The SJRFC Devils handily defeated Met NY D-II Princeton RFC 42-7 at Evesham Rd.  Picking up where they left off last year, the SJRFC “B’s” triumphed in a 22-19 nail-biter.  

 1^st Half

The Devils got busy in a hurry from a scrum at midfield at 2:00.  From split backs, Blauvelt-Sauter-Rimositis executed to near perfection with Mike scoring on a 50 meter try.   Stom’s conversion was wide. The two teams then proceeded to degenerate into a stoppage filled period of hard hitting but sloppy rugby. With the referee focused on keeping the rucks legal and ignoring the backs, both backlines were cheating up making back play difficult.  Princeton took an easy shot at goal at 16:00 and missed.  The Devils threatened at 20:00 from a back row play that ended up wide in Mike Rimositis’ hands.  He took it all the way to the ten meter line before the corner flagging Princeton fullback caught up.  Devil support was available but they couldn’t get it in goal.  The flurry ended with a Princeton kick to touch.  At 31:00, Stom slotted a penalty kick after sustained forward pressure led by Mike Eykyn and Justin Band to make it 8-0. The Devils forwards then took the initiative from a five meter line out.  A ball nicely thrown in by hooker/skipper Chris Midgley was tapped by Justin Band to peeling Chris Lina.  Lina ran hard into goal line contact, presented and trailing prop Tom Diaz drove in and rolled off Lina into the try zone at 37:00.  Stom slotted another penalty to close out the scoring. Halftime score: 16-0 SJRFC

2^nd Half 

Even with the wind at their backs the Devils couldn’t manage a significant break until 56:00.  Scrumhalf Alex Diaz snapped up a rare-on-the-day cleanly rucked ball and juked his way through the middle of the Princeton defense and into the clear for a 30 meter try - the team’s best of the year.  Stom converted. Al Sauter struck next at as the Devils inside backs finally broke through and got something going at 63:00.  Stom converted. At 74:00 minutes the Devils found themselves in the left corner on the Princeton five meter line with a scrum.  A well executed back row play resulted in prop-playing-flanker Gene Graf breaking several tackles and scoring his first try of the year.  Despite his powder blue cleats (from ladyruggers.com), Gene impressed all day at blind side flanker.  Stom nailed the very difficult kick from the sideline to make it 35-0.  The final highlight of the match was another electrifying display of pace by winger Nchimunya Hazwetzwe, the fastest SJRFC winger in recent memory.  Stom converted to make it 42-0.  Princeton managed a converted try to end out the scoring.  Final score: 42-7   

Devils scoring:

Trys- Diaz, T,  Diaz, A,  Sauter, Graf,  Hawetzwe, Rimositis

Conversions- Stom (3)

Penalty Kicks- Stom (2)

Man of the Match- Tom Diaz 

1. Peligrino
2. Midgely(capt)
3. Diaz, T 
4. Lina
5. Lynch (Martinez)
6. Graf (Wilson))
7. Eykin (Kelly)
8. Band
9. Diaz, A
10. Stom
11. Glover (Ferrari) (Hazwetzwe)
12. DiRomualdo
13. Sauter
14. Rimositis
15. Blauvelt (TJ)

Killer “Bs”

As is usually the case when playing at home, the visiting “B’s” consisted of most of their A side with some stragglers thrown in.  The Devils countered with some A-siders of their own including prop Tom Diaz at inside center.  As usual the Devils came out cracking being led to the challenge by several key Old Guard standouts-skipper Pat Martin, scrumhalf Geoff Ryder and recent SJRFC Wall of Fame inductee John Anderson playing fullback.  Big and previously MIA prop Phil Gambino drew first blood with a try at 10 minutes.  Ferrari’s conversion kick was wide.  Mike Eykyn scored next and Ferrari converted to make it 12-0 at 17:00.  Princeton then appeared to catch a second wind. This fact, combined with the Devils apparent sleepwalking, led to two Princeton trys, one converted, to end out the half tied up at 12s.

Princeton continued to storm ahead and scored another converted try at 12:00. With their backs to the wall, the Devils started to re-emerge.  Led by Geoff Ryder’s tactical kicking, the Devils began to move forward and get things going.  Gene Graf scored an unconverted try at  16:00.  John Anderson finished out the scoring to push the Devils to victory at 20:00 minutes.  Final score: 22-19

Devils scoring:

Trys-Gambino, Mike Eykin, Graf, Anderson

Conversions:-(1) Ferrari

Penalty Kicks: none 

1. Gambino
2. Mark Eykin
3. Graf
4. Martinez
5. Lynch
6. Kelly
7. Wilson
8. Mike Eykin
9. Ryder
10. Ferrari
11. Hazwetzwe
12. Diaz, T
13. Martin (capt)
14. TJ
15. Anderson