|
St. Augustine Edges Cape Storm Rugby
to Advance to Divisional Semifinals
RICHLAND – St. Augustine
topped Cape Storm Rugby 21-15 Thursday night in an all-Jersey Shore quarterfinal match, earning the Hermits a berth in Sunday’s
Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union Division II semifinals.
The two first-year
teams traded scores at a fast pace through the first 30-minute half, with the lead changing three times.
St. Augustine outside center Brian Cicali got his side on the scoreboard first when he broke through
the Cape Storm defense in the fourth minute and touched down a try. Wing Nick Hurff kicked the conversion for an early 7-0
lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, Cape Storm outside center Mike Fancher (Ocean
City High School) forced an errant pass that wing John Abadie (Lower Cape May Regional) stole, making a 10-meter break before
passing to older brother Dakota Abadie, who carried it in for the try. The conversion kick went wide and St. Augustine maintained
a 7-5 advantage.
Just six minutes later, the Hermits upped their lead when
Hurff alertly chased down a long kick and touched it down for a try before it could roll out of bounds. Hurff then slotted
the conversion kick for a 14-5 St. Augustine lead.
The Storm ramped up its
defensive pressure, with inside center BJ Walker stealing a ball and putting his side in a position to score. Once on the
attack, the Storm pushed ahead several phases before spinning the ball to Fancher, who found room on the outside and ran in
for a try. A failed conversion kick left the score at 14-10.
Nine minutes later,
lock Tom Mohr (LCMR) plunged in for a try that was set up by a big Dakota Abadie run at midfield and a long downfield kick
from flyhalf Mike Angelucci (OCHS). The score put the Storm up 15-14.
Several
minutes before the half, St. Augustine’s standout 8-man Bobby Dalton ran in a try from five meters out and Hurff’s
conversion kick put the Hermits back on top 21-15.
Stingy defense from both
teams led to a scoreless second half, with St. Augustine preserving the victory.
|
