Location: Memorial Hall Field, Philadelphia.
Date: Sat. Sept. 23, 2000
Result: A-side: PWRFC 45 Washington Irish 19

Philadelphia-Whitemarsh struck first on the day with a try from hard-running outside center Jeff Preston, who seems to have recovered fully from recent knee surgery. Flyhalf Adrian Stoch, fresh off the completion of his first half-marathon, converted to give P-W the early 7-0 lead. But the Washington Irish, in their first trip to Philadelphia in recent memory, came back with a try and convertion of their own in the 7th minute to tie the score.

In the 15th minute, Stoch put P-W ahead for good, slipping past several defenders for a try and then converting. P-W flanker Andy Newcombe then got his first try as Philadelphia-Whitemarsh captain, taking in a tight ball in the 20th minute after P-W won a lineout from 5 meters out. Stoch's convertion gave the club a 19-7 lead. Six minutes later, fullback Mike Badger's long break and feed to winger Joe Eichinger, playing in his first match for P-W, set Newcombe up for his second try. Stoch's convertion made the halftime score 26-7.

Wary of letting the opposition back into the game, as it did the previous week against NOVA, P-W came out strong in the second half, with ever-fit 8-man Jim Brill dotting down in the 50th minute for his third try in two weeks. Preston, apparently not content to let Brill outdo him on the pitch
as well as with the ladies, added a try of his own 15 minutes later. Stoch's convertions of both tries made the score 40-7 with 15 minutes to play.

A 10-minute letdown on P-W's part allowed the Irish wingers to put in two tries, one on the heels of four succesive penalties against P-W. Captain Newcombe urged his players to finish strong and they responded, closing out the match with a try from Eichinger - his first in a Hancock jersey - in the
final minute.

PWRFC A-side Roster vs. Washington Irish

1 Greg "Wombat" Gooch
2 Richard Paquin
3 Mark Saunders
4 Jeremy Quinn
5 Mike "Mutt" Verrill
6 Andy Newcombe (c)
7 Eric Delahaye
8 Jim Brill
9 Brian Dunbar
10 Adrian Stoch
11 Jeff Hoobler
12 Steve Mattia
13 Jeff Preston
14 Joe Eichinger
15 Mike Badger

Substitutions: Eric "Grandpa" Ebert, hooker

B-side

PWRFC 24 Washington Irish 5

In a shortened match of 20-min halves and uncontested scrums, P-W's seconds
(many of whom also played the first game) overcame a lack of continuity and
some sloppy play to win handily. Newcomer Femi Oluboyede showed flashes of
speed that could make him a force at the wing, scoring a try in his first
match with P-W. Second row Jay Strock, minus several additional pounds added
in the offseason, ran hard for several long gains from the 8-man spot, as
did Greg "Wombat" Gooch from his prop position. Jeff Hoobler, possibly the
club's fittest player, made his fellow backs proud with a two-try
performance at flanker. Takuji "Tak" Mizutani also had several big runs from
the fullback position while flyhalf Brian Dunbar was good on two of four
convertions. The game was ably refereed by P-W vice captain and backs coach
Vaughn Crowe.

B-side roster vs. Washington Irish

1 Paul Sundquist
2 Eric "Grandpa" Ebert
3 Greg "Wombat" Gooch
4 Tom
5 Jeremy Quinn (c)
6 Jeff Hoobler
7 George L.
8 Jay Strock
9 Jeff Schmidt
10 Brian Dunbar
11 Femi Oluboyede
12 Steve "Skillet" Mattia
13 Joe Eichinger
14 Mike Badger

Michael Badger, Club Scribe