3-0 GW faced 3-0 Loyola on Saturday to determine the top-seeded team in the PRC heading into the last leg of the Fall season. Both teams’ previous win was over Catholic University, and both side was looking to earn the spot as league leader. 

Loyola’s All-American fullback kicked off high and short (a tactic used successfully all day), allowing his forwards to field the kick-off and get on the front-foot immediately. Despite playing the majority of the first fifteen minutes in their own half, GW’s defense applied pressure and held firm. However, in the 18th minute, Loyola spread a number of players left but sent the ball right to take advantage of an overlap. Two quick passes and one broken tackle put the Loyola wing into the clear for the opening try. Fullback converts: GW 0 – 7 Loyola.

The GW attack sprang to life from there on the back of strong runs from fullback Will D’Angelo and front-rower Nick Peroni. After a series of phases, Flanker Drew Haskins broke through the defensive line and ran away for GW’s opening score. JP Aro’s conversion was wide: GW 5 – 7 Loyola. 

A few minutes later GW was back on the attack. The lineout struggled slightly throughout the day, but Andy Green made the best of a tipped throw by charging forward ten meters to keep his team on the front-foot. The ball was quickly recycled out to flyhalf Matt Heisler, who passed to his forward in the backline: Haskins. Haskins breaks the defensive line again, charges forward, and offloads to fellow forward Eloka Obi. Obi charges forward another 20 meters and scores. Aro converts to make it a five point lead: GW 12 – 7 Loyola. 

Loyola then secured their kick-off again with less than 10 minutes to play, and maintained the ball until GW gave away a penalty. The kick to touch gave Loyola a great attacking platform, and they worked the ball from one side of the pitch to the other before crashing hard up the center until powering over the line in the 40th minute. Conversion goes through.

Halftime: GW 12 – 14 Loyola. 

Loyola came out in the second half and were almost immediately awarded a penalty. They once again had a platform to launch an attack from and once again executed: a driving maul took them to within five meters before their hooker took the ball off the back of the maul and carried it over for their third try. Loyola’s fullback converts from wide left: GW 12 – 21 Loyola.

GW maintained high levels of possession in the second half and strung together a number of phases before Loyola’s aggressive defensive play — through line speed and counter-rucking — created turnovers. 

18 minutes into the second half, Loyola had a scrum on the far right side of the pitch. They worked the ball wide left and back to the right, pulling GW’s defensive thin. The gap opened up wide right, and Loyola broke through for a fourth try. The toughest conversion of the day coasted through: GW 12 – 28 Loyola. 

Despite continuing to put attacking pressure on Loyola and camping out in their half, GW was unable to convert their possession into points. A final attacking opportunity was turned over and the ball was kicked to touch. Full-time: GW 12 – 28 Loyola.