KINGSTON, Ont. –  Cutting the purple and white hopes of earning an OUA banner short, the Queen's Gaels defeated Western 37-8 at Nixon Field. The loss puts Western in competition for OUA bronze, while the Gaels will fight for gold.
 
Mike Santangeli's try topped the Mustang half of the scoresheet, with the only other Western points coming from a Mark Denton penalty goal.
 
The highest scoring player of the game was rookie Alex Colbourne of the Gaels, recording one penalty goal, three converts, and a try. 
 
The first thirty minutes saw Western and Queen's battling for substantial gains, with the only points on the board from a Gael penalty kick. Eventually breaking through, Queen's was able to put down a try and subsequent conversion to head into the half up 10-3.
 
Keeping their own in-goal area well protected, the Gaels utilized their size advantage to take down any Mustangs attempting to threaten the point difference. The only ball to cross into the zone came from a penalty kick from Denton.
 
Returning for the second half, Queen's continued to dominate the field.
 
Just two minutes in the Gaels were able to add another five to the scoreboard after Matthew Geisler evaded purple and white takedowns to plant the ball near the sideline. Despite the sharp angle, Colborne was able to send the ball through the uprights for the convert.
 
Diving through the ruck with less than a metre between the athletes and the Mustang in-goal area, the Gaels were able to record their second try and convert of the half less than ten minutes in.
 
The Gael size advantage continued to allow Queen's to barrel through Western, with their advances often going unanswered.
 
It wasn't until the 55-minute mark that Western was able to land a try in the opposing in-goal area. Restarting the play with a throw in, Santangeli quickly moved the ball down to put up the first Mustang try of the night to bring the score to 8-24.
 
Queen's, refusing to lose their lead, responded with an interception that they were able to run past the Mustang goal line.
 
Closing out the second half, Queen's barrelled through the purple and white line to land a final try and penalty goal to end the game at 8-37.
 
The Mustangs will return to the field next weekend to compete for OUA bronze. Details of the match will be made available later in the week.