Jersey Cape Storm High School Rugby
Wins Decisively in its Inaugural Match

AVALON – The Jersey Cape Storm boys introduced Cape May County to high school Rugby in impressive fashion Sunday, downing the Wilmington Colts 39-5 in front of more than 80 spectators.

The Storm was paced by two-try performances from outside center Mike Fancher (Ocean City High School) and prop Angel Sotomayor (Lower Cape May Regional).

Down 5-0 following a Wilmington try in the first two minutes, the Storm confidently marched the ball downfield and earned a penalty 8 meters out. Sotomayor took the penalty tap, evaded one tackler and dove in for his first try of the day.

Less than five minutes later, 8-man David Lawson (LCMR) made a penetrating run off a ruck and fed Fancher for a long break that looked like a try, but was called back because Fancher stepped out of bounds.

Inside center John DeHainaut (Cape May County Technical High School) got those points back on the board for the Storm when he ran in his first try of the season off a well-placed Pat Wood pass. The conversion kick by Kevin Loveless (OCHS) made the score 12-5.

Fancher, who earned Man of the Match honors in the backline for his hard running and solid defense, took a pass from Adam Prettyman (LCMR) and dotted down a try four minutes before the half. At the break, Cape Storm led 17-5.

Not content to rest on its lead, Cape Storm came out hard in the second half, with flyhalf Mike Angelucci (OCHS) stealing a ball in the first minute and running it in for an apparent try. A penalty brought the play back, but the tone was set for the rest of the match.

Three minutes later, Sotomayor took a ball from five meters out and barreled in for his second try. The conversion from Loveless extended the Storm’s lead to 24-5.

Paced by aggressive tackling from Dakota Abadie (LCMR), Fancher, Mike Achuff (OCHS) and John Abadi (LCMR), the Storm kept Wilmington on its heels throughout the second half. Hooker Pat Hughes (LCMR) also had a standout performance, earning him Man of the Match honors in the forward pack.

A poach by Sotomayor 10 minutes into the second period set up an offensive series that ended with flanker Doug Minerva (OCHS) dotting down and extending the Storm’s lead to 29-5.

Less than five minutes later, scrumhalf Craig Montemurro found Fancher in space and sent the junior speedster on a 50-meter run that ended in another try, putting the Storm up 34-5.

With time running short, center Tyler Hewitt (LCMR/CMCTHS) stole a ball and spun it to Minerva, who put winger Tim Dilling (OCHS) away for the final try of the afternoon.

Next Sunday the Storm travels to Richland, NJ to take on St. Augustine Prep – another first-year program. Both squads are coached by members of the Jersey Shore Sharks men’s Rugby club, which plays out of Galloway and took third place in Division III at the 2008 USA Rugby National Championships.