The SJRFC Devils got back on the winning track after two straight losses by defeating the Met New York D-II Village Lions RFC 43-12. The SJRFC B’s fell in another heart breaker 15-14.

A-side:

First Half

You naturally have concern when facing an opponent that crushed a team (Morris RFC) that convincingly beat you 24-8 a fortnight ago. Without your starting flyhalf, centers, and blindside flanker you expect to struggle. When playing two inexperienced U-19 youngsters you expect to have continuity problems. The combination of all three could have spelled disaster……BUT NOT FOR THESE 2006 SJRFC DEVILS!!! After two sub par performances vs Morris and Brandywhine the Devils rebounded and performed like the US Marines: ie, they adapted, they improvised, they overcame and they KICKED SOME Met New York ASS. In all phases of the game, the Devils had the upper hand, especially at flyhalf with 47 year old Geoff Ryder (yeah, that’s a 4 and 7…forty-seven….XLVII…born in 59) keeping the Devils backs moving forward, taking quick taps all over the park and kicking 40 meter conversions from the touchlines. Normal backrow players Justin Band/Mike Eykyn were rock solid as the centers and U-19 #8 Hayden Higgins (Tom’s kid), U-19 open side flanker Burger Brotz and U-19 winger Scott Palumbo did not miss a beat. The Devil’s started the scoring at 3:00 minutes after a good lineout throw/take by Midgely/Lina, a driving maul and a Village Lions penalty. Ryder provided the three points. At 7:00 winger Mike Rimositis broke away on one of his typical gang busting runs, the Lions received another penalty and Ryder put one for the hapless Lions right winger who misplayed the high ball. Center Mike Eykyn was there to recover the misplayed ball and sprint it into the try zone-Ryder converted. At 15:00, the Devils received a scrum on the Lions 22 meter line between the posts. Alex Diaz ran the-ole-99 backrow play taking it right with the backs left and dummy switching with the right winger. It looked like a well earned score placed on the line but the ref was out of position to make a call before a the ensuing pile-up. A Devil scrum was awarded for going forward. The Devils pounded away and eventually spun it wide to a waiting Ryder, Ryder dealt to Berger Brotz who ran and put away U-19 winger Scott Palumbo for his first Devils men’s team try. (He can do the celebratory a boot in 4 years when he is legal). Ryder converted from the touchline into the wind to make it 17-0. The Lions struck back with a converted try at 35:00 after a muffed Devils pass. 17-7. At 37:00 minutes, the Devils stole a lineout, moved it wide to Rimositis. The big winger took it 60 yds. for a great try, breaking tackles along the way. Ryder converted.

Halftime score: Devils 24-Village Lions 7

2^nd Half:

The Devils kept up the domination in the second half. At 47:00, Chris Lina won a clean lineout, a nice driving maul was set and executed, and skipper Chris Midgely emerged. Prop Gene Graf was there for the off load and ran in a nice forwards try. The conversion was wide. At 52:00, the Lions scored after a prolonged Devils defensive stand. This would be their last roar. After prolonged Devils pressure, Justin Band side stepped his opposite #13 and ran it in untouched at 67:00. Ryder converted to make it 36-12 Devils. At 74:00, the Devils backrow caused a turnover and began advancing up the field like a buzz saw. Jerome Martinez broke away and turned on the gas. With one man to beat, Jerome offloaded to at pace fullback Billy Blauvelt and he scored between the posts. Ryder converted again.

Final score: Devils 43-Village Lions 12.

SJRFC Scoring :

Trys: Band, Blauvelt, Eykyn, Graf, Palumbo, Rimositis

Conversions: Ryder (5)

Penalties: Ryder (1)

Graf
Peligrino
Diaz, T
Lina (Lynch)
Midgely
Scharf (Martinez)
Brotz (Kelly)
Higgins
Diaz, A
Ryder (Ferrari)
Rimositis
Eykyn (Myers)
Band (Accardi)
Palumbo (Hazwetzwe)
Blauvelt

Man of the match-Geoff Ryder

Killer Bs

Both teams agreed to play 30 minute halfs. The Village Lions B-Side was about 2/3rds A-siders. For the first time since the last home game, the Devils B-side consisted mostly of fresh players, including Olde Guarde veterans Tim Smith Sr., coach Scott Wilson, and Adam Greenberg. More U-19s stepped up to play: James Kelly, Wynne Myers, Kevin Ivins, and one other to be named later who had a great game on the wing. Nchymunia Hazwetzwe opened up the scoring immediately with his weekly try. The Lions answered back with a converted try at 10:00 and an unconverted try at 18:00. Halftime score: Lions 12-Devils 7

At 52:00 minutes Lenny Accardi performed one of the strangest maneuvers ever seen at Evesham Rd. Here it is: He made a nice break, got tripped up, fell down, released the ball, picked it up did a forward roll, and kept on running into the try zone. Why he did the forward roll is still being debated but it drew some oohs and aahs from the crowd. Ivins converted. The Devils appeared to be dominating but misfortune struck late in the match. Tom Ferrari got spear tackled and banged up his head and the Lions scored a try to go ahead 17-14.

Final score Village Lions 17-Devils 14

SJRFC Scoring:

Trys: Hazwetzwe, Accardi

Conversions: Ivins (2)

Penalties: none

1. Peligrino

2. Wilson

3. Graf (Brotz)

4. Lynch

5. Ivins

6. Kelly

7. Myers

8. Martinez

9. Greenberg

10. Ferrari

11. U-19

12. Dan from St. Joes

13. Accardi

14. Smith, Sr.

15. Hazwetzwe