The SJRFC Devils opened the Fall D-II North season with a last minute, come from behind draw with the Fall 2005 default MARFU DII playoff team, Wilmington RFC. The Devils B-Side dominated Wilmington’s Bs in one of those not-as-close-as-the score indicated games, 19-12.

First game: 

1^st half: 

The SJRFC would award no less than five new League Game caps in the first DII North game of the season: Hooker Bob Angelo, lock Hayden Higgins, flanker Mike Hutchinson, and center Evan Gilham, as well as reserve winger Mike Pente. All performed exceptionally well.  On a hot and humid day, the Devils took the field running up the infamous 3-degree grade that has been tradition at the short yet narrow Middle School playground that Wilmington calls home. The field fits Wilmington well-a big, forward dominated side with lots of forward subs. That’s why they keep it and keep the grass long to slow everything down. The Devils appeared a little sluggish and rusty to start off the match and Wilmington forwards made them pay by powering down the field and scoring a converted try at 4:40.  At 10:00, the Devils appeared threatening with a multi-phase counter attack that flowed all they way to the Wilmington goal line only to lose the ball in the tackle (that’s why they are called rookies).  The Wilmington scrumhalf cleared it with a kick as he would do all day from the base of rucks.  At 29:00 Wilmington knocked on the door for about three minutes, only to have the ball stolen in a tackle by standout-all-day #8 Justin Band; Flankers Mike Hutchinson and Mike Eykyn were huge in defense prior to the theft. The effort sparked the Devils and appeared to deflate Wilmington. At 32:00, Mike Rimositis picked off an errant Wilmington pass at his own 30 meter line and went all the way for the try. Stom converted making it 7-7.  A few minutes later a veteran Devils back failed to transfer the ball with plenty of time on a certain try scoring overload. At 35:00, the Devils tenacious defending earned a Stom penalty kick making it 10-7.  At 40:00, aggressive defense by high-school-junior-rookie -winger Scott Palumbo and heads up play by fullback Bill Blauvelt resulted in a turnover and try by Palumbo with Stom conversion.  Half time score: SJRFC 17-Wilmington 10

 2^nd half:

The Devils went into the second half with the slope, the momentum, and a ten point lead and came out roughed up with a come from behind draw.  Three unanswered tries (one converted) were scored in a ten minute period by Wilmington’s forwards. The Devils allowed themselves to get sucked into a forwards game trap. This was promulgated by a change in Wilmington’s game plan and a lack of a similar response by the Devils. They abandoned first phase back play and just started kicking everything down the long and narrow field to apply pressure to the already tired Devil’s back three, forcing touch kicks and errors. The ensuing restart line outs and scrums were dominated by Wilmington’s forwards starting from great field position. Devils recovery kicks taken under moderate pressure to touch were usually short, giving Wilmington another lineout.  A better option may have been to counter kick deep in the box (behind the forwards) and in bounds, to force them to play under pressure and counter attack; i.e. do what they were doing successfully to us.  The vicious cycle, augmented by four Wilmington forward reserves to the Devils one, wore the Devils down. To make matters worse: No tactical kicks to apply pressure were attempted by the Devils from good ball situations in the second half, and the Devils backs couldn’t get anything going at all on first phase. The Devils got a hold of themselves in the 75^th minute and managed to force a penalty, touch kick and lineout on the five meter line.  Hayden Higgins took the big time lineout like a future big time player he will be some day. Like a tired heavyweight, Wilmington had blown its load. The Devils mauled over for the Justin Band try at 76:00. Bill Stom, perfect on conversions and penalties all day, put it through from the sideline-a money kick.  The final minutes saw both tired teams make error after error-its about fitness, boys. You win most close rugby games in the last ten minutes, not in the first half.

Final score: SJRFC 24-Wilmington 24

Coach’s Comment: Players-We can fix it.  You did very well for a team that has only had a couple proper practices (2) with light for more than 30 minutes including the critical Thursday practice before the game with NO LIGHTS, are very young in key positions, and were missing some key veterans. We should have won, though.

Man of the Match: Mike Hutchinson 

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

Tries-Rimositis, Palombo, Band

Conversions- Stom (3)

Penalty Kicks- Stom  (1)

Man of the Match: Chris Midgley

Second game:  

The SJRFC B-side was filled with eight players that had already played in the first game.  Question: What the f$%k happened to the 30 odd players that have been braving the darkness, poor planning, and rain at practice for the last three weeks.  Hint: The game on Saturday is the reward for practicing.  Anyways-Luckily Wilmington had a similar situation. SJRFC dominated the first half with our tall and lanky fullback Josh from the UK scoring two long trys. Since each one of his strides is about ten meters, Wilmington and SJRFC players appeared to be standing still as he created what they call “separation”, like about 30 yds. of separation in about two seconds. Tom Ferrari impossibly hit the post on the first conversion attempt; nailed the second. The second half was punctuated by the-ole-skipper Pat Martin, injured elbow in tow, showcasing the latest move in his repertoire.  This one is called “avoid contact at all costs”; i.e. he was the “one” in a one on three on the wing and he chose an about-face rather than trip to the hospital, retreated about 8 meters, and made a lovely hospital pass to Josh, 27 years his junior. Good decision Pat!  Speaking of Pats, Arizonian new comer Pat Mirabella made his debut and did very well, as did winger Squeak and scrumhalf Mike McKoy. The latter two both played in the SJRFC High School U-19 program, Mike also played at Pitt.  Oh yeah-the game. Gene Graf added a try off a nice forward mauling effort.  Wilmington countered with two tries, one scored and converted as time expired. Final Score: SJRFC 19-Wilmington 12

Man of the Match: Josh

1. Graf
2. Band
3. Gambino
4. Mirabella
5. Hutchinson
6. Scharf
7. Eykyn
8. Higgins
9. McCoy
10. Ferrari
11. Squeak
12. Gilham
13. Pente
14. Martin
15. Josh

Tries: Josh (2), Graf