Deja Vu - Griffins Deny Bombers
Bombers vs Grand Rapids (W25-23)
Bombers vs Chicago Griffins (L10-55)

Friday, May 14, 2004

 
Round of 16: Bombers 25 Grand Rapids 23

The Bombers traveled to Grand Rapids, Michigan well knowing they would be in for two tough matches. First up was a match against Grand Rapids- an inspired home team playing in front of a large and loud grandstand full of supporters. St. Louis opened strong and kept the big crowd silent for most of the first half. A Rene Monette penalty kick and a try by young #8 Andy Entwistle staked the Bombers to an 8-0 lead. Flying Bomber wing Chris Welch then outraced everyone to cover a beautifully weighted kick from center John Ruzicka. Unfortunately, Chris suffered a freak dislocated shoulder on the play and lost his services for the remainder of the season. Monette's conversion made it 15-0 Bombers. Then the turning point in the match: John Ruzicka intercepted an errant Grand Rapids pass and raced home from 40 meters out. Just before reaching the line for the easiest of tries and with nobody around him, Ruzicka dropped the ball. Grand Rapids quickly capitalized on the miscue, with flyhalf Yuki Tanabata starting and finishing a backline move that covered 60 meters. Center David Fuller's conversion brought the halftime score to 15-7 St. Louis.

The second half opened with the Bomber forwards pounding the ball at Grand Rapids through several phases. St. Louis was awarded a penalty try by referee Al Klemp as the pressure was too much for Grand Rapids: 22-7 Bombers with 30 minutes to go. To their credit, Grand Rapids refused to fold and launched a series of attacks in the Bombers end that culminated in 6 points off the boot of David Fuller followed by a nice try by #8 Robert Whipple: 22-18 Bombers. The tide had turned and Grand Rapids sniffed at a chance to take the lead with five minutes to play. Flyhalf Tanabata once again sliced through the Bomber defense to score and give his side the lead 23-22 with only a couple minutes left in the match. The Bombers woke up just in time to drive into Grand Rapids end and be awarded a penalty kick about 40 meters out with only seconds remaining. Monette calmly slotted the lengthy kick to reclaim the lead and St. Louis escaped with a 25-23 victory.

Round of Elite 8: Chicago Griffins 55 St. Louis 10

The St. Louis Bombers faced their arch rivals the Chicago Griffins in the Elite Eight for the third time in the last four years. The previous matches saw the Griffins go to the Final Four twice at the expense of Bombers. Once again both squads came in as the #1 seeds from their respective regions. The match had all the makings of last years nail biter that saw Chicago win by 6 points.

Both sides came out firing, but it was Chicago that drew first blood when a kind bounce of the ball landed in the hands of winger Brandon Brown: 7-0 Griffins. Chicago flyhalf Kahu Tamatea stamped his control on the match early and surgically placed his team near the Bomber line time and time again- using the breeze and slope to his advantage. Chicago raced out to a 17-0 lead before St. Louis could mount any kind of pressure. Chicago was producing quality ball and using it properly as they managed to slip into the corner twice more before halftime to lead 27-0 at the break.

St. Louis turned around with the breeze and slope at their backs and quickly put 10 points on the board- thanks to the quickness of scrumhalf Brian Lay and the foot of Rene Monette: 27-10 Griffins. But injuries in the Bomber backline took their toll as tremendous pressure with ball in hand from the Griffin backline produced four more tries to extend the lead and seal the match. Once again the Griffins headed off to the Final Four with a well deserved 55-10 victory. Griffins' center Frank Kireka (a former St. Louis Rambler import) and # 8 Matt Koch (a former Bomber) were outstanding on the day. Chicago flyhalf Kahu Tamatea was the player of the match. The Bombers went into the match with a patched up backline (injured were: fullback Chris Schlereth- hamstring, wing Chris Welch- dislocated shoulder, center Brian Meyer- torn MCL) and had great difficulty shutting down their very potent opposites. Bomber forwards Shaun Tegethoff and Hayden Mexted stood out in a losing effort.

Bomber captain John McBride noted: "The Griffins play extremely well every time we meet. They manage to raise their game to another level when they see the Bomber jersey in front of them. We've had an outstanding season- but we lost to a better team today."

St. Louis coach Ron Laszewski added: "We were firing on six cylinders to their eight. The Griffins are a very strong team and are to be congratulated on a well deserved victory. We never seem to catch them having a bad day."