KINGSTON, Ont. - It was a second half to forget for the St. Lawrence Vikings men's rugby team, who were up for the majority of the first half against the Algonquin College Thunder on Thursday, but were outscored 33-10 in the second half, on route to the 54-25 loss. The defeat snaps SLC's three-game winning streak in the process.

Algonquin opened the scoring what seemed to be an easy drive that the Vikings could not answer. With the Thunder making the conversion, SLC started the game down 7-0.

SLC responded with a great drive but were met with a strong goal-line defence by Algonquin, who were able to get the ball held up (prevented the ball from touching the goal area) on three separate occasions, until the Vikings finally scored on their fourth attempt, to tie the game at seven.

SLC quickly followed up their try and conversion, with a second try to go up 12-7.

Third-year prop, Tom Horton, found himself on a great run that drove the Vikings down the field and led to a successful penalty kick, taking a 15-7 lead.

After the 15 consecutive points by SLC, it appeared that the Vikings were in full control of the match. However the Thunder regrouped after the giving up the lead to come from behind and take a 21-15 lead at halftime, and never gave it back, defeating the Vikings 54-25.

Jack McCleery, Nicholas Taylor and Duncan McNaughton scored tries for SLC, with Cody Strickland scoring a try, penalty kick, and conversion.

With the loss, the Vikings remain tied for second in the OCAA East Division with the Fleming College Knights at 13 points, only three points behind the first place Trent University Excalibur.

But with Seneca and Algonquin College only four and five points behind, and with two games in hand, there is still plenty of movement that can happen in the OCAA East in the final week of the regular season.

SLC closes out the season on Saturday, Oct. 18 against the Excalibur in Peterborough, Ont., under the lights at 7:30 p.m.

Source: St. Lawrence College