Griffins Fall to Forge

‍

A blocked kick and a yellow card led to an early score by a resurgent Pittsburgh Forge team as the Chicago Griffins fell to the Forge Saturday, 34-26. 

The match was played Sept. 19 on a soggy Red Lobster Stadium field with referee Brad Cole and assistant refs Niall Little and Jill Anderson.  

The Forge took an early 7-0 lead after a yellow card against the Griffins at the 11 minute mark. The Griffins soon came back with a score under the posts and a conversion to tie the game. The Forge returned the favor with a scrum and a wing break to make it 12-7.  The Griffins tied it up with a try in the corner.

A yellow card against the Forge for too many hands in the ruck led to another Griffin try in the corner and a conversion, making it 19-12 at the half.  The Forge surged in the second half, scoring early and tying the game at 19 all and following up with another try to make it 24-19.

A penalty against the Griffins near their own posts led to another Forge try, extending Pittsburgh’s lead to 29-19. Another try made it 34-19, but the Griffins scored another try and conversion before the whistle to make it 34-26. 

The Griffins will have a tough match Saturday, Sept. 26, on the road against the Detroit Tradesmen. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. central time at Farwell Field, 4444 8 Mile Rd., Detroit. 

In other Sept. 19 Chicago Rugby Club matches, the D2 Westside Condors lost to Lincoln Park, 52-14; the D3 Silverbacks beat Lincoln Park D3, 32-20; and the D2 Women Chicago Sirens beat Will County Morrigans, 17-12.

Midwest Premiership scores:

Lions 31, Blaze 21

St. Louis Bombers 12, Metropolis 5

Tradesmen 34, Indianapolis Impalas 0

(Thanks to Old Boy Ed Michals for his notes on the Forge match)

‍

# # #

‍

Note from Carmody Family,

Donation to Kunks’ Charity

‍

The family of the late John Carmody, a Griffin founder, extended gratitude to the club for its donation to John’s charity, Opportunity Knocks, following his death this past winter. The organization advocates for those with developmental disabilities. Noreen Carmody, his wife, wrote:

‍Dear Griffins - On behalf of my entire family, thank you to those who attended the funeral and thank you for your donation to Opportunity Knocks. Some of our best early memories of our life together were spent with the Chicago Griffins RFC. 

The club also made a donation to the Sunset Ridge Country Club Scholarship Fund in memory of Old Boy Greg Kunkel, who passed away Sept. 1. 

‍

# # #

‍