Savannah opened up the second leg of their home and away series with the other teams from their conference by hosting their rivals, the Hilton Head Gators, on October 19 in Forsyth Park. The Shamrocks opened up with a sluggish start to the first 20 minutes after a fifteen minute delay in the kickoff. Multiple phases by each team resulted in an inability to keep worthwile possession for either team. Erratic calls from the referee resulted in both teams’ offenses being frustrated until ultimately a well executed scrum movement resulted in fly-half, Cheffren Canady, making a break and off loading to scrum-half, Matthew Midgett for the try under the posts in the 23rd minute, conversion by Tommy Moentmann (Savannah 7 – Hilton Head 0). After the first score, the Shamrocks woke up and applied consistent pressure to both the Gators’ forwards and backs and were rewarded by a big run from prop, CJ Regnet, who broke multiple tackles en route to scoring a try in the 30th minute, conversion by Moentmann (Savannah 14 – Hilton Head 0). Savannah’s backs were rewarded a few minutes later when inside center, Matt Rutkowski, broke through the defense and ran through several would be tacklers for his first try of the game in the 34th minute, conversion by Moentmann (Savannah 21 – Hilton Head 0). As the half drew to a close, flanker, Brian Crowley, got in the scoring action with great support play which sent him through for the try untouched under the posts in the 40th minute, conversion by Moentmann (Savannah 28 – Hilton Head 0).
Halftime Score: Savannah 28 – Hilton Head 0
Savannah came out of the halftime break suffering through a few key injuries and the substitutions on the field played admirably. In the 50th minute, Regnet, again broke through the Gators’ defense to score his second try of the game, conversion by Moentmann (Savannah 35 – Hilton Head 0). Sensing that route was on the Rocks’ forward pack began playing even better at the set pieces and were able to steal a line out which Regnet carried down the field and nicely offloaded to flanker, Mark McWhorter, who out paced the Gators’ wing for a try in the 52nd minute, conversion by Moentmann (Savannah 42 – Hilton Head 0). The ensuing kickoff was collected by the Shamrocks’ forwards and spun wide to the back which made a great series of passes allowing Rutkowski to swerve his way around the defense and ultimately through the defending fullback at the try line for his second score of the day in the 55th minute, conversion missed (Savannah 47 – Hilton Head 0). Hilton Head’s captain called the ref over following this score and waived the white flag citing concerns of numbers for his team and lack of substitutes and the need to keep a healthy team for their remaining two games. The ref granted mercy and called the game a full 20 minutes early and the Shamrocks moved their record to 4-0 while the Gators were handed their third defeat of the season bringing them to 1-3.
Final Score: Savannah 47 – Hilton Head 0
Forward of the Match: Matt Bush
Back of the Match: Matt Rutkowski
Honorable Mention: Kevin Jackson
