Cherry Hill, NJ.  The SJRFC Devils ran into 2005 DII national finalists Media RFC at full tilt, yielding seven tries in a messy 45-13 loss. This drops the Devils to 2-2-1 in MARFU DII North. The Devils B-Side got blown out by a great Media B-Side, dropping to 4-1.

 First Game: 

 1^st Half

On the first foul weather rugby day of the Fall season, the Devils came out hard and quick as usual, matching Media stride for stride to start off the match.  Messy conditions usually favor the team that doesn’t rely heavily on handling/back play; This tilted things the Devils way as the Media backs mishandled ball after ball.  The Devils defensive pattern was holding its own until the 12th minute when a big Media lock broke through and away for a converted 40 meter try. At 22 minutes, Media struck again, with a loose forward capitalizing on a Devils turnover in the centers and putting the Media backs away for a converted try. The Devils finally got on the board at 30 minutes with a Mulhall penalty kick.  About 5 minutes later, Media put their fullback into the line with pace to start a handling movement that ended with a Media try under the posts and a conversion.  After the third Media try, the Devils sparked up and started getting over the gain line and hitting gaps. The Devils worked their way into a lineout on the Media 10 meter line and perfectly executed a front peel.  Gene Graf powered over from the ensuing maul for a try in the corner. The difficult conversion was wide.  Half time score: Media 21-SJRFC 8

 2^nd Half

Media started off the second half with a converted try at 5 minutes.   Stephen “Sam” Mulhall answered back at 9 minutes with an unconverted try.  The sides looked even for about the next 10 minutes until Media started subbing reserves that appeared to be better than their starters, especially the new flyhalf. The Devils countered with Ryder, Decker, Cambell, Sendelbach, and Brotz, kept fighting, and showed some of the best stuff of the year. Chris Midgely was huge in the loose; Mulhall stymied Media attacks with defensive tactical kicks.  The Devils re-worked back three, now featuring Glover and Hazwezwe on the wings looked sharp in spurts. However, at 67 minutes Media found another gear and started to pull away, scoring three more trys, one converted. The Devils failed to answer.  Final Score: Media 45-Devils 13

Notes:  Last fall Media scored over 80 points against the Devils in one of the worst losses in the clubs D-II playing history.  We lost the game and an ugly brawl that broke out, lost several key players to injury, and basically threw in the towel midway through the second half (51 year old Pete Hesler played the last five minutes).  This year we were in the game at 28-13 until the 67th minute.  The players should be proud of their efforts and improvement. However, like the Brandywine game, we couldn’t cope when the pace was kicked up at crunch time. 

1. Graf
2. Van Guilder
3. Diaz, T (captain)
4. Lightcap (Sendelbach)
5. Ackley (Cambell)
6. Wright (Brotz)
7. Eykyn (Decker)
8. Midgely
9. Duggan (Ryder)
10.  Mulhall (vice-captain)
11. Blauvelt
12. DiRomualdo
13. Curtis
14. Hazwezwe
15. Blauvelt

Tries-Graf (1), Mulhall (1)

Conversions- none

Penalty Kicks- Mulhall (1)

 Man of the Match: Chris Midgely 

Second Game:

The SJRFC B-side finally met its match in what was billed as the MARFU DII B-Division battle of the undefeateds.  Unfortunately for the Devils, Medias B-side was almost as good (better at some positions) than the their A-side.  The Devils never quit  but were completely overwhelmed by size, pace, and skill at key positions.  Jim Decker scored the lone try for the Devils, Tom Ferrari added a conversion and penalty kick.  Final Score: Media -“a lot” /SJRFC  “a little” enough said.  Lets “forget-about- it” and look to rebound strong against Lancaster.    

1. Gallo
2. Rock (Midgely)
3. Casey
4. Cambell (Buryokov)
5. Sendelbach (Scharf)
6. Decker
7. Vicelli  (Higgins
8. Brotz
9. Ryder
10. Martin (captain)
11. Fox
12. Ferrari
13. Higgins, M
14. Barry
15. Evans (Accardi) (Greenberg)

 Tries: Decker (1)

Conversions:  Ferrari (1)

Penalties: Ferrari (1)