The South Jersey Devils A-Side tamed the Village Lions of NY City 21-8 in their annual shore Bay Fest Battle at Kern Field.  The B-side continued to look impressive in their third straight victory 14-7.  SJRFC extends a big atta-boy to Angelo “ Forest ” DiBartolo for getting the alumni Sharks out, setting up the game venue and post game party.

A-Side

First Half

Playing a tough Met Union Division II team without five regular starters could have meant an unpleasant afternoon for the Devils.  Despite the sloppy weather, the Devils barely missed a beat and manufactured a comfortable victory.   Both teams floundered around for most of the first half with the Lions backs kicking every ball they could get their hands on straight to touch.  Without consistent enforcement of the offside line and intentional Lions “holding-on” and “diving over” in rucks, loose play degenerated into a game long quagmire of slow sloppy ball for both teams with lots of penalties and restarts. The Devils produced plenty of clean ball in the lineouts and scrums but unfortunately failed to consistently find running space or breaks for the majority of the game.  Result: Forwards banging away at each other in a stalemate.  Prop Tom Diaz made sure the Devils gave out more punishment than they took with some excellent first half running and tackling. With eight-man Justin Band playing center and flanker Phil Wright out injured (ribs) it was up to the new look back-row combination of Risely-Palena-Euykin to generate offense.  At 35 minutes tactical kicking by flyhalf Chris Blake and constant back-row pressure paid off: Scott Palena forced a turnover and came up with the ball on the Lions 15 meter line. He dished to ever present flanker Mike Euykin. Mike dotted down under the posts and Blake converted.  Half-time score Devils 7-Lions 0

Second Half

The Lions came out roaring with a multi-phase movement that carried them straight down the field. After about the eighth phase and 60 yards, the Devils decided to resume their first half defensive pattern and quickly quashed the threat.  At 52 minutes, flyhalf Chris Blake cut loose center Brent DiRomualdo on an inside move. Brent did the rest galloping 50 meters for the try. Blake converted making it 14-0. The Lions started to come alive answering back with a try at 63 minutes and a penalty kick at 69 minutes, bringing the score to 14-8.  From this point on, Devils team fitness and strong running from the tight five led by lock Jerome Martinez finally forced the Lions into submission.  At 76 minutes it was again back row pressure, assisted by center Justin Band that allowed fullback Billy Blauvelt to score under the posts.  Blake converted.  Final Devils 21, Lions 8

SJRFC Scoring:

Trys: Euykin (1), Di Romualdo (1), Baluvelt (1)

Conversions: Blake (3)

Penalties: none

1. Midgely
2. VanGuilder
3. Diaz
4. Popoff
5. Martinez
6. Palena
7. Euykin
8. Risely
9. Diaz
10. Blake
11. Glover
12. Band
13. DiRomualdo
14. Acardi
15. Blauvelt

Man of the Match: Mike Euykin

Honorable Mention:  Jerome Martinez

NEXT GAME:  07 May Wilmington (Home)

Killer Bs

The Devil B’s pulled off their third straight victory with the help of assorted Jersey Shore Sharks alumni, Geoff Ryder’s tactical kicking and passing at flyhalf, sixty-ish prop Tim Dankanich, pit-bull winger Adam Greenberg and recent heart patient John Anderson’s inspiring play.  Rookies Kurt Gunson on the wing and Joe Scharf at lock continued to impress.  Playing against a recycled Lions A-Side, the Devils yielded a converted try in the first half.  The second half was all Devils with Bill Schafe and Adam Greenberg scoring converted trys. Ryder’s second conversion from the near sideline was “as good as it gets.”   Final Devils14- Lions 7

SJRFC Scoring:

Trys: Schafe (1),  Greenberg (1),

Conversions: Ryder (2)

Penalties: none

1. Shore-guy
2. Myers
3. Dankanich
4. English
5. Scharf
6. Wilson
7. Shore-guy ( Anderson )
8. Terry Shore-guy
9. Schafe
10. Ryder
11. Greenberg
12. Murphy
13. DiBartolo
14. Gunson
15. Martin (Glover)

Man of the Match: John Anderson