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Fight defeat Axemen 42 to 20, win USARL Championship

BOSTON, MA – The Philadelphia Fight defeated the Jacksonville Axemen 42 to 20 in Saturday’s (27 August) USA Rugby League (USARL) National Championship game, played at Nickerson Field on the grounds of Boston University.
Fight defeat Axemen 42 to 20, win USARL Championship

Source: Brian Cole | Rugby Wrap-up
Images: Gene Thorpe | VIEW ALL IMAGES
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With the win, the Philadelphia Fight takes the title as 2016 USARL Champions.  On the season, Philadelphia finishes 11-0-0, scoring 535 points, and allowing 108.

Following the defeat, the Jacksonville Axemen fall to 8-1-0, scoring 307 points, and allowing 142 through the 2016 USARL Season.

Game gets off to slow start, but Fight finish the first half with the lead.

Through the first 30 minutes of the game, miscues and penalties hampered both teams’ ability to take control of the contest.  Then, with about ten minutes left in the first half, Philadelphia’s fly-half, Joel Weeks scored the first try of the game. After a successful Mike Timpano conversion, the Fight took a 6 to 0 lead over the Axemen.

With less than two minutes left in the half, the Fight’s Louis Tulio scored Philadelphia’s second try. After another Timpano conversion, the Fight took a 12 point advantage over the Axemen.  Just before halftime, Jacksonville’s Jonathan Halter scored the Axemen’s first try.  After Hayden’s conversion, the score going into halftime was Philadelphia 12 – Jacksonville 6.

Philadelphia takes control in second half of game, wins USARL Championship.

Philadelphia started off the second half with two tries by Rhys Bowdich.  Though Timpano missed the first of the two conversions, he redeemed himself on the second try.  After these two tries, Philadelphia led Jacksonville 22 to 6.

However, Jacksonville quickly responded with two tries of its own. Axeman Tyler McClain scored the first of the tries, however the conversion failed.  This cut the Fight’s lead to ten.  On the heels of this first score, Axemen Jonathan Halter secured another try, and kicked the conversion. With 23 minutes left, the score stood at Philadelphia 22 – Jacksonville 16.

Following the Axemen’s second try, the Philadelphia Fight took almost total control of the game. With 15 minutes left, Philadelphia’s Josh Vaartjes and Mike Timpano teamed up with a respective try and conversion.  This built the Fight’s lead back to 12 points.  Just one minute later, the Fight’s Bowdich scored another (unconverted) try, bringing the score to Philadelphia 32 – Jacksonville 16.

Philadelphia Fights 2016 MVP - Rhys Bowdich

With 11 minutes left, Philadelphia’s Mike Gentile secured yet another try for his team.  Even though Timpano missed the conversion, the Fight extended its lead over the Axemen to 20 points.  Just three minutes later, Bowdich scored his fourth try of the game.  After Timpano’s conversion, Philadelphia built its lead to 26 points.

As the game ended, Jacksonville’s Urban Iyo scored one more (unconverted) try for his team.  After these final Axemen points, the 2016 USA Rugby League Championship Game ended with the score Philadelphia Fight 42 – Jacksonville Axemen 20.With 11 minutes left, Philadelphia’s Mike Gentile secured yet another try for his team.  Even though Timpano missed the conversion, the Fight extended its lead over the Axemen to 20 points.  Just three minutes later, Bowdich scored his fourth try of the game.  After Timpano’s conversion, Philadelphia built its lead to 26 points.

This is Philadelphia Fourth USARL Championship with their other Trophies coming in 2011, 2013 & 2014.

Images: Gene Thorpe | VIEW ALL IMAGES
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