NOKESVILLE, Va. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's rugby team finished in third place at the 2018 Division II Cardinals Collegiate Rugby Conference Championships this past weekend out of 22 teams in the conference.
 
The Royals defeated the United States Naval Academy B-Side 24-22 in the quarter-final round of the tournament Saturday afternoon. They were down 22-0 before scoring 24 unanswered points in the second half of play to win the match.
 
Queens was led by freshman Jordan Memea who tallied three tries of his own, followed by Stanton Johnson with one try. Senior Lebo Ngwenya also kicked two conversions in the win.
 
On Sunday morning, the Royals battled the Virginia State University, who had also won their division and finished 6-0, in the semi-final round and narrowly lost, 19-17.
 
Rylee Ellsworth, Richi Cilinceon, and Devinaire Hayes each scored a try for Queens in the loss, with a conversion from Ngwenya.
 
In the consolation finals round for third or fourth place, the Royals faced Virginia Military Institute once again after previously losing to them in regular season play (49-24). The squad recorded a 38-34 win with tries scored by Doyle Hedgepeth (2), Devinaire Hayes, Jharid Morrison, Brad Kenyon, and Xavier Prince. Ngwenya added four more conversions.
 
With the Royals finishing the tournament in third, they also earned the right to compete in a national playoffs "Play-In Match" next versus Furman University Saturday, November 10 at 1 p.m. USA Rugby decided that the winner of this match will move on to the 16th round of the Division II National Tournament.

Results