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Second Side Hammers Blackthorn
Location: College Settlement Camp, Horsham, PA P-W’s second side posted a 40-17 drubbing of Blackthorn Saturday in Horhsam despite having fewer than 15 players just seconds before the kickoff. Prop Matt "Tatonka" Szkotak arrived as the teams lined up for the kickoff - just in time to jump out of his car and give P-W a full 15 for the first scrum down of the day. After some early jitters, P-W began to roll, beginning with a long breakaway try by outside center Dan "Deon" Kateusz. Inside center Stephen Siano drew two defenders with his hard running and front-row size before unloading to Kateusz on a brilliantly executed hit play. Flyhalf Mike Badger hit the convertion to put P-W up 7-0. Minutes later, with P-W driving in Blackthorn territory, Szkotak took a tight ball from five meters out and plunged in for another try. Badger’s convertion made the score 14-0. Speedy fullback Taku Mizutani added a third try on a long, breakaway run late in the first half to give P-W a 21-0 lead, following Badger’s convertion. It was only in the final minutes of the half that a Blackthorn winger sneaked through the defense to put the home side on the board. At half, the score stood 21-5. P-W started the second half the same way it played the entire first half, with aggressive tackling and hard running by all 15 players. Scrumhalf Bobby Cassidy made a break early on to set up a stunning breakaway try that went through the hands of Kateusz and Szkotak before rookie winger George Harris was put away for his second career try. Badger’s fourth straight convertion pushed the score to 28-5. A defensive stalwart all afternoon, second row Mike "Mutt" Verrill provided some offensive punch in the 55th minute when he finished-off a well-executed P-W maul by touching down for a try of his own. Badger missed the convertion attempt and the score was 33-5. In the 65th minute, Blackthorn scored its second try on a nice break by the flyhalf. The ensuing convertion made the score 33-12. P-W responded in the 79th minute with another try by Kateusz and a convertion by Badger to go up 40-12. Blackthorn put in one final try in the waning minutes off a quick penalty tap to put the final score at 40-17. Man-of-the-Match voting was tight following the victory. Would it be hard-running eight-man Jarl Ginsberg, who seemed to be everywhere on the pitch for the full 80 minutes? Or would it be try-scorers Szkotak, Verrill or Katuesz – all of whom also impressed on defense? What about playmaking outside center Stephen Siano or captain Jeremy Quinn, who made several long runs that opened the game up for P-W? Or possibly Flyhalf Mike Badger for his brilliant pay calling, play making and 6-for-7 on conversions. In the end, lock-turned-prop Matt Pines was named the Tetley’s English Ale Man-of-the-Match for his punishing defense, untiring rucking and ability to adapt to the front row. PWRFC B-side Roster vs. Blackthorn A 1 Matt "Tatonka" Szkotak Substitutions: Zach Zondolo, wing |
