Location: Washington, D.C.
Date: Sat. Sept. 16, 2000
Result: A Side - Philadelphia-Whitemarsh 34 NOVA 31

Philadelphia-Whitemarsh, led by flanker Jim Brill's two-try performance, won its home opener of the Fall 2000 season in a well-contested match against NOVA.

Brill got the day started off right with a try in the third minute following multiple phases in which P-W moved the ball downfield easily. Flyhalf Adrian Stoch converted to put P-W up 7-0.

In the 14th minute, with NOVA keeping the play inside P-W's 22, a bobbled pass between Stoch and inside center Jeff Preston was scooped up by NOVA and put down for a score. The convertion was no good, and the score stood at 7-5 for the next two minutes. That's when Preston made the first of several big breaks, this time dishing-off to hooker Richard Paquin, who then fed winger Dan "Deon" Katuesz for a try. The convertion was not made and the score stood at 12-5.

NOVA brought it to 12-10 with a penalty try awarded in the 27th minute. (The ref called Brill for not releasing the ball and on NOVA's ensuing quick tap, P-W was called for not being back 10 meters. On the next ruck, P-W was called for coming in from the side and killing the ball and the penalty try was awarded). Then, in a case of "when-do-you-ever-see-that?," Preston blocked the convertion attempt to keep P-W ahead by two.

Stoch completed the first-half scoring with a penalty goal in the 33rd minute to give P-W a 15-10 lead.

P-W came out strong in the second half, bolstered by the fresh legs of prop Paul Sundquist. In the 44th minute scrumhalf Brian Dunbar took a quick tap following a NOVA penalty and fed Sundquist, who made a 20-meter run down the right side, breaking several tackles before feeding Preston for what appeared to be a try. However, Sundquist's pass was ruled forward and NOVA was awarded a 22-meter scrum. On the ensuing series, a pressured NOVA wing kicked to touch and P-W won the lineout, then got the ball to outside center Christophe, who went in for the try. Stoch's convertion made the score 22-10.

Christophe's hard running and a break by inside center Steve "Skillet" Mattia in the 50th minute set the stage for Brill to pick a ball off the ground and go 30 meters for his second score. Stoch's convertion made the score 29-10.

NOVA, however, stormed back with a try in the 57th minute on a long break by the winger, who broke a tackle and touched down in the corner. The covertion was good and NOVA closed the gap to 29-17. Then, 8 minutes later, NOVA spun the ball wide off a lineout and got the ball to its fullback, who dotted down to make the score, following the convertion, 29-24.

Philadelphia-Whitemarsh came back in the 72nd minute when NOVA's wing fielded a deep kick and, under pressure, intentionally threw the ball into touch. Stoch took the penalty kick and gave P-W a lineout five meters out, which the P-W pack pushed over for a try, making the score 34-24. But a series of penalties gave NOVA a shot to come back and win. With less than a minute left in regulation NOVA capitalized on P-W miscues to march down the field beyond P-W's 22. NOVA's outside center took a switch ball and scored. The convertion made the final score 34-31.

Philadelphia-Whitemarsh vs. NOVA 9/17/00

1 Greg "Wombat" Gooch
2 Richard Paquin
3 Mark Saunders
4 Jack Dyer
5 Mark Nuttal
6 Jeremy Quinn
7 Eric from France
8 Jim Brill (acting captain)
9 Brian Dunbar
10 Adrian Stoch
11 Dan "Deion" Kateusz
12 Jeff Preston
13 Cristophe from France
14 Zach Zondolo
15 Mike Badger

Subsitutions - Eric "Grandpa" Ebert, prop; Steve "Skillet" Mattia, inside center; Takuji Mizutani, wing; Paul Sundquist, prop.

Michael Badger, Club Scribe