OLD GAELIC FINISHES 7^th AT  NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The Old Gaelic Rugby Club closed out its Spring 2006 season with a pair of losses at the Elite Eight national championship held in Columbia, S.C. on May 13 and 14.  Few will remember the team’s 5-5 record, but will cherish the recollection of the club’s first-ever Mid-Atlantic title.

The Griffins traveled to Columbia as the 7^th seed and matched up with Boston Irish Wolfhounds in the quarterfinals. 

Skipper Dan Roth gave the Black 7 Gold an early 3-0 lead with a penalty kick.  The Wolfhounds answered with the first of four tries by their right wing and led, 7-3.  Two more penalty kicks by Roth put Old Gaelic in front, 9-7.  The advantage held until the last play of the half.  When a clearing kick failed to find touch, the Hounds counter-attacked and scored another try.  The ensuing conversion put them ahead for good, 14-9.

The deep and talented Irish put on a clinic in the second half en route to a 43-12 victory.  Boston Irish is a Division I club with 82 members.  They had a D-I team in the playoffs and by rule were allowed to field this second side at the D-III.  The ability to practice and play with D-I players obviously took the Hounds’ game to a higher level.  Lessons were learned about the fitness level and team play (including field coverage) necessary to succeed at that level.

In consolation play on Sunday, the Griffins dragged themselves to an 8:30 kickoff and never seemed to clear the cobwebs.  Old Gaelic built a 14-5 lead on tries by John Kroesen and Brian Ogle (both on long grubbers) and a pair of conversions by Roth.

Again, the squad suffered an end-of-half malaise.  The Wisconsin side scored two tries in the last four minutes of the frame to take a 15-14 lead at halftime.  Green Bay scored the first two tries of the second half and built a big lead, then held on for a 34-26 triumph.  Kroesen and Ogle both scored again on assists from Roth to tighten the final margin.  This loss taught the value of not breaking training for an early-morning match.  It was a hail of a day!

The success of this season has everyone looking forward to the fall season and an opportunity to defend our back-to-back EPRU D-III crowns.  Fitness and continued recruiting will be the key.