The SJRFC Devils allowed an overwhelming 25 first half points on the way to a 35-20 play-off jeopardizing loss to Doylestown RFC.   This drops the Devils to 2-3-1 in MARFU D-II North league action.  The B-Side fell to a barely reshuffled Doylestown A-side 29-0, dropping to 2-4. 

First game:   

1^st half: 

Even with Devils confidence building with a big win over Philly-Whitetrash, Doylestown’s shocking 52-12 win over a wedding depleted Media side was in the back of everyone’s minds. To make matters worse, the Devils back row was further depleted by the absence of veteran flanker Phil Wright to go along with the previously lost-for-the-season flanker Mike Eykyn (neck), and beefy swingman Jerome Martinez away at a funeral. Lack of Devils presence and hitting power at the breakdowns and midfield cover tackling support for an unusually porous midfield defense would prove to be the Devils downfall.  

Doylestown began the game by controlling play for about 10 methodical phases with their outstanding USA Rugby U-19 scrumhalf, sticking to an offensive pattern of forward runs, quick rucks and simple back movements weak and wide utilizing a big, fast and tough flyhalf and equally robust centers. Playing against a stiff wind, the partially shell-shocked Devils defended in their pattern but were not consistently attacking the runner and contesting the gain line at every breakdown. After several phases inside their own five-meter line, the Devils finally yielded an unconverted try at 5:00. Doylestown continued to dominate play, consistently beating the Devils to the breakdowns and running hard in the midfield.  They scored again after catching the Devils napping and taking a quick tap penalty down close, rather than a shot at goal, then running through a feeble tackle attempt in the centers.  Doylestown’s second try in the first ten minutes made it 12-0.  At 20:00, the Devils finally woke up a little and started to play with a bit more angst, sack, urgency…whatever it is…and started smacking Doylestown around.  This led to a Bill Stom penalty at 22:00 and a forced turnover way outside at 24:00.  High school junior speedster Scott Palumbo, born when we were on a SJRFC England/Wales tour in 1989 playing in the Folkstone Tournament, picked up the loose ball and went 60 yards for the unconverted try to put the Devils back in the game at 12-8.  After the breakaway try, Doylestown got back to basics, attacking in midfield, forcing turnovers, and slowing down Devils ball by rucking harder.  When the dust cleared, the Devils had  yielded pressure induced unconverted trys at 28:00 minutes and 35:00 minutes and a penalty at 39:00.  Halftime score: Doylestown 25-Devils 8  

2^nd half:                                                                                      

At 45:00 minutes, stiff wind at his back, Bill Stom was finally able to get the tactical kicking game going.  He lofted a beauty to the Doylestown left winger that was promptly mishandled and recovered by the Devils. Mike Rimositis (if you get me the ball I will score) came up with the ball and outran alcon 40 meters, hung a sharp Leroy, and put the ball down in his customary spot under the posts. Stom converted-Devils 15, Doylestown 25.  At 50:00, Doylestown managed a penalty kick after the Devils expelled them from inside there own 10 meter line with some inspired defensive attacking. Albeit the penalty kick, it was looking as if the Devils were turning the momentum around; however, for about 15 minutes, fundamental problems kept stopping them: Lost line-outs that were initially won easily, wheeled scrums, forward passes, knock-ons, not-releasing/holding on penalties, rolling on the ground penalties, and soft rucking-it all went bad. The crushing blow, and possible play-off eliminator, came at 64:00.  Doylestown had a scrum left at the Devils 10 meter line about 20 meters in from touch. The Devils shifted to “big” back defense to put more size in the midfield and went to a four up alignment. Doylestown ran a dummy 1-2, the flyhalf kept it, and the Devils failed execute. With no effective cover defense, he walked in under the posts for a converted try making it 35-20. The Devils, led by skipper Chris Midgley, didn’t give up after the backbreaking try but just couldn’t help themselves in a timely manner.  The only consolation for their efforts was an unconverted try by Pat Mirabella in the 39^th minute.  Too little, too late.  Final Score: SJRFC-20, Doylestown-35  

1. Graf 
2. Angelo
3. Diaz, T (c)
4. Mirabella
5. Higgins, H
6. Hutchinson
7. Quinn (Midgley)
8. Band
9. Diaz, A
10. Stom (vc) 
11. Pastva (Palumbo, Pente)
12. DiRomualdo
13. Sauter
14. Rimositis
15. Van Ness

Tries- Palumbo (1), Rimositis (1)

Conversions: Stom (1)

Penalties (1)  

Man of the Match: Alex Diaz 

Coaches Comment: For as far back as I can remember, Doylestown has always had big, quick, physical backs and been very tough to beat at home; 2006 was no exception as they owned the midfield all day. Note: The wind was taken in the second half vice the first because that is what I do, no other reason. If you think about it and assume you are fit and will be competing at the end of the game… it will eventually make sense most of you… even the non-believers. 

Second game: (25 minute halves)  

First Half: 

For whatever reason, mainly because their 40 or so camouflage clad supporters were all drunk, too fat, too stupid, tired from bow-hunting Bambi all morning-whatever-Doylestown was unable to come up with a referee for the second game, so their captain volunteered. A nice gesture but Never Again! Doylestown made a few changes in the pack and one or two in the backs and returned to the field with their A-side. I guess this is  OK if it’s all the players they have available to play-its part of D-II rugby and we won’t complain.  Anyways, like in the first game, the Devils didn’t have many answers when defending the midfield.  To add color to the match the referee apparently decided he wasn’t going to call minor infractions like offsides, lineouts not in straight, forward passes, obstruction, late hits, shoulder charges and just about any other penalty that required more than a few syllables to put into words.  The Devils fought hard, didn’t play that poorly, but gave up a lot of long breaks and missed a lot of tackles.  Halftime score: Doylestown 12-Devils 0

Second Half: 

Doylestown smelled blood and cranked it up a bit and scored three more trys and converted one. The only bright side was the inspired and physical play of Brian Nace playing his second full match and scrumhalf Mike McCoy under some serious pressure at the base of the scrum.  On the downside, Cory Glover re-injured his ankle.

Man of the Match:  Mike McCoy