The South Jersey Devils A-Side narrowly defeated D-II North opponent Wilmington RFC 17-12 at Evesham Rd.  The B-side extended their winning streak to four games with another impressive victory.

A-side

First half

Taking on a tough D-II opponent on home turf is always a pride thing.  Doing it without four starters and two key reserves makes it all the more challenging an opportunity, especially for the players who get to step up to the big time.  With Jeff McFeely back from a self imposed three week “time-out” and the resurfacing of Angelo “Forest/Spaghetti-Head/Big Tomato/ I’ll-Be-There” DiBartolo putting on the #2 shirt for the first time since the not-funny near fatal neck slashing incident, the Devils were inspired.  Offensive pressure from the pack yielded a Chris Blake penalty kick at 9 minutes.  Wilmington answered back with a converted try at 21 minutes.  Skipper #8 Justin Band, back from his successful soirée at inside center, got over at 24 minutes with Blake converting.  Half time score: Devils 10-7

Second half

At 46 minutes over pursuit by Wilmington led to a mind-blowing gap on the side of a ruck.  Outstanding all day scrumhalf Seamus Dugan expertly dug out a stolen ball and fed prop Jeff McFeely for a 40 yard untouched trot that ended 10 meters from the line when Jeff tripped on his shoelace or the fullback tripped him from behind.  The Devils sorted out the ensuing kaos and center Brent Di Romulado dotted it down.  At 50 minutes veteran golden arm line-out thrower Scott Wilson entered the match in an attempt to salvage the line-outs; Result-the Devils started consistently taking all their own lineouts and gained a possession advantage. Wilmington managed another try at 70 minutes but failed to convert.  A harrowing furious finish, well into injury time, after “last play” had been called by the hapless ref, went on for what seemed like a continuous 4 minutes.  The Devils could not manage to kill or kick/run the ball into touch.  Finally Chris Blake booted the ball to the spectators sitting up in the new SJRFC grandstand, newly provided by the SJRFC Old Guarde and built by Pete Hesler.  Final score: Devils 17-Wilmington 12.               

1. McFeely (Pape)
2. DiBartolo
3. Diaz
4. Popoff
5. Lightcap (Wilson)
6. Martinez
7. Euykin
8. Band
9. Dugan
10. Blake
11. Accardi
12. DiRomualdo
13. Tyler
14. Diaz (Glover)
15. Blauvelt

Scoring:

Trys: Band, DiRomulaldo

Conversions: Blake (2)

Penalties: Blake (1)

Man of the match: Seamus Dugan

B-Side:

Highlights: Todd Adair’s refreshing long run with ball held Walter Payton style, 8-man dominance by Ben Risely (2 trys), and the fleet-footed-ness of Justin Smith, Lenny Accardi, and Corrie Glover.  The brilliant B’s, led by the-ole-skipper Pat Martin (his fake tooth is older than most of the A-side players) and crafty flyhalf Geoff Ryder (his fake hip is older than most of the Aside players) just get better very week.   Final Devils 37-Wilmington 5

1.  McFeeley
2.  Meehan
3.  Adair
4. Lightcap
5. Carr
6. Wilson, S
7. Wilson, B
8.  Risely
9. Greenberg
10. Ryder
11. Accardi
12. Martin
13. Band
14. Smith
15. Glover

Scoring:

Trys: Risely: (2), Accardi (2), Glover, Ryder

Conversions: Ryder(3), Risely (1)

Penalties: none