DC Forfeit Gives Warriors the Win

2008-07-20

The Jacksonville Axemen have set themselves up as genuine playoff contenders with a 48-8 win against the Bucks County Sharks at home in north Florida Saturday in Week Six of the American National Rugby League.

The win consolidated Jacksonville’s spot in the top six.

The Sharks traveled light, taking the minimum 13 players, three of whom were carrying injuries, while another played with bronchitis.

In what was a free-flowing game, both teams were evenly matched in the forwards, but the Axemen’s backline was the main difference. They ran good lines and the Sharks’ defense wasn’t able to contain them.

“It was another good win in front of about 1700,” Jacksonville head coach Daryl ‘Spinner’ Howland told ARN. “The fans turned out in their droves, it was fantastic. Our backs scored probably 90% of our points.”

For Bucks County, Zach Padget scored their only two tries. The Sharks started slowly, giving up 22 points in the first quarter.

“The lads showed great heart in the middle of the game, we just ran out of steam,” added the Sharks’ Steve Thompson. “We tried a lot of attacking things, but fatigue caused us to put a lot of ball down and we ultimately played too much defense.”

In Philadelphia, the top-placed Aston DSC Bulls continued their rampaging run towards the postseason with an 88-0 shutout of the Fairfax Eagles. The Bulls led 48-0 at the main break.

Former Philly-Whitemarsh Super League player Conway Maraki led the way with four tries and was supported by Laim Mulhall, who notched a hat-trick of his own. Hooker John Rourke, formerly with the British Amateur Rugby League Association, was one of the Bulls’ standouts. Rourke put in two tries and was all over the field in offense and defense.

Other double try-scorers were Rick Dortone and Matt Stauffer, while Tom Ellis, Brian Confer, and Kevin Messner all added singles. For Messner, a Brandywine RFC player, it was his first try in rugby league.

“We turned the ball over 10 times on the first or second tackle, so Vassi [coach Marc Vassilakopoulos] wants to work on a lot of stuff with us,” Aston captain Greg Stelluti told ARN.

Elsewhere, the second-placed New Haven Warriors were awarded a bonus point win after the Washington DC Slayers forfeited their match, and the Northern Raiders’ game with the Philadelphia Fight was postponed.

The New York Knights and Connecticut Wildcats remain third and fourth respectively in the standings after playing out a 40-40 tie Friday night at the ‘Castle’ on Pier 40 in New York City.

The hometown Knights led narrowly 20-18 at halftime, but the Cats ripped off three unanswered tries to start the second frame. New York clawed back to within striking distance with a couple of scores, but with time winding down and the Wildcats leading 40-34, the reigning champs looked to be home.

However, Knights’ hooker JP Martinez suddenly broke free and set sail for the line. As the Cats’ cover defense closed in on him, Martinez dummied to his outside and then dished a lovely-timed pass to Beaudie Cullen on his inside and Cullen crossed for the try. Martinez then converted the score as the fulltime whistle blew.

“It was a seesaw game all the way,” New York Knights CEO Bob Balachandran told ARN. “It’s going right down to the wire for the playoffs. People kind of take the early games for granted, but really it’s all about the points.”

Standings (unofficial):

1. Aston DSC Bulls (6-0)
2. New Haven Warriors (5-0)
3. New York Knights (3-2-1)
4. Connecticut Wildcats (3-2-1)
5. Jacksonville Axemen (4-2)
6. Bucks County Sharks (2-4)
7. Washington DC Slayers (2-3)
8. Fairfax Eagles (1-4)
9. Philadelphia Fight (0-5)
10. Northern Raiders (0-4)