LONDON, Ont. – After a slow start in first half that resulted in a 12 point deficit at the break, the Western Mustangs men's rugby team refocused and turned the tide in the second half to earn a 17-17 draw with the Brock Badgers on Friday evening at Alumni Field.  
 
With the tie, the Mustangs move to 4-1-1 on the season while Brock's record now sits at 4-2-1.
 
"It was the tale of two halves," said Mustangs head coach David Knowles. "We were down 12 points at half, and we scored the only points in the second half. We had all the momentum in the second half but we left some points on the board. I don't want to say it cost us the game, but we missed some easy kicks, without putting blame on anyone. It happens in any game, but we just cleaned up the simple stuff. That's one we let get away, but fortunately we tied and it still leaves us in a good position heading into the playoffs."
 
Brock's Connor Fitzsimmons was the first to put points up on the scoreboard with a successful penalty goal just after the five minute mark. Unwilling to allow a point deficit, Western countered with a try from James Ojo six minutes later.
 
The Badgers responded with a try of their own, and a successful conversion put them back in the lead. Western, unable to free the ball from the purple and white defensive zone, allowed an additional try and conversion from Brock to give the Badgers a 17-5 lead at halftime.
 
Headed into the second half the Mustangs refocused and pushed through the Brock defence for a try from third year Mike Turnbull. Jeremy McCarty added another try for the Mustangs minutes later, followed by a successful conversion from Turnbull.
 
Unwilling to allow anymore points from Brock, the Mustang defensive line prevented the Badgers from scoring throughout the entirety of the second half, resulting in a final score of 17-17.
 
The Mustangs next face off against Queen's on Saturday, October 18, at 1 p.m. in Kingston.