Fight scored 32 pts against the strong, skillful Bulls
June 6, 2010
The PBR Philadelphia Fight started their 2010 season with an encouraging display over the Aston Bulls, one of the AMNRL's strongest clubs.
It’s been 3 years since the Fight re-established itself and commenced developing a competitive team getting to the AMNRL semi-finals in 2009, the first time in many years. Initially the Fight increased its playing roster with local players, and then last year recruited 3 players from Australia. Along with the Fight’s top-class venue at Conshohocken, they have also attracted 4 top-class players from New South Wales, Australia, for 2010. The Fight’s roster last week consists of 31 available players and increasing with new enquiries.
Although the Fight scored 32 points against the strong and skillful Bulls outfit, it was not enough to get a win on the board, going down 44 – 32 at A.A.Garthwaite Stadium, Conshohocken on a very warm afternoon. The Fight started the game with players from the Philadelphia area who had shown a commitment to pre-season practice that commenced in April.
Captain and second-row Brad Kielinski, from Conshohocken, had a strong display with lots of solid tackling and picked up a try for his efforts in attack. He led the team out behind Molly Martin from Make A Wish Foundation. Molly’s wish was to be at a Fight game and so, was present for the team’s locker-room preparation prior to leading the team onto the field and taking the kick-off at center field in front of her family and friends and some 450 spectators.
Taking the field for the first-time for the Fight, from the collapsed Bucks County Sharks, were Stephen Thompson, scoring a try in his opening match for the club, Sal Ranniello, who worked tirelessly in the centers before moving to half-back in the 4th quarter to give better direction and Phil Shipos, who took out the season’s first MVP award. Ex-Sharks prop Zack Padgett interchanged with stalwarts James Coleman & Joe Bascelli.
Other new comers were lock James ‘JB’ Brunson and winger Larry Madden, playing his first game of Rugby League. The rest of the initial 13 consisted of those players who have been loyal to the club and have battled long and hard for the Fight over the past couple of seasons, trying desperately to improve their skills and game experience. Last year’s rookie and most improved, full-back Pat Quirk, also scored a try, along with the lively and fit, replacement winger Jared Frymoyer.
The second quarter of the match saw the introduction of 3 of the imports from Downunder who applied themselves fittingly to bolster the team with hooker Michael Princic skipping out of dummy-half frequently to gain valuable yards and get over the line for a 4-pointer as well as kicking 4 goals for a personal tally of 12 points. Second-row Nathan Roach was solid in defense, getting over the goal-line for a well deserved try. Aussie prop Nick O’Connor also had a solid game mixing it up with some big tackles on the Bulls and solid hit-ups. He had to retire before the end of the 3rd quarter with a sprained foot.
That lead to the Fight’s enforcer, prop Joe Bascelli, re-entering the match to make up for a slow start and show what he’s made of by making some damaging runs up the middle of the ruck trying to turn the game around for the Fight. Supporting Joe was newcomer and replacement prop, Daniel Gabrielli, also in his first Rugby League match, trying his hardest to cause the opposition some damage. Hooker ‘PFC’ Dave Wilmore was near his best with plenty of individual defense, plenty of running from dummy-half and supporting his team mates as much as possible.
The final outcome was disappointing for the Fight as they head to New York next week for an away game before returning home to Conshohocken, 5.00pm June 19 to take on the Washington DC Slayers.
Scorers were:
Tries - Pat Quirk, Stephen Thompson, Brad Kielinski, Jared Frymoyer, Nathan Roach and Michael Princic.
AMNRL Competition Points
4 pts for a Win
2 pts for a Draw or Tie
0 pts for a Loss
1 pt for losing team with a difference in score of 6 or less
1 pt for each team that scores 4 tries in a game
