The Gaels men’s rugby team started their season off with a bang on their home field.
The team kicked off their 2025 OUA campaign with a 45-12 victory over the Waterloo Warriors on Sept. 6. Queen’s struck first when Cameron Bubyn, CompSci ’26, scored the opening try. Waterloo hit back to level the score at 7-7, but through crafty play and team hustle, the Gaels brought the score to 19-7 at halftime.
For Head Coach John Lavery, there was plenty of rust to be shaken off for his team. “I was pretty upset at halftime about how we’re playing, but the response was good,” he said in an interview with The Journal. “There was real honesty between players, and we know exactly where we need to go.”
The second half was defined by decisive scoring. A try was scored by Adam Doyle, Kin ’26, to extend the lead, followed by additional tries from Matthew Carroll, ArtSci ’27, Trekker James, ArtSci ’26, and Lucas Townsend, ArtSci ’28. Four conversions were added by star Marcus D’Acre, ArtSci ’26, further cementing the advantage.
Lavery expressed his pleasure with the overall direction, noting only a few missed opportunities. “We generated a ton and still put up 45 without finishing enough of our chances,” Lavery said. “Most of what we gave up was fixable. We’re on track.”
The coach praised his bench for their impact in a tense game marked by controversial referee calls. “Our young guys put their hands up and said, ‘I can do this,’ he said. “’That was fun to watch.’”
He highlighted tactical progress in areas the Gaels will need later in the season. “Winning in the playoffs requires you to be able to score from set pieces,” he said. “We were close to 100 percent on ours, and that’s an important step forward. If you’re not adding strings to the bow, you become predictable.”
Lavery said the game showcased his depth while several starters sat out with wear and tear. “We had three or four guys from the Reds [Gaels developmental] program on the game sheet, some starting and some finishing.”
With the result, Queen’s starts the year 1-0. The Gaels now prepare for a road test against the Trent University Excalibur. Lavery expects a competitive matchup, pointing to Trent’s narrow loss to Western as proof of their quality. “They scrum, they defend, and if you give them territory, they score,” he said. “We’ll need to take the game to them.”
The game against Trent will take place in Peterborough, Ont., at 4:00 p.m. on Sept. 13.
Tags
Cameron Bubyn, John Lavery, Marcus D'acre, Men's rugby, Waterloo Warriors
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