The South Jersey Devil A’s tied the scrappy Princeton Athletic Club 14-14 at the South Brunswick Elementary School sports field complex.  The SJRFC B’s were defeated in an exciting back and forth affair 20-12.

A-side:

First Half

Perfect weather usually means a high scoring game with lots of wide-open play and few mishandles.  Unfortunately for the Devils and PAC, this never came into fruition. The Devils established an early superiority in the scrums and line-outs but the PAC inside backs and loose forwards became the equalizers with some early superiority of their own.   PAC opened the scoring with a try after both teams pounded away at each other for almost fifteen minutes.  The try occurred after a Devils turnover that gradually got forced inside the Devils 10 meter line.  After what seemed like at least 10 phases of rucking and a massive Devils goal line stand, PAC finally got it over the line and down. The try was converted, and it was right back to the pounding. Both the Devils and PAC had numerous opportunities but could not pull the string and get players into space.  Chris Blake eventually capitalized on Devil’s pressure and booted a penalty at 24 minutes.  The half ended at 7-3 PAC.

 Second Half

 PAC remained solid and direct inside but their half time subs looked very exploitable outside.  However, the Devil’s combination of first phase timing issues and a not fully developed kicking game made it nearly impossible to loosen up the PAC backline defense.   In spite of all this, the Devils began to take the upper hand as the second half progressed and defenders found their pattern.  As usual, the back row led by skipper Justin Band began to make its presence known.  The added pressure allowed Blake slotted penalties at 48 and 55 minutes.  A very hard fought unconverted forwards try by Phil Wright made it 14-7 Devils with 7 minutes to go.  Then, for only the second time in the second half, PAC carried the ball across midfield and entered Devils territory.  PAC made a few breaks and ended up camped out on the Devil’s goal line.  Eventually, PAC prevailed and converted making it 14 all with two minutes to go.   The Devils wasted no time and ended up back down on the PAC goal line. Fullback Bill Blauvelt made a heroic steal from a PAC forward after a Devils turnover that would have surely ended the match if PAC had been able to kick to touch .  PAC started to fold after the steal and the Devils pushed the ball into goal. Then, for the second time on the day, the Devils failed to get the ball to ground in goal and PAC killed the play. The referee then decided to blow up the game without the customary restart to the attacking team after the other team’s kill in goal.   Final SJRFC 14-PAC 14.

SJRFC Scoring :

Trys: Wright (1)

Conversions: none

Penalties: Blake (3)

1. Pape
2. Midgely
3. Diaz
4. Popoff
5. Lightcap
6. Wright
7. Euykin
8. Band
9. Diaz
10. Blake (Rizello)
11. Accardie (Dugan)
12. DiRomualdo
13. Cusick
14. Tyler
15. Blauvelt

Man of the match- Chris Midgely

NEXT GAME  16 April 05-Morris RFC (home)

Killer Bs

The PAC B’s (20-12) prevailed in an exciting match that featured the SJRFC Devils version of the England ’s Jason Robinson: Correy (anybody know his last name?), from Rowan.  He was everywhere, making move after move after move…!   Eightman Ben Risely had an especially good game at the base and around the field in the loose.  Jerome Martinez played his first game at lock and looked like he had been there since birth.  That cagey winger Mark Evans, fresh from his week long drinking/30^th birthday/Wales-6 Nations champions victory trip back to England , liver in tow, looked extremely dangerous on the wing.  Alex Diaz, with that additional time and space at scrumhalf, had his best performance of 2005.  SJRFC thanks all the guys that doubled up after a tough first match

Man of the match-Corrie /Honorable mention- Alex Diaz

SJRFC Scoring :

Trys: Wright (1), A. Diaz (1)

Conversions: Risely (1)

Penalties: none

1. Midgely
2. Band
3. Diaz (Pape)
4. Martinez
5. Lightcap
6. Correy
7. Euykin (Wright)
8. Risely
9. Band
10. Rizello
11. Accardi
12. Martin
13. Cusick
14. Evans
15. Dugan