"I think they just inherently communicate better than anyone of the whole team," Gaels coach Mike Finley said. "The two of them just living together, it's like they're brothers."
Said Kyle: "Living together and being so close definitely helps us out. We're always able to talk about what we need to improve on and stuff. Because of that, we can get even better chemistry down between us, so we usually don't have any problems out on the field."
At the Sweeney household, it's all rugby all the time. You can find 10 or so rugby balls around, a few broken picture frames and makeshift goal posts in the backyard.
After seeing the cost of rugby goal posts, Paul Sweeney went to a hardware store and bought two long curtain rods that he attached to a soccer goal that were already there. "I painted them white, put some flags on top and made me a hero for $30 and a little bit of spray paint," he said.
The boys have made sure to take full advantage. Kyle and Lowe are constantly working to improve on their chemistry, while Eric, who also plays scrum half, is getting a step ahead by learning from his older siblings and passing along the skills to his younger teammates.
"Some kids would be like, `Hey, let's go kick the soccer ball around or throw the football or baseball,' " said Lowe, who plans to join Kevin at Towson University to study business in the fall. "With us, it's, `Let's go play some rugby.' "
With Kevin, Kyle and Lowe all members of the charter team in 2006, tonight's playoff game will be that much more special for the family.
"All the family gets tremendous joy sitting up in the stands and watching them play side by side," Paul Sweeney said. "And [Kyle and Chris] are really good. They've got this sort of sixth sense, this communication.
"I view them as brothers even though they are really cousins at this point given how close everybody is."
glenn.graham@baltsun.com
