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Storm Uses Pressure Defense to Topple Henderson
Box Score
Jersey Cape Storm 27 – Tries: Pat Hughes, Craig Montemurro, Mike Angelucci, Sal Sorace, Mike Fancher;
Conversions: Kevin Loveless
Henderson 7
STONE HARBOR – Five different players scored tries as
Jersey Cape Storm Rugby upped its record to 3-1 Sunday with a convincing 27-7 win over Henderson.
Cape Storm flyhalf
Mike Angelucci (Ocean City HS) broke the match open in the second half with several deep kicks that put the visitors from
West Chester, PA under heavy pressure and led to turnovers and several tries.
Outside center Mike Fancher (OCHS),
hooker Pat Hughes (Lower Cape May Regional), flanker Doug Minerva (OCHS) and lock Taylor Smith (LCMR) stood out in an attacking
defensive effort that held Henderson in check all afternoon.
With a heavy wind at its back, Henderson moved deep
into Storm territory early and pounded away with its forwards for several phases until breaking through for a try (5 pts.)
in the 12th minute. The conversion kick upped the visitors’ lead to 7-0.
Several minutes later, penalty kick
from prop BJ Walker (LCMR) moved the ball into Henderson’s end, where the Storm defense applied big pressure and forced
a turnover on a blocked kick. Hughes picked up the loose ball and touched down in the 20th minute for his first try of the
season. The conversion sailed wide of the uprights and Henderson held on to a 7-5 lead.
A long break by Fancher
in the last minute of the half put the Storm in excellent scoring position. Fullback Eric Danze (LCMR) picked the ball out
of the ruck and put the Henderson defense on its heels with a penetrating run, setting up a crash ball to inside center Craig
Montemurro (OCHS), who broke through for his first try. Prop Kevin Loveless (OCHS) nailed the conversion kick to give the
Storm a 12-7 halftime lead.
The Storm used the wind and smothering defense in the second half to break the match
open.
In the 8th minute of the half the Storm forced a Henderson turnover and recovered the ball, which Angelucci
ran in for a try and a 17-7 lead after the failed conversion kick.
Ten minutes later, the Storm found itself knocking
on the door again after a long kick by Angelucci and a stolen lineout that the Storm forwards mauled to within 5 meters of
the try line. After several phases, wing Sal Sorace (LCMR) took the ball off the back of a ruck and slipped through the defense
for his first try.
With four minutes to play, Smith came up with a huge tackle and forced a turnover following
another deep Angelucci kick. Several phases later, Angelucci fed the ball to Fancher, who ran around the defense for a solo
try from 15 meters out.
Angelucci was named Man of the Match for the backs, while lock Tom Mohr (LCMR) earned the
honors in the forward pack for his consistent tackling and commitment to the rucks.
The second-side match saw more
of the same from Cape Storm, which prevailed 10-7 on tries from flanker Tyler Hewitt (LCMR/Cape May Tech) and Hughes.
Scrumhalf Pat Wood (LCMR) earned Man of the Match honors in the backs for his excellent ball handling and tackling, while
Smith got the nod in the forwards for his relentless play.
Cape Storm plays again Sunday at 80th St. and Dune Dr.
in Stone Harbor. The first-year squad will take on Allentown (Pa.) in its final regular-season match before the divisional
playoffs.
For more information, visit capestormrugby.org.
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