The SJRFC Devils came within a conversion to tie or a penalty to win against MARFU D-II 2006 2^nd Place Finisher and USA Rugby Sweet 16 Finalist Lancaster RFC, going down 20-22 and dropping to 0-1-1 at Evesham Rd.  The Devils B-Side was dominated by Lancaster’s A-side and reserves (wearing B-Side shirts) 24-0, moving to 1-1-0. .

First game: 

1^st half: 

Under cloudy skies, the Devils trotted out on the their rain softened home pitch fired up for a tough game in their home D-II North opener. As usual, a handful of starting Devils veterans was missing or late because of injuries and various work/personal issues. Seeing the glass half full, this created another opportunity to blood new D-II North caps as fullback Josh Van Nes, center Jeff Pastava, and center Mike McCoy all pulled on the green and white in their first MARFU league match. Seeing the glass half empty, experience, continuity and timing usually suffer a bit. However, all bumps in the D-II rugby road can usually be addressed by applying superior fitness and aggression-SJRFC had all of these over a sluggish looking Lancaster for most of the day.  At 10:00 flyhalf Bill Stom took the initiative and capitalized on some tenacious forward rucking pressure and retreating Lancaster backs and slipped by his drifting opposite #10 for a great try. Unfortunately, his easy conversion sailed wide. At 20:00, as he would all day long, Stom applied some outstanding tactical kicking pressure on the Lancaster back three which was followed up by the Devil’s back row forwards forcing a penalty; unfortunately, this kick was wide. At 28:00, Lancaster’s big, fast and skilled (but not that fit) #8 decided to run 30 meters through the center of the Devil’s defensive pattern and through some feeble (that’s rugby code for pussy-ish) tackle attempts for a converted try making it 5-7 Lancaster. Both teams showed spurts of play that could have resulted in trys, but penalties and miscues inside the 22’s kept the score at 5-7. Unfortunately, SJRFC lost two inside centers inside of the next five minutes as both Evan Gilham and his replacement Jeff Pastava both went down.  New scrumhalf Mike McCoy stepped up big time and plugged the hole. The score remained at 5-7 until half time.    

 2^nd half: 

It appeared Lancaster altered strategy for the second half. In response to the Devil’s forwards crushing anything near rucks and mauls in loose play, Lancaster started aligning pods of forwards and backs out wider and to the blind side, taking it on in groups of five and six. The results were instant: Lancaster stormed down to the Devils 10 meter line and got a lineout after a short Devils clearance kick.  The ensuing lineout was sloppily controlled by Lancaster and the usually sure tackling Devils back row had an apparent sack 10 meters behind the original line-out gain line. Unbelievably, the Lancaster player wiggled free and immediately stormed the try line with support against an over extended Devils defense that had taken the tackle for granted. Another Lancaster try up the middle resulted. The conversion was wide, making it 5-12 Lancaster at 43:00.  Stom responded by picking up the tactical kicking, again concentrating on the back three and making them play. All the pressure forced tentative play by the Lancaster backs and this time Stom’s initiative was a chip kick that he cased down in goal. It was try at 46:00, not a knock on as the 50-meters –away-Lancaster supporters cried about for a good ten minutes. Unfortunately, the conversion was again wide but Devils momentum was gained and the score was nearly leveled at 10-12 Lancaster. In addition, MIA center Scott Palombo appeared on the sideline and was inserted for Mike McCoy.  Stom picked up the kicking again, now concentrating on Mike Rimositis’ open side winger opposite. It didn’t take long for Mike to capitalize, first with some great coverage and then by scoring another of his weekly 50 plus meter trys that he puts down under the posts. Stom converted to make it 17-12 Devils at 55:00. At 62:00, a big Lancaster lock powered through for another unconverted try up the middle after a Devils penalty, a great poach, and then ugly turnover inside their own 22 meter line. This made it 17-17 going into the fourth quarter.  At 68:00 Devils pressure and tiring Lancaster forwards caused a penalty that Stom promptly floated between the posts to put the Devils up by three, 20-17.  The next 10 minutes were played between the 22’s with both sides tiring. At 77:00, Lancaster put a penalty down inside the Devils 22 meter line and worked out a five meter scrum with their put-in. The result was an ugly Lancaster push over try making it 20-22.  The Devils didn’t fold however, they stepped up!!! At 78:00, Mike Pente, Scott Palombo and Bill Blauvelt worked out a break that big Josh Van Nes galloped 65 meters down the sideline with to the Lancaster 5 meter line. Unfortunately, Devils fitness and support was not adequate to get it over and a mad flurry ensued with Lancaster getting a lineout then a scrum.  They then ran it out of their own end and kicked it to the Devils. The game ended with a Devils knock-on. 

1. Graf
2. Angelo (Gambino)
3. Midgley (c)
4. Martinez
5. Higgins
6. Hutchinson
7. Eykyn
8. Band
9. Diaz
10. Stom (vc)
11. Blauvelt
12. Gilham (Pastava, McCoy, Palumbo)
13. Pente
14. Rimositis
15. Van Nes

Tries-Stom (2), Rimositis

Conversions- Stom (1)

Penalty Kicks- Stom  (1)

Man of the Match: Bill Stom

Coaches Comment: Best combination of effort and tactics in two years. We now expect this every week.

Second game: (25 minute halves)

1^st Half:

After an unusually long delay, the SJRFC B-side took the field under the watchful eye of the-ole-skipper-on-the-wing turned open side flanker (for his speed) Pat Martin. Lancaster toweled off their A-side, added a few stragglers, and wasted little time in getting the ball moving up and down the field.  Center Mike Higgins, flanker Pat Mirabella and prop Mike Sweeney all impressed selectors with dynamic defense, taking it on in the tackle and good old-fashioned toughness on the pitch.  At ten minutes, missed tackles led to a Lancaster converted try. At 16:00, Skipper Martin finally lost his 7-year running debate with this particular referee and was sin binned after repeated off sides violations. The ensuing penalty kick resulted in a Lancaster lineout and try. Half time score:  Lancaster 12-Devils 0.

2^nd Half: 

#10 Tom Ferrari stepped up his kicking game and managed to put Lancaster under pressure but it was to no avail.  Lancaster scored an unconverted try in the forwards after a courageous Devils goal line stand at 37:00. At 40:00, they scored a converted try.

Final Score: SJRFC 0-Lancaster 24 

1. Sweeney
2. Angelo
3. Gambino
4. Lynch
5. Frank
6. Mirabella
7. Martin (c)
8. Higgins, H
9. McCoy
10. Ferrari (vc)
11. Palumbo
12. Higgins, M
13. Eavin
14. Sherman
15. Van Nes

Man of the Match:  Mike Sweeney