THE NOSE

“What we pick, we print”

After a 3-3 start with predictable results, the jury is still out on the 2008 edition of the Old Gaelic Rugby Club.

This week, it counts, as the Griffins will try to parlay their MARFU top seed into a return trip to nationals.  Playoff action starts this Saturday at Williams Grove when the Black & Gold hosts Western Suburbs at 1:00 p.m.  Good seats are still available.

Following an opening loss to the Roses, Old Gaelic fell hard to Kutztown University, 51-11, before reeling off a trio of wins over D-III squads (Winchester, Chambersburg, Happy Valley).  Last Saturday, the Griffs fell to Frederick at the field of dreams, 22-15.

Kutztown, 3/15 (11-51)

The national powerhouse that is Kutztown University backed up its Top Ten ranking in collegiate rugby with a convincing thrashing of the hosts.  The visitors got on the board first with a try.  Dan Roth hit a penalty kick to make it 5-3, and that’s as close as the Griffins would get.  Roth struck again, but four more tries by KU made it 27-6 at the break.  Matt Pomraning added a late score to account for the final margin.

T: Pomraning.  PK: Roth, 2.

The “B” team earned a measure of atonement with a 54-0 annihilation in the nightcap.

Frank Tunis got the procession started with a plunge on an assist from Frank Lentz. Ray Hollowell, Dan Roth and Tony Dambro added first-half tries. Jerry Gould, Gentle Ben and Roth (twice) found the zone after intermission.  Roth and Dambro each added an assist and Tom Marascuillo had three helpers.

T: Roth 3, Tunis, Hollowell, Dambro, Ben, Gould.  A: Marascuillo 3, Roth, Lentz, Dambro. C: Roth 5, Tunis.

Winchester, 3/22 (47-10)

Old Gaelic earned its first win of the season against the Cannons.  Brian Ogle had three first-frame dot-downs to lead the onslaught. John Kroesen and Alex Diegel also scored as the Griffins took a 33-5 lead at the break. Scott Lindsey and Brian Clements touched down in the second half to complete the feeding frenzy.

T: Ogle 3, Diegel, Kroesen, Lindsey, Clements.  A: Roth 2, Ogle, Brillhart, Lindsey.  C: Roth 6.

The Bees followed through with a 29-17 win to complete the sweep.

T: Gould, Ivey, Repka, Bomber, Ogle. A: Ramsey 2, Troy, Pomraning, Ogle. C: Pomraning, Ogle, Gould.

Chambersburg; Happy Valley, 3/29

Old Gaelic blitzed Chambersburg (twice) and Happy Valley.  In the “A” match, the Black & Gold romped, 49-5, led by three tries by Curtis Brillhart.  The Bees held form and won in a romp, 44-0.  Finally, Old Gaelic destroyed the Barbarians, 45-5.

OG 49- Chambersburg 5

T: Brillhart 3, Ivey, Ogle, Hollowell, Diegel, Pomraning.  A: Chris Davis, Troy, Dimitrovich, Matt Heiser, Oliverio, Kroesen. C: Pomraning 2.

“B” OG 44 – Chb 0

T: R Smith, Blood, Botto, Ogle, Dambro, Chris Davis, Lentz, Morrow.  A: Tunis 3, Oliverio, Diegel, Hollowell.  C: Botto, Ogle.

OG 45 – HV 5

T: Blood 2, Pomraning, Matt Graham, Ogle, Dambro, Botto.  A: Brillhart 2, Botto, Clements, Dambro.  C: Pomraning 2, Ogle 3.

4/5 Frederick, 15-22

Frederick Rugby Club found redemption with a 22-15 win, outrucking the Griffins and limiting them to five Dan Roth penalty kicks.  In “B” side action, James Oliverio and Alex Diegel scored tries and Brian Ogle knocked home a pair of conversions in a 26-14 defeat.