DC Slayers come up big and hand the Fight their first loss
Philadelphia Fight Rugby News and Press
The 8 East Philadelphia Fight found the going tough in their top of the table clash with the DC Slayers on Saturday, July 9.
Both teams were undefeated after 4 rounds of the USARL competition. The clash was always going to be a tough encounter with the result not secure until the last quarter and the Slayers battling to a 24 -13 victory.
In the end, loss of possession and the heat of the day was the telling factor as the bigger Slayers wore down the Fight to take an 18-13 lead mid-way through the 4th quarter, not long after the Fight's Aussie half-back, Joel Weeks got the teams nose in front 13-12 with a one-point field goal.
The first quarter was scoreless as the both sides sparred with each others defense looking for an advantage in the heat. The Slayers finally cracked the Fights defense in the second quarter to lead 6 - nil at half-time.
It looked as if the first team to score may go on to win it, but by the end of the 3rd quarter the Fight had posted 2 converted tries to lead 12 - 6. The first came from a barging run by the Fight's new skipper Matt Webster, picking up a 4 pointer and Mike 'Squirrel' Timpano adding the extra 2 points. Then Jared Frymoyer crossed over after receiving a deft pass from Weeks. The try was converted by Rich Henson.
The Slayers were able to get over again in the 3rd quarter to even the score 12-12. After Week's field goal to edge the Fight ahead 13 - 12, an error from the Fight in their in-goal at the re-start of play, resulted in a penalty for offside and found them unsuccessfully defending their try-line. The big Slayers forwards burrowed over after several attempts from the penalty tap-kick. The Slayers were back in front 18 -13.
A final converted try minutes from of the end of the match saw them seal their victory 24 -13.
The Fight's best was lock Kevin Wiggins, who gave everything he had in both attack and defense in the souring Washington heat. When he left the field minutes from the end he was completely spent. Other Fight players who gave a courageous effort were try scorers Webster & Frymoyer, prop Coleman and replacement second-row/prop Joe Bascelli, half-back Weeks tried everything to break the Slayers defense, Timpano left his wing to mix it with the forwards, hooker Dave Wilmore gave all he had in another strong performance of non-stop tackling and also had little gas left at the end. Second-rower Andrew Tully, restricted by his asthma, defended well with some big hits and his right-center support John Evangelista tried hard along with five-eighth Rich Henson, who broke the Slayers defense a couple of times but was unable to get clear enough to get over the try-line.
The Fight players left the game exhausted and with some injuries to overcome before their next encounter in New Haven, Connecticut, against the Warriors on July 16."
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