THE NOSE

No one was called for icing, but with a three-period format and unlimited substitutions, last Saturday’s opening day match against Lancaster at Williams Grove bore some resemblance to a hockey game (fortunately, there was no frozen tundra to contend with).  At the end of ninety minutes, the visitors outscored Old Gaelic, 31-19.  The Griffins will try to get in the win column when they host collegiate powerhouse Kutztown this Saturday at high noon.

The Roses are an EPRU Division II playoff qualifier and exhibited their skills in the opening frame.  A quick ruck was spun wide in a flanking maneuver that allowed Lancaster to turn the corner to paydirt and a 5-0 lead.  Minutes later, a well-placed kick resulted in another try and the guests led, 10-0, after one stanza.

Lancaster increased its advantage to 24-0 on a pair of second-stanza tries and two conversions.  Old Gaelic finally got on the board when Curtis Brillhart, starting his first game at scrumhalf, spun out from behind a maul and raced in for the dot-down.   Brillhart passed to Dan Roth, who burrowed through traffic for the score and made the kick to trim the deficit to 24-12 entering the final period.

The Griffins continued to rally when Roth quick-tapped a penalty and found a barreling Adam Blood for the rookie’s Old Gaelic maidenhead.  Roth’s conversion from the sideline made it 24-19 and raised concerns on the far sideline.  Lancaster sent its starters back into the fray and scored a try on the last play of the match for the final tally.

T:  Curtis Brillhart, Dan Roth, Adam Blood

A: Brillhart, Roth

C: Roth 3

1-Heiser/Blood/Lentz

2-Donahue/Morrow/Dimitrovich/Graham

3-T Smith

4-Pomraning/Hollowell

5-Dimitrovich/Hart

6-Ivey/Gould/Morris

7-Diegel/Larry

8-Dambro/Gould

9-Brillhart/Marascuillo

10-Roth (capt.)

11-Beard/Chris

12-Kroesen/Ben

13-Oliverio/Repka

14-Ogle

15-J Stefanon/Reisman

There was no “B” game.