Savannah Shamrocks went on the road to take on the Hilton Head Gators in the biggest rivalry in the coastal empire. This game featured the 3-0 Shamrocks who are currently the #1 team in the GRU against the Gators who came into the matchup at 1-1 on the season. Normally when these two teams meet up you can throw the records out the window. Savannah travelled well up the road to Hilton Head and came out ferocious right from the opening whistle. Early in the matchup it was clear this was going to be a hard hitting matchup between the two teams. After continue early pressure from Savannah the Shamrocks were finally rewarded with swift ball movement through the back line for the speedy fullback, Elijah Fluker to finish by scampering over the try line and under the post, conversion by Matthew Midgett. (Savannah 7 – Hilton Head 0). Savannah immediately put renewed pressure on the Gators from the restart with hard forward crashes and strong rucking. A lineout play resulted in a maul that earned the Shamrocks’ second try by scrumhalf, Gavin Rourke, in the corner, conversion missed. (Savannah 12 – Hilton Head 0). The Gators were unable to secure possession following the next restart and the Rocks were able to punish the Gators in the 11th minute of the game when another quick ball resulted in inside center, Chad Cooley, powering through the Hilton Head back line for a try, conversion missed. (Savannah 17 – Hilton Head 0). The Shamrocks botched the resulting restart which resulted in the Gators having their best field position of the first half. Strong rucking and renewed possession allowed the Gators to push the ball inside of the Shamrocks’ 22m line and ultimately resulted in a penalty for the Gators which they were able to slot through the uprights. (Savannah 17 – Hilton Head 3). In the 20th minute the Shamrocks were able to respond with another well executed line out and maul which allowed flanker, Will Garnett, to peel off and touch down for his second try of the season, conversion by Fluker. (Savannah 24 – Hilton Head 3). The restart allowed both teams to show off their defensive prowess as the game was played near mid-field. Strong runs by the Shamrocks’ forwards were met with tough tackles from the Gators until finally the Rocks were able to spin the ball wide to wing, Jayson Diekman, to score his second try of the season as well, conversion by Fluker. (Savannah 31 – Hilton Head 3). The first half game to a close as the Shamrocks were pushing towards another try but the rainy conditions resulted in a ball handling error.
Halftime Score: Savannah 31 – Hilton Head 3
The second half started with Savannah immediately taking the upper hand as a kick to the fullback resulted in a swerving run by Elijah Fluker who found the try zone for the second time in the match, conversion by Fluker. (Savannah 38 – Hilton Head 3). Hilton Head was able to take advantage of a poor restart by the Shamrocks and maintained possession for the next 14 minutes deep in Shamrocks’ territory. Several penalties and an inability to obtain possession put consistent pressure on the Rocks; however, they were up the task and unwilling to break their defensive line that had not given up a try in the past two matches. Finally, in the 59th minute the Shamrocks were able to clear the ball with a kick and chase that allowed the forwards to consolidate possession and three phases later were able to spring prop, Scott “Boston” Lucas, through on a good support line to score under the post, conversion by Fluker. Savannah 45 – Hilton Head 3). Sensing the flood gates had opened up, the Shamrocks took the restart back into Gator territory and the pay off came in the form of a hat-trick try by Elijah Fluker, conversion by Fluker. (Savannah 52 – Hilton Head 3). As the game went into slow down mode by the Shamrocks the Rocks’ forwards refused to relent. Lock, Andre Banks, earnings his first start of the season was able to plow through the Gators’ defense for his first try for the club, conversion missed. (Savannah 57 – Hilton Head 3). Savannah continued to put pressure on Hilton Head’s defense and were again rewarded in the waning minutes of the match when Rourke was able to push over his second try of the game, conversion by Fluker. (Savannah 64 – Hilton Head 3). The game closed out in the next few minutes with Savannah making a clear statement for the season and putting a rivalry to bed, once and for all.
Final Score: Savannah 64 – Hilton Head 3
Back of the Match: Elijah Fluker
Forward of the Mach: CJ Regnet
Scored from around the league: Athens 22 – High Country 0; Old White 29 – GRITS 10; Augusta 46 – Gwinnett 0; NARC 57 – Macon 12
