the road for Saturday's (Oct. 14) matchup with the Trent Excalibur (2-2). Game time is set for 3:00 p.m..
BADGERS AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 4-0-1
Conference Record: 4-0-1
Next match: Saturday, Oct. 14 @ Trent Excalibur • 4:00 p.m. – Peterborough, Ont
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