Shamrocks win the NERFU d2 championship
The Shamrocks worked hard throughout the fall 2024 season, growing their game and learning a lot about their physical and mental strengths along the way. They played five league games winning against Burlington, Hartford and Charles River, losing to Albany and Providence. That record landed the Shamrocks as the 3rd seed in the division, playing Albany in the first round of playoffs.
On 11.9.24 the Shamrocks kicked off against Albany in what we knew was going to be a challenging match. Having lost to them earlier in the season and seeing them a number of times through the past few years set the expectation that there was work to be done. Right from the beginning Albany had a presence on the field and put in a number of tries, the Shamrocks answered back and went back and forth throughout the entire 80 minute game. With the game nearing an end we were down and advancing to the try where we kicked for points and pulled ahead securing a win to advance us to the NERFU Final.
11.16.24 we had to face Providence, again the team we lost to earlier in the season and have played many times throughout the years. Here came the mental game we worked on all season, after our loss to them in the regular season everyone buckled down and agreed we’d beat them when we make it to playoffs. This high energy, high paced game did not disappoint! This match was back and forth, for a time we were in the lead and a few errors landed us in losing territory. As a team we had a decision to make, and everyone banned together to fight on. A few big plays turned the tide including Sarah Clayton with a steal mid Providence pass and a huge poach by Beth Lavoie; small moments that the team rallied behind and reenergized the team to dig deep and work. The Shamrocks were knocking on the door for a try when we found ourselves with an opportunity to kick for points in the closing moments of the game. Laura Hetherman lines up a kick and sinks it bringing the score to 27-28 Shamrocks!
One kick off left to end the game, Providence kicks off and the kick falls short sending us to a scrum center field. Shamrocks win the scrum, an area they were dominate in throughout the game, kick the ball out of bounds to end the game in a win!
Shamrocks now advance to the Atlantic Super Regionals to be hosted by NERFU this year.