OLD GAELIC ENDS SEASON ON THREE-GAME WIN STREAK;  CLINCHES MARFU BERTH

Old Gaelic closed out 2006 with a 53-5 thrashing of host PCOM on Saturday.  The Griffins built a 43-0 halftime advantage and cruised from there on there way to a 6-2 EPRU-III record.

Solid forward play set the early tone.  When one of the Fightin’ Docs attempted an ill-advised kick from in goal, Mark Cooley alertly covered the orb and Captain Dan Roth converted for a 7-0 lead. 

Captain Dan added a penalty kick before the floodgates caved in.  Justin Stefanon scored on a nifty feed by Wes Beard.  Curtis Brillhart followed with a number eight crash off a stolen hook before Roth raced in on a quick tap.  John Kroesen bulled into the zone for a pair of tries on assists by Roth and Chris Botto to complete the first frame onslaught.

After intermission, the Griffins subbed liberally and play degenerated.  Nonetheless, Brillhart completed a hat trick to nail down the coveted Grizzly award on two second-half tries – a pushover off a 5-meter scrum and a recovery of a loose ball in goal.  PCOM showed its mettle with a long scoring run off a lineout to avoid the doughnut – then it was off to The Ugly Moose for victuals and libations.

Old Gaelic 53 – PCOM 5

T:  Brillhart 3, Kroesen 2, M. Cooley, J. Stefanoon, Roth.

A:  Beard, Botto, Roth.

P:  Roth

C:  Roth 4.

1-Troy/Speese

2-Dimitrovich/D. Morris

3-T. Smith/Lentz

4-Pomraning

5-Hart/Tunis

6-Speese/Hart

7-Graham/Hollowell

8-Brillhart

9-Botto

10-Roth

11-Beard

12-M. Cooley/Oliverio

13-Kroesen

14-Ogle

15-J. Stefanon

NEWS & NOTES

Special thanks to Ed “Grumptruck” Powell for his support during the season and for assisting with photography. …  It was great to see Coach Rick Wilson in attendance last week against Lehigh Valley.  …  Our opponent in the first round of MARFU playoffs will be Western Suburbs down there.  We have played them before, but not in many years. …  Make plans to attend the Awards Banquet on December 2 at the Caddy Shack. …  Don’t forget the organizational meeting this Thursday night at the practice field.  Be there or be elected!   … Rugby hoops on Thursday (and touch seven’s if we have enough guys).