The Fight expected to improve on their previous outing 2 weeks prior against Jax. The Bucks County Sharks, coming off a 20-66 loss to the Aston Bulls, had other ideas and got off to a good start, took the early advantage and carried on for a 54-14 win. Three of the Fight's key players were injured & forced to leave the field during the match.
After an encouraging start to the 2008 AMNRL on Saturday 31 May, Saturday 7 June 2008 was a bye week for the Philadelphia Fight while the other AMNRL teams played their first-round matches. The weekend off & injuries to three key players did the Fight no favors as they lost all the momentum gained in uniting their young in-experienced team in that first match.
The Philadelphia Fight take on the Bucks County Sharks, to Philly's own Shovelhook. Shot and edited by Dave Bonner (www.davidjbonner.com) In their second-round, home match at Farrell Stadium, West Chester University, Saturday 14 June, they expected to improve on their previous outing 2 weeks prior. Instead the Bucks County Sharks, coming off a 20-66 loss to the Aston Bulls, got off to a good start & took the early advantage to set up a 54-14 win in very hot conditions. Three of the Fight's key players were injured & forced to leave the field during the match. The West Chester based Fight never gave up trying to stem the flow of the Sharks rampaging forwards & more experienced players. With their 'never-say-die' attitude the Fight were the final try scorers on the day when winger Pat Kelly seized a loose ball mid-field, skipped & tripped his way for 30 yards to give a pass to a supporting Joe Bascelli who placed the ball under the posts for the Fight's third & last 4 pointer in the dying stages of a tough game. Back in the first-half, a change in the flow of the game looked emanate when Chris Pettine crossed over for a well deserved try in his first outing, this season, for the Fight. Chris was the Coach's pick as best-on-field for his performance on an otherwise disappointing day. Hooker, Dave Wilmore, had another enthusiastically strong game with an excellent all-over-the-ground tackle count. Not far behind him was five-eighth John Evangelista who was always chasing down Sharks players. Although showing signs of a good ball distributor & ‘quick-step' runner, Evangelista disappointed the home crowd with some loose ball when it counted most. The only other bright moment of the game for the Fight was in the second-half when replacement forward, Jason Belztner, found his way to the try line for a 4 pointer from broken play. Full-Back & CEO, Ryan McGough converted the try to give the Fight their tally of 14 points. Half-back, Mike Kelly (split ear), prop, James Coleman (suspected fractured cheek-bone) & second-row, Ryan Quay (separated shoulder) were the three key players who had to retire during the game. This left the Fight without their usual direction around the rucks from Kelly, in-close powerful running from Coleman & sound attack out wide from Quay. The Greater Philadelphia ALS Association was again the beneficiary from gate takings at the game. Many thanks go to Second-Row, Brad Kielinski's parents for helping out on the gate. It was very much appreciated. The next encounter for the Fight will be against the Virginia based Fairfax Eagles this Saturday & will again be at Farrell Stadium, S. New Street, West Chester University. The Fairfax Eagles have yet to post a win this season & so a close match is expected from the two in-experienced teams. The Fight, though, are quietly confident that they can overcome the disappointment of last week & post a convincing victory. Players to watch for this week are; second-rowers Joseph Henson & Brad Kielinski's incisive running, half-back Kelly's strategic direction & kicking, five-eighth Evangelista's scrambling defense & quick hands to outside runners. Centre, Dave Minarcik is quick on his feet & returns after injury. Stalwarts Patrick Cox, left-wing, & Alan Chmeilewski, Captain & centre, will again give all they have in playing sound Rugby League & lifting the spirits of their fellow team mates. The front three, Bascelli, Wilmore & Coleman will have stronger performances this week taking the ball up the middle in attack & knocking over the opposition time & time again in defense. A win is definitely on the cards for the Philadelphia Fight this Saturday 21 June 2008 at Farrell Stadium. Kick-off is 5.00pm. Post match celebrations will be at Kildare's Irish Pub, W. Gay Street, West Chester.
