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FEATURE STORY
War At The Shore XV
The American National Rugby League’s showcase event is on again in Sea Isle City, NJ, on Saturday, July 28 as 'War at the Shore XV' presents a full day of rugby league action for the whole family.
The event will feature kids skills & drills challenges, prize giveaways, Eagletag, a free cookout with music and entertainment along with some key matchups to wind up the Atlantic Conference regular season.
In the first game of the day, the Pennsylvania Bulls and Northern Raiders will lock horns in a match the Bulls will be looking to win to close out the regular season with an impressive 6-1 record. The Raiders will be looking to gather momentum as they go into the playoffs similar to last season when they were within a try of reaching their first ever AMNRL Cup Final.
The Raiders have some impressive young players led by crafty hooker Matt Reilly, with dynamic athletes in Adam Wendland, who was MVP for the North in the AMNRL North v South All Stars game, Phil Guiliani, Freddy Vero, Rob Ploth, and seasoned veteran Joel Vanables.
The Bulls have put together an impressive season, knocking over the reigning Cup champion New York Knights at Pier 40, and will be eager to finish the regular season as the second seed if the Knights beat the Eagles and secure home field advantage for the playoffs.
In Game 2, the Knights will be eager to end the regular season with what is expected to be a win over the improving Northern Virginia (NOVA) and secure the top seed and first round playoff bye. The Eagles have put together a solid comeback season led by Christian Seaman and have some impressive players in Ed Fua, Phil Dorn, and Patrick Robinson.
The Knights have some exciting personnel with leading scorers Todd Fisher, Andrew Moody, and Luke Hume all match winners on their day, while up front Ben Sadgrove and USA Tomahawks Sean Taylor, John Dykeman, Justin Ripley and Gareth Baxendale form an imposing forward pack.
Our Game of the Week is the contest between the Connecticut Wildcats and Bucks County Sharks as the result will determine who will be the third and fourth seeds for the playoffs and more importantly, who will have home field advantage.
The Wildcats boast the league’s leading try-scorer in Mike Goward (16), along with some dominant players in Curtis Cunz, Salesi Tongamoa, Charlie Rizzo, Gareth Gibbs and Mike Shachter.
The Sharks will look to the experience of Justin Zadnik, Phil Shipos, Zac Padgett, and Steve Thompson to lead some exciting local talent such as Dan Johnson, Brian McCall, Dean Schofield, and Ryan Sodano, who scored a first half hat-trick playing for the South in the AMNRL North v South All Stars game.
Atlantic Conference matchups:
PA Bulls v Northern Raiders, NY
New York Knights v Northern Virginia Eagles
Bucks County Sharks v Connecticut Wildcats
