GAELICS ROMP IN OPENER; AVENGE LONE DIVISION DEFEAT OF ’05

Old Gaelic opened its 2006 EPRU Division III schedule with a bang this past Saturday at Williams Grove with a 51-3 shellacking of North Penn.  Four players notched double figures, led by Brian Ogle’s hat trick.

It took awhile for the two-time defending champions to get started, but once they did, the tries came fast and furious.  The Griffins touched the hallowed turf seven times in the half, rolling up a 43-0 lead in the process.

Outside center Scott Lindsey got things going with the first of two tries.  After a series of rucks, Lindsey took a pocket pass from scrum half Pete Sharpe at the five-meter line and launched himself into the zone for the first score of the new season.  Dan Roth added the first of four conversions and the Black & Gold was on its way.

Lindsey doubled his pleasure on a crisp feed from his running mate, John Kroesen.  Curtis Brillhart, eightman, followed with a try, zig-zagging his way to glory, compliments of Roth.

Roth, the Gaelic skipper, followed with a move that had to be witnessed to be believed.  He took a pass from Sharpe, ran to the weak side, drilled a kick to open space, outran the defenders, got a delightful little hop, snagged the orb and dashed in for the try that had the visiting Knights shaking their heads.

Ogle followed with a velvet sprint off a bounce-pass from Roth.  The captain’s kick made it 33-0.

Brillhart scored again off a short line-out call and the Griffins closed the half with a textbook score.  The forwards won clean ball on the lineout and mauled about 30 meters before tight head prop Travis Smith spun out and rumbled to the five.  Roth found Ogle again for the finish.

The pace slowed considerably after intermission.  Roth added a drop kick and Ogle scored again – on a nice pass by Jerry Gould.  North Penn dodged the doughnut with a penalty kick on the last play of the contest to account for the final margin.