In a back-and-forth match in St. Catharines, the Brock Badgers found a late try to seal a 28-24 win and hand the Marauders their first loss of 2014.

McMaster (5-1) remains in top position in the OUA standings, with one more game played than their immediate competitors Guelph, Queen's and Western.

Two of the team's talented young players were missing on Saturday, as Mitch Santilli and Adrian Wadden had answered the call from the national U-20 team and headed to British Columbia for training.

But McMaster initially seemed primed to overcome their absence, and jumped out to a 14-3 lead when Kieran Hurst crossed for the team's second try of the opening half and Andrew Ferguson successfully converted.

The Badgers continued to chip away however, and after a try and a penalty combined to bring them within three points, the home side pulled into the lead with a converted try for 18-14. McMaster responded as Hurst took command once again, laying off to Irving Casabon-Sosa for the team's third try which Ferguson converted for 21-18.

After trading penalties, McMaster held a slim 24-21 lead, but Brock delivered one final blow before time was up, crossing the line for a try that stood as the game winner.

The Marauders now face a bye week, and more than two full weeks to train and regroup before their next match. That contest will come on Sunday, October 19, when McMaster plays host to the Guelph Gryphons at Back 10 Field.