The SJRFC Devils played their best rugby game of the year in a 18-31 losing effort against DII North 2^nd place finisher Doylestown RFC.  This brings the Devils to 3-4-1 in MARFU DII North (6^th), 6-5-1 for the Fall and 13-8-3 for 2005. The B-Side dropped to 4-4 in the DII North “B” Division with a 39-7 loss, moving to 4-5 for the Fall and 9-6 for 2005.

 First Game: 

 1^st Half

Doylestown (7-1) beat Lancaster (6-2); Lancaster crushed the Devils 72-17. So, to put it mildly, the Devils were expecting a tough final game of the 2005 Season. However, midweek spirits were lifted when it was determined that the Kiwi sensation fullback Tony Wood would be available after sitting out three weeks with a concussion.  That news, along with the return of prop/skipper Tom Diaz and the assurance that Andre Biryukov and Chris Blake were available for another week had the Devils feeling confident. Add to that high school youngster Burger Brotz getting his first start at #8 and the lads were fired up!! True to recent quick start form, the Devils were all over stunned Doylestown to start the match, forcing errors, applying pressure and forcing a Mulhall penalty kick at 3:00.  For the next 15 minutes the Devils were in Doylestown’s face playing the offensive and defensive patterned rugby that had been absent since the Wilmington game.  Led by the inside backs and back row, the Devils made tackle after crushing tackle.  Mulhall kept the Doylestown back three extremely busy and guessing with well placed tactical kicks that were covered well by Devils wingers Billy Blauvelt and Corry Glover.  All was proceeding nicely until disaster struck.  A promising Devils counter attacking long pass was cherry-picked by a Doylestown winger and he was off to the races, untouched for a 50 yard converted try making it 7-3.  The teams resumed the slugout for the next 15 minutes until Sammie Mulhall decided to improve on his previous try of the year with an even more astonishing try of the year at 32 minutes. Sam nicked a misplayed ball in the Doylestown backline and was off to the races with nothing else between him and the Doylestown goal line but 80 meters of green grass and lines.  A speedy winger tried to run him down but was unable to close the gap under 5 meters.  Sammie converted putting the Devils back on top 10-7.  The Devils luck turned sour for the few minutes remaining in the half.  Chris Blake cracked his head open and was lost for the game, Doylestown blocked a kick and recovered in the Devils goal, and Doylestown forwards scored an embarrassing, almost untouched 30 meter converted try off a short lineout right through the heart of the Devils defence.  Halftime score: Doylestown 19- SJRFC 10        

2^nd Half

The second half started with the Devils forcing play down to the Doylestown 10 meter line and getting a lineout.  For the third time this fall, loosehead prop Gene Graf and hooker Greg VanGilder executed the quick throw to the first man in the line; Greg scored they try in the corner making it 19-15.  Another 15 minutes went by with the Devils thwarting some dangerous looking attacks from the Doylestown inside backs off first phase and forwards running onto balls from the base of loose scrums.  The attacks finally succeeded at 18 minutes with a mauled over try to make it 24-15.  At 22 minutes, another threatening Doylestown movement was halted dead in its tracks on the Devils 5 meter line by a massive hit by Tom Diaz on the Doylestown #8.  The hit led to a turnover and the Devils worked it all the way back into Doylestown territory.  A late hit gave the Devils a penalty kick at the 30 meter line that Mulhall slotted easily,  making it 24-18.  At 34 minutes, with Doylestown again knocking on the door at the 5 meter line, the Devils appeared to have temporarily poached the ball but couldn’t find the handle and Doylestown regained possession.  Shortly after Doylestown dove over and converted making it 31-18.  The Devils made some gallant attempts as time ran out but couldn’t convert anything to points.  

Final Score: Devils 18-Doylestown 31

Notes: Even when lacking a little zip, Tony Wood still rates as one of the best players ever to wear the green and white; He showed courage and commitment to SJRFC taking the field so quickly after his mandatory layoff.  Sam Mulhall has been class all year at flyhalf and has easily been the teams MVP this fall. Andre Biryukov was outstanding in loose play and in the lineouts-lets hope he comes back for the 2006 season.  The Devils inside back defense was very good, continually making plays on Doylestown’s huge centers; Unfortunately, promising young outside center Greg Dover played his last game for SJRFC after accepting a job back down South.  Burger Brotz was solid at the scrum base at #8 and all over the field; the sky is the limit as long as he keeps working hard.  Even thought we beat Wilmington 50-24 and had fewer losses, the Super League point system placed them 5^th and SJRFC 6^th in DII-North        

1. Graf, G 
2. Van Gilder
3. Diaz  (capt)
4. Biryukov
5. Midgely  
6. Wright
7. Eykyn  
8. Brotz
9. Blake(Ryder) 
10. Mulhall
11. Glover
12. DiRomualdo  
13.  Dover
14. Blauvelt
15. Wood

Tries-Mulhall (1), Van Gilder (1),

Conversions-Mulhall (1)

Penalty Kicks- Mulhall (2)

Man of the Match: Tony Wood 

Second Game:

Doylestown’s Bs looked a lot like the Media and Lancaster B’s; moreover, they weren’t to far below their A-side at most positions. The Devils played good rugby in spurts but couldn’t make it happen inside the 22 meter lines.  Summer 7s player Chris Lina had a great first 15s game for SJRFC.  All-in-all, the boys played well but Doylestown just played better.

Final Score : Doylestown 39-SJRFC “B” 7    

CONGRATS ON A GREAT SEASON KILLER Bs!

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE “OLE-SKIPPER” PAT MARTIN FOR KEEPING UP THE B-SIDE TRADITION AND FOR PUTTING THE SIDE TOGETHER EVERY WEEK ALL YEAR             

1. Eykyn M
2. Gallante
3. Lina
4. Cambell
5. Ackley
6. Scharf
7. Lightcap
8. Risley
9. Ryder
10. Ferrari
11. Glover
12. Tyler
13. Higgins
14. Martin (Kramer)
15.  Barry

 Tries: Ben Risley (1) 

Coversions: Ferrari (1)

Penalties: none