Warriors Down Axemen

2008-07-27

The New Haven Warriors continue to nip at the heels of the league-leading Bulls after finishing over the top of the Jacksonville Axemen 50-22 in north Florida Saturday in Round Seven of the American National Rugby League.

Both sides earned a valuable bonus point for tries as they remained in the top three in the standings.

The Axemen, playing at home in front of a record crowd at UNF Stadium, got out to an early 8-0 lead behind two quick scores, but then the Warriors began to click. The match turned into a very physical encounter with big hits galore, yet it was a very entertaining game of rugby league with neither side willing to concede a thing.

In the end, New Haven was able to seize control of the game despite the oppressive conditions to outscore the home team by nine tries to five. Luke Carr (2), Ed Reed (2), Derek Roma, Siose Muliumu, Matt Doeg, Adam Hamon, and Keith Nelson were the Warriors’ try-scorers.

“It was tough, they got in front early but we were good enough to come back,” Warriors player/coach Matt Doeg told ARN. “Both teams scored some good tries and put up some big hits. They have a big fan base and it was the best atmosphere we’ve played in since I’ve been in the States.”

Despite the loss, Jacksonville remains in the thick of things and has set itself up with a chance of hosting a quarterfinal game next month.

The Aston DSC Bulls remain at the top of the table after being tested all the way by the New York Knights. The Bulls triumphed 40-28 in a game that was competitive from start to finish. The match was the feature game at the AMNRL’s War at the Shore at Sea Isle, NJ.

It was close at halftime with the Bulls leading 18-12. Eventually Aston tallied eight tries to the Knights’ five as both teams picked up a bonus point for tries. Liam Mulhall and John Rourke each scored a brace of tries, while Blair Wards was the Bulls’ MVP.

Captain Greg Stelluti was named this year’s recipient of the Robert B Preston Memorial MVP award. The award is in honor of Robert Preston, father of dual international Jeff Preston, and a long-time fan of rugby league.

“Defensively we played really well,” Aston head coach Marc Vassilakopoulos told ARN. “It was something we needed. We needed a real tough game and we got it and we were able to come through.”

The Fairfax Eagles got by a gutsy Philadelphia Fight 34-24 in an earlier game at War at the Shore. Again, both teams picked up a bonus point for tries, the Eagles dotting down seven times and the Fight five times in strong onshore winds.

The Fight went up early when Anthony Chi scored the opening try in his debut game of rugby league. The former Dennison University (OH) student was having a blinder before breaking his wrist and leaving the game. Other Philly try-scorers included club captain Allan Chmielewsky, who’ll retire at the end of the season, Patrick Cox, John Evangelista, and James Coleman, who crossed for his first rugby league score. Mike Kelly booted two conversions.

“It was a much improved Fight outfit. We started out well, we just didn’t take advantage of the wind in the second half,” Philadelphia head coach Peter Illfield told ARN.

The other fixture played as part of the War at the Shore weekend saw the Washington DC Slayers post a 48-14 victory over the Bucks County Sharks. The win put the Slayers into the top six and in line for a playoff berth.

The Eagles and DC Slayers backed up later in the day to play a makeup game that had been postponed earlier in the season. The Slayers won 28-18.

Elsewhere, the Northern Raiders had to forfeit their scheduled game against the Connecticut Wildcats due to a lack of numbers. The Cats get the bonus point win as a result.

The Raiders reportedly will forfeit next week’s match against the Fairfax Eagles for the same reason. The league has also ruled that the Raiders forfeited their games against the Warriors and Fight from earlier in the season.

Standings (unofficial):

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