The Savannah Shamrocks were forced to travel to Augusta for a round robin match against Augusta Mad Dogs and Columbia Olde Grey after a rash of last second cancellations across the South. All three teams were able to put together a last minute match that helped everyone on each club get much needed game time. Thanks go out to match secretaries from each club for rallying their squads to show up in Augusta and make Saturday a rugby day despite all the recent bad weather.
Savannah played Augusta in the first 4o minute match and came out with a slow and plodding attitude. Poor rucking and poor tackling allowed the Mad Dogs to push Shamrocks onto their own goal line early in defense. After an Augusta line out turned maul inched near the try line a penalty was earned. Two phases later the Mad Dogs had taken the early 7 point lead on the Shamrocks. Savannah answered the wake up call and evened the scoring up through consistent possession and big breaks from the backs. It was a hard hitting game between these two rivals who are looking forward to playing each other again in Savannah in the matrix season early in 2015.
Final Score: Savannah 17 – Augusta 7
Savannah remained on the field to take on a fresh Columbia team that was eager to play their first match in weeks. It was clear from the opening whistle that Columbia was suffering from not being able to host practices due to the recent flooding. The Shamrocks capitalized on numerous forward runs that regularly broke the gain line. Savannah’s back line complimented the forward attack with a few big runs of their own. Most impressively, the Shamrock defense kept Columbia out of their 22 for the entire 40 minute half. Savannah continued their trend of being a great second half team and a very stout defense.
Final Score: Savannah 46 – Columbia 0
Savannah’s men and women now prepare to take on Jacksonville in a double-header down in Jacksonville, Florida on October 17.
