Gaels Survive Scare
Monday Apr 6, 2009 in Amateur Competitions Division I Colleges
(The fatigue shows on the players' faces. Mike Geib photo.)
April 6, 2009 - Not that long after scaring Cal, St. Mary’s got a bigger scare themselves – almost being eliminated from the national championship contention before they even made the National Round of 16.
”The most intense match played at Saint Mary’s each year seems to the the PCRFU playoff final vs Davis,” said St. Mary’s head coach Tim O’Brien. “We have had extraordinary matches years past with four of the past six being decided in the final moments of match play.”
While Davis had run into various buzz saws this season, much of that had been because of huge injury problems. Sure the Gaels had beaten the Aggies 78-3 and 50-21, but they knew it wasn’t going to be the same situation as Davis was able to field their best XV Sunday.
”This was the team Davis had scratched out on paper in October,” said O’Brien, adding that this team was the second toughest his Gaels had faced all season, and “it's too bad that the loser goes home.”
Davis took advantage of a variety of St. Mary’s errors and penalties and dominated territory, and O’Brien said he was somewhat pleased to have his side hold Davis to only the three tries.
With St. Mary’s ahead 25-17 and three minutes on the clock, St. Mary’s was awarded a penalty 30 meters out. Despite calls from the sidelines to kick for points, St. Mary’s center Tim Maupin took a quick tap and the Davis defense held.
From there Davis scored a try and off the restart earned a penalty that Tyler Harrison slotted to tie the game.
Twice the Gaels scrum pushed over tries, once in OT, and both times man of the match Brandon Vedder did the honors. That last one proved the decider, and St. Mary’s escaped.
For many it is true that good teams often get pushed out of playoff opportunities. Central Washington, Kutztown and UC Davis could all feel hard-done by to lose out.
- Alex Goff © www.erugbynews.com
