OLD GAELIC WINS OVER HAPPY VALLEY, LOSES PAIR TO D-II POWERS
Weeks of preparation on the road to the Division III Mid-Atlantic playoffs have been completed with mixed results. In its first five matches, Old Gaelic got to experience the difference between Division II and Division III first-hand.
After opening with a loss to D-II Rocky Gorge and a big win at Winchester, the Griffins entered a grueling portion of its schedule, with road matches at The Roses (Lancaster) and Frederick RFC sandwiched around a home game with two-time defending D-III Mid-Atlantic champion Happy Valley (Penn State).
The Roses scored early and often in a 48-13 drubbing of the Black and Gold that avenged a loss in last spring’s friendly at Old Gaelic. The Lancaster-York club showed superior skill and execution in the open field en route to the win. In 2005, The Roses had a great run through the post-season and finished fourth in the nation. Their attempt to return to the Final Four begins later this month.
Tries by Brian Ogle and Nick Adams on assists by Mark Cooley and Randy Smith along with a Dan Roth penalty kick accounted for the Black and Gold point total.
Old Gaelic salvaged the afternoon with a 22-0 win in the “B” match. Littlestown’s Adam and Adrien Hawk each had tries, as did Chris Botto and Ogle (Gaelic’s all-time “A” side try scorer and leading scorer on the “B” side). Matt Graham and Botto had assists and Roth added a conversion.
On April Fool’s Day, Old Gaelic got back in the win column with a 48-5 defeat of Happy Valley at Williams Grove. The Barbarians will re-tool and no doubt be a force in the playoffs (they open at James River, the club that knocked out the Griffins in the semi-finals last year).
Brillhart and John Kroesen led the onslaught with two tries apiece. Ogle, Botto, Wes Beard and Matt Pomraning also found the zone.
In exciting “B” side action, the Griffins fell behind in the first half, 10-0. The Bees played a spirited second half, but fell short, 22-15. Botto had a try and Ogle scored his obligatory pair. Dan Reisman assisted on one of Ogle’s scores.
Under cloudy skies, Frederick handled Old Gaelic, 25-5. The hosts scored three tries in the final 15 minutes of the first half and outlasted the pesky Griffins. In a Pink Floyd tribute, Old Gaelic executed The Wall to near perfection and Curtis Brillhart dished to Smith for the dot-down. The Griffins drew within 20-5, but Frederick added a push-over try for the final tally.
Once again, the “B” side responded and downed a skilled Frederick side, 21-17. Ogle had a pair of tries, one on a flashy assist from Roth, and Ken Ivey felt the try-ful turf on keeper from the number 8 position. Three Roth conversions proved to be the difference.
The stage is set for the playoffs. After a week off for Easter, Old Gaelic hosts Roanoke (the first-ever meeting of these two squads) on April 22. A win would clinch a berth in the MARFU final four at Quantico April 29 and 30.