2014-2015 Stories
Congratulations to our Men's Rugby Team for being recognized by Contra Costa County for all their accomplishments and for their back to back 2014 and 2015 National Championship Titles.
GAELS DEFEAT DAVENPORT TO ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THIRD YEAR IN A ROW
By: Christian Portillio
-----------------
GAELS DEFEAT UTAH 72-26 TO ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS
By: Christian Portillio
(READ FULL ARTICLE HERE)
----------------
GAELS CONCLUDE REGULAR SEASON WITH A 96-0 SHUTOUT OVER SANTA CLARA
-----------------
RECAP OF EAST COAST TOUR BACK EAST
SMC Gaels Vs. Dartmouth (W) 76-3
SMC Gaels Vs Army (W) 40-12
BIG SECOND HALF PROPELS SAINT MARY'S OVER ARMY (read full article here)
SAINT MARY'S CONCLUDES EAST COAST TOUR AT WEST POINT (read full article here)
-----------------
CAL SCORES 16 IN A ROW TO COME BACK AND DEFEAT GAELS
BERKELEY, CALIF. - In a much anticipated matchup between two of California’s premier rugby programs, the University of California, Berkeley, Golden Bears came back from behind to defeat the St. Mary’s Gaels, 27-20.
-----------------
ALL EYES ON THE BAY AREA AS SAINT MARY'S VISITS CAL
Separated by less than 15 miles, the rivalry between Saint Mary’s and Cal has become increasingly fierce, as the Gaels’ rugby program has grown to national prominence. No longer the Bay Area’s junior varsity rugby team, Saint Mary’s has won two of the past three meetings with Berkeley.
GO GAELS!!! BEAT THE BEARS!
-----------------
Exciting Times for College Rugby | By Pat Clifton, Rugby Today 03.19.15
St. Mary's has been a name program in college rugby for many, many years, and Tim O'Brien and Johnny Everett have been coaching there for some time. It's only in the last handful of years, though, that through their increased efforts the Gaels have become such a powerhouse.
(Read full story and rankings here)
------------------
Back-to-Back in Utah Too Much For Gaels to Overcome
------------------
Congrats to our Raffle Ticket Winners:
- 1st Place: Diane Ramsey
- 2nd Place Tom O'Donnell
- 3rd Place: Ryan Martens
------------------
Nick Schlobohm returned to action Saturday after a long absence and scored two tries in the Gaels win over Cal Poly, 48-10. Dylan Audsley also scored twice, and Kevin O’Connor, Cooper Maloney, Mason Colombo and Vili Helu each scored once. Dylan made four of eight conversions.
Gaels Start Road Trip With A Win Against Cal Poly 48-10
------------------
Photo Credit: Michael Kreizenbeck
Gaels Edged By Cougars 32-28 (read full story here)
-----------------------
Photo Credit: Milton Wong
Gaels Conquer the Aztecs 78-5 (Read the full story here)
Gaels C Side Conquers Sierra College 45-34 (Read the full story here)
-----------------------
Photo Credit: Milton Wong
Gaels Outrun the Broncos 91-10. (Read the full story here)
--------------------
Gaels Stomp on the Gauchos 98-3
MORAGA - Fresh off a hard fought win (36-31) against the Olympic Club last Saturday, the St. Mary’s Men Rugby Team (A Side) faced off against the Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara at noon. It was a nice sunny day for rugby at St. Mary’s Stadium and the Gaels came prepared to play. Read more here.
View Photos Here.
--------------------
--------------------
January 24th, 2015
"The eventual Gael victory was ensured by the spectacular performances from Tommy Wallace and Kingsley McGowan. Wallace earned himself a hat trick while McGowan provided persistent aide for the team. McGowan once again had an active game both defensively and offensively setting up Wallace with various off loads that led to scores. Schlobohm and O’Neill also managed to get themselves on the scoreboard with one try each in the first and second half, respectively. The Gaels’ ability to limit turnovers proved to be a key role in their eventual win."
--------------------
January 17, 2015
Gaels Triumphed in Victory
Saint Mary’s College vs. Arizona State University
The Sun Devils were not prepared for the devastation of today’s game. The Gaels quickly put points on the scoreboard as Captain Cooper Maloney ran off opening scrum from a pass from Holden Yungert in the first 90 seconds. After the first fifteen minutes, the score was 21 – 0 with Vili Helu, and Henry Hall scoring the trys and Dylan Audsley scoring three conversions. In the 20 minute, ASU was able to put some points on the scoreboard with a penalty kick and the score remained 21 – 3 until the last few minutes of the second half. Audsley, putting more points on the scoreboard, he ran in from the 1 meter line after picking up the ball from a tackle. At the start of the second half, Hall once again breaks multiple tackles to obtain the try with Audsley making a successful conversion put the Gaels up 28- 3. ASU soon was able to evade tackles and run in for some points, but soon after Senior, Dino Waldren stretched in through a tackle for a score. There were some impressive runs today; both Mason Colombo and Michael McCarthy found the gaps to run the field. The Gaels triumphed in victory over the Sun Devil 59 – 15 and look forward to the competition next week against Olympic Club.
--------------------
The Men's Rugby team was honored at the Men's Basketball Team on January 15th. The team surrounded the National Championship trophy while the crowd cheered.
--------------------
In another article published by USA Rugby, Gaels inside center Dylan Audsley commented on their season explaining, “It’s a different team this year...It will take a bit of time for the new guys to get into the flow of things, but I think once they get their wits about them and get into a rhythm we could be a real force.”
Click below to read the full article:
http://d1arugby.com/news/seeking-improvement-gaels-await-challenge-from…
--------------------
Check out USA Rugby’s summary of Saint Mary’s College Gael Ruggers defeat over the Utah Utes this past Saturday in the newly renovated Saint Mary’s College Stadium. Junior Holden Yungert commented, “Our continuity is improving, and that’s one of those relationships that needs time,” explained Yungert. “But we’ve come a long way, and this game against Utah helped.”
Click below to read the full game summary and article! Great job Gaels!
http://d1arugby.com/news/saint-marys-passes-first-college-grade-test-wi…
--------------------
Saturday, January 10th, 2015
In the second rugby match of the 21st Century to be played at Saint Mary’s Stadium (C Side played the first, handily beating Cal Maritime Academy 39-12), our Gael Ruggers dismantled Utah in a most impressive fashion, 81-15. SMC led Utah 38-15 at the half and Utah never crossed the try line in the second half. SMC backs had their way from there on, with really impressive passing and a total team effort on defense.
The B Side then took on Utah’s B’s and continued the Gaels dominance in the scoring of tries. Final score was SMC 37- Utah 5.
There was a fourth match between Gaels B and C Sides combined versus Diablo Old Gaels Men’s Club. SMC finished on top yet again with a score of SMC 43-Diablo 20.
Go Gaels, Beat Arizona State next Saturday, at the Stadium!
--------------------
American Rugby has chosen our Saint Mary’s College Gael Ruggers the Men’s College Team of the Year for 2014. Click on the link below and enjoy a wonderful tribute to the players and coaches who made this happen. Kudos are given as well to the alumni, student body, and all the parents and fans who provided the support that helped lift the team to the National D1A Championship.
Great Stuff! Congratulations to everyone involved with Saint Mary’s College Rugby!
http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2015/01/mens-college-team-of-year-st-marys.html
--------------------
Saturday, January 3rd, 2015
The Gaels were overpowered by San Francisco Golden Gate’s top men’s club by a score of 50-17. Last year’s D1A Champs beat this team 60-20, but the year before they took the Gaels to school, as they did yesterday. SFGG had a nearly impenetrable defense and an offense that started fast and never slowed down. They scored from close in and with several breakaways. They ruled the line-outs, but not all the scrums. Anyway, there were bright spots for our Gaels. They never quit, coming back in the second half with three tries, two by Dylan Audsley, and one by Holden Yungert. The Gaels Defense hung tough with several long try line stands, and numerous one on one, straight on tackles by Cooper Maloney and others, bringing down charging opponents just short of the try line. Mason Colombo characterized the spirit of our Gaels when he started from outside of the main body of players to run full speed, across and downfield, for 60 meters or more, and nearly caught the runaway SFGG scoring player.
The match started early with a previously un-announced 10:30am match between SFGG’s D1 team against the Life West Gladiators (from a new Life U campus now in Hayward, though this is a Men’s Club team). The Life Club defeat SFGG 19-0.
They were followed by the Gaels’ B Side taking on SFGG’s B Side, and winning 15-7, with a phenomenal 80 meter sideline run by Tommy Wallace igniting our fans and closing out the scoring. Alex Brewer scored first and I didn’t see who made the second try. Gaels' B Side players are developing well and next week will take on Diablo Men’s Club.
Finally, there was a scheduled three half hour periods against Vacaville Men’s Club (with the popular Gael Alum Matt Hensley in the mix) against the Gaels C and some B Side players. Gaels were behind by a couple of early tries by Vacaville. They’ll be playing Cal Maritime Academy next week in the third match.
______________________________________________
Saturday, December 13th
11:40A SMC 3rds vs. USD: 41-17 GAELS
1:20P SMC 2nds vs. OMBAC D1: 28-29 OMBAC
3:00P SMC 1st vs. OMBAC PRP: 61-24 OMBAC
OMBAC maintained a two try lead, or more, throughout the match, taking the win. Though the Gaels had numerous dropped balls and missed tackles, they continued to fight hard. The opposition was definitely stronger, unlike teams that the Gaels have played in regular scheduled matches early in the season. The Gaels will definitely benefit from these pre-league matches.
Sunday, December 14th
10:30A SMC 2/3 vs Old Aztecs 2: 36-12 GAELS
12:00P SMC 1/2 vs. Old Aztecs 1: 48-13 GAELS
The Gaels pushed their way through the second half, winning 48-13. Leading at halftime the Gaels came back to see the Aztecs score, though still leading by 1, the Gaels came back with a score leading 21-13 and then another back-to-back leading 28-13. They finished off strong, winning 48-13. This is the type of finish we are hoping to see all season.
Looking Forward to a Great Year.
Men's Rugby is looking forward to a great year in competition for both the 7's and 15's game. With the level of success in the 2013-2014 season, the interest of joining this team is at an all-time high. More than 70 athletes came to the interest meeting to gain insight of what is to come. Each of them are given the opportunity to play Rugby at Saint Mary's College. Practice and weight training starts next week, September 22, 2014.