Gregory the Great Edges St. Joe's for Rugby PA D1 Title
Gregory the Great Edges St. Joe's for Rugby PA D1 Title
Gregory the Great won the Rugby PA Boys D1 title, beating St. Joe's Prep over the weekend with an exciting finish between two heated rivals.
These two teams played earlier in the season, with St. Joseph's winning 40-33. So it was no surprise that this game was close as well.
With a vocal group of fans from each team, this was a game with a loud atmosphere.
Greg's controlled much of the first half and took a 16-7 lead into the halftime break.
But St. Joe's then responded with 21 straight points, with Greg Phillips leading a strong forward effort and Mike Ross also showing well.
But GGA turned the momentum around and scored a converted try to make it 28-23 for St. Joe's.
Then we come to the final moments. GGA was pressure the St. Joe's tryline, but the Hawks held firm and forced a knock-on. From the ensuing scrum, however, St. Joe's was pinged for an early engagement. Free kick to Gregory the Great, a tap, and a try. That tied it up, and the GGA conversion won it.
St. Joe's DOR Brian McCloskey said the big problem in the game was his team's poor start.
"We lost that game in the first half," he said.
As for GGA, the difference between losing earlier in the spring and winning this time around was "an understanding of ‘big games swing on little moments,’" said Head Coach Garret van Beek. "We were committed to do the little things well which allowed us to score the points needed for the victory."
Colin Bennett had an outstanding game at No. 8 for GGA, playing tough but also making smart decisions. Kephas Stender marshaled his men on offense and defense while it was Felix Prieto who scored the key try at the end of the game.
Both Lex Lang and Gus Wright had strong defensive showings while Marty Irwin was a workhorse in the pack and scored a try.
"It was a roller coaster of a match that had both teams playing some phenomenal rugby for the full 70 minutes," said van Beek. "Credit to St. Joe's Prep on their season, and for being a tough competitor in the state final."
