Griffins Top Wolfhounds, On to the Playoffs!
It was a perfect day for rugby and Morgan Nichol’s legendary pig roast as the Chicago Griffins topped the Cincinnati Wolfhounds 45-26 in the last regular match of the 2026 season.
The victory leads to the first round of Midwest Premiership League playoffs next Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Blaze Rugby facility in Lemont. The Eastern Conference Griffins will face off against the Western Conference Blaze RFC with a kickoff at 1 p.m.
The Oct. 24 match with the Wolfhounds was close at first with a tie at halftime, but the second half was a different story.
“It was kind of a tight game, but the Griffin subs came in and they did very well,” reported Old Boy Charlie Byrne. One of the subs was head coach Drew Suniula, who came in at flyhalf.
Charlie said the last quarter of the match proved the turning point with a Griffin lineout.
“That was 15 yards from the try line and the Griffins were able to push in a score and that was a game breaker,” Charlie said.
After the match, Morgan’s pig roast proved to be another winner. His optional habanero barbecue sauce and family recipe beans were a hit with players and others in attendance. The Wolfhounds went home well fed to prepare for their Nov. 7 quarterfinal match against the Chicago Lions.
Many thanks to those who cheered from the sidelines: Charlie Byrne, John Smyth, Carl Dittmer, Dustin Penrod and baby. Many thanks to photographer Sheryl Michals and assistant Ed Michals.
The Chicago Rugby Club Sirens defeated County Will Morrigans, 19-15, in D2 women’s match as a prequel to the Griffins game.
In other Oct. 24 scores: Lions 43, Blaze 30; Indy Impalas 36, Tradesmen 31; Metropolis 31, Kansas City 26.
# # #
.png)
