LONDON, ON – The Western Mustangs Men's rugby team hosted the Guelph Gryphons on their Friday Night Lights Alumni Appreciation night. The Alumni cheered the Mustangs on from the crowd in fond memory of their days playing on the pitch.
 
Head coach Ian McLeod spoke on the rugby Alumni's support post game "That's our history and that's where we're trying to get to. The goal is to honour those guys by being better and getting back to the championship form they played in and we expect of ourselves."
 
Although not the result the Alumni were hoping for the Mustangs put up a valiant effort and played bend not break defense. Guelph controlled the majority of play and finished the game with a final score of 47-5.
 
Guelph took hold of the game early and never let the Mustangs back in. Piling up a 33-0 lead before Western managed its first try. Playing quickly and decisively forced the Mustangs to make costly mistakes which ended up being their cause of defeat.
 
Costly mistakes were not being made by the Gryphons, but McLeod's Mustangs battled, he said "Nothing but heart from us tonight, some classic mistakes that we made but nobody gave up, nobody quit, just overall really proud of these guys and their effort."
 
Western found spurts of momentum through their downfield kicks. Robert Reiners, led multiple charges down field from his wing. One of these drives and ensuing punt resulted in the only Mustang try scored by number 8, Drew Neely.
 
Although the try was scored late in the game, it gave the hometown Alumni something to write home about as they watched the seniors play their last home games of their career.
 
Mustangs' seniors have been resilient throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and stoppage of play throughout the entire OUA. Leaving the field off a defeat is crushing but should not define their careers as they look to inspire the next crop of rookies coming through the program.
 
Coach McLeod said post game "Lots to learn before next game, just a difference between the two teams tonight, the small stuff, missed assignments, some dropped balls, cost us a few tries but we weren't as bad as the scoreboard shows and I think there's a lot of talent here that we have yet to realize." following it up with determination for the next time the teams meet "We'll get them back."
 
It was not an ideal way to close the season at home for the Mustangs but glimmers of hope remain. Their defensive presence was impressive despite what the scoreboard reads. They held the Gryphons off multiple tries from their own end zone and caused important turnovers.
 
For the most part the play of the Mustangs left something to be desired from the home crowd. Despite the lack of offense. If this level of play keeps up with minor tweaks the Mustangs are Playoff bound sooner rather than later.

The Mustangs head to Windsor to play the Lancers for their 4th and final regular season game of the season on October 24th.