It was real rugby. A brawl on the field, yellow cards to each team, players down, a concussion protocol and casualties at the ER. The Midwest Championship semifinal match in St. Louis Nov. 8 was a sight to behold and a fierce match but the Chicago Griffins came away on the short end of a 56-19 score.
“The match was obviously disappointing for us,” said Matt “Crabs” Crabtree, who played wing. “This year’s squad gave it their all, but ultimately fell short of the lofty expectations we set for ourselves.”
Matt was one of those who went to the ER with a forehead laceration, as did hooker Brian Flamenco, also a wound to the forehead, testaments to the fierce play.
“My face is a bit sore, but healing up pretty good,” said Brian. “I think I got 20 to 30 stitches since it was deep. It’s gonna make me look scarier on the field and prettier for the ladies.”
From the start, the Griffins seemed unable to get their footing or rugby breaks, something even the match referee Chris O’Malley noted afterward.
“It seemed as if the Griffins just couldn’t get any breaks,” he commented. O’Malley was helped by assistant referees Donald Taylor and Eric Fournier.
The Griffins lost flyhalf Sean Verdon at the 24 minute mark with a concussion. He was down on the field for five minutes but was able to walk off the pitch. Head Coach Drew Suniula took his place.
The Bombers came out gunning forthe Griffins after the Griffins defeated them last year in the Midwest semifinal to unthrone them from the national and Midwest championship. But Griffin kickoffs went into touch, lineouts were lost, penalty kicks for touch stayed inbounds and kick returns were mishandled.
The Griffins received the opening kickoff and were attacking, but a knock-on gave St. Louis a scrum at the Griffin 40 meter mark and a try and a conversion at the two minutemark. That was how the match went.
St. Louis scored two tries and a penalty goal before winger Julian Dominguez put the Griffins on the board at :26 minutes. The Griffins drove into scoring position at the Bombers five meter line several times but would lose the ball through knock-ons or other mistakes, including losing some key lineouts
The Bombers had a good kicking game and used it to effect, pinning the Griffins deep or grub kicking through the defense and scoring.
“I think this will serve as a reminder of how difficult our goals are to achieve and how hard we must work toachieve them,” said Crabs. “St. Louis is a very good team I wouldn’t bet against in the rest of the competition.”
Although it was a difficult day, Crabs said he and Brian kept things in Griffin perspective.
“At the ER, Flamenco and I were in good spirits,” Crabs said. “I would wager to say we were the ER’s favorite patients for a long while. Both doctors and nurses alike were subject to witty banter and Brian’s attempts to secure a sponge bath and a stay-at-home nurse.”
About that brawl at 55 minutes. Erik “Jakes” Jacobson tackled a Bomber after Jakes saw him rake a Griffin’s face in a ruck at the Griffins’ 10 meter line. He had the Bomber on the ground correcting the player’s attitude, creating a melee which O’Malley had tostop. Cooler heads prevailed and O’Malley gave Jakes and the Bomber yellow cards. Another Bomber player received a yellow ticket later for continuing offsides.
The match ended the Griffins regular season and hopes for another Midwest Premiership League championship. St.Louis will play the Chicago Lions for that title this Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Blaze Rugby fields in Lemont. Kickoff is scheduled for 2p.m.
The Northshore Women of the Chicago Rugby Club will play Pittsburgh Forge Women for the D1 women’s championship. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
As for the Griffins, there will be more real rugby in the future.
“We’ll be back,” said Brian.
Many thanks to Ed and Sheryl Michals for making the trip and to an injured Tim Ohlwein who led the cheering section from the sidelines. More of Sheryl's photos are posted on the Griffins website, www.chicagogriffins.com.
The roster:
Props: Michael Alamo, Koby Baker,Jackson Zabierek, Miggy Roque
Hookers: Brian Flamenco,Manny Aranda
2nd: Erik Jacobson, RyanO’Neill, Lou Deberardinis
3rd: Scott “Paco” Peterson(8), Alex Null, Sam Peri (capt) Allan Aguilar, Devin Christor
Scrumhalf: Matt Hunter
Flyhalf: Sean Verdon, Drew Suniula
Centers: Dayan Joyce, JoshMcAdam
Wings: Jeff Hain (vice capt),Julian Dominguez (W), Matt Crabtree (W)
Fullbacks: Tom Guerin, Nolan Corley.
