Philadelphia Whitemarsh RFC (5-0) finished its regular season with an unblemished record, defeating Harrisburg RFC (1-3) 51-7 at Edgely Field in Fairmont Park on Saturday.  Eight different players scored on the hot and sunny day.  Second Row workhorse Matt Oberlies won man of the match for PW.

Although PW went on to take control of the game, the first 15 minutes of the game was hard fought and featured even play.  Harrisburg came out strong and did well to maintain possession for periods with a strong pick-and-go game out of their forwards.   It was PW though, who got on the board first, on a penalty conversion off the foot of Fly Half Jim Rosato. 

Harrisburg put together several phases of center crashes and took advantage of uncharacteristic sloppy play from PW to move within striking distance on more than one occasion but PW’s defense did not break.   PW Inside Center, John Knab was the first to find the try line 15 minutes into the game, giving PW a 8-0 lead.

The next 10 minutes of back and forth play featured several penalties to both.   Strong back line defense from both sides kept the ball from getting to the outside.  Eventually Half Back Conway Maraki punched one in near the posts and Rosato converted giving the home team a 15-0 lead.  Captain and #8 Bob Haller scored in the corner off the back of a 5 meter scrum on the last play of the half to give PW a 20-0 lead at the break.

The visiting side got on the score sheet in the second half but would get no more than the 7 earned for their try and conversion.  PW’s offense meanwhile woke up to the tune of 5 tries in the second half.  Several long runs by Front Row Andrew Fusco, Maraki and Outside Center Ben Lieb set up scores by Winger Dan Walsh, Fullback Bryan Oteri and Fusco.

Kurht Engle upped his try streak to 5 games on an intercepted pass returned 70 meters for a score.  Rosato went 4 for 8 on conversion and added a try of his own for 16 points to lead PW to the eventual 51-7 final.

Philadelphia Whitemars RFC finishes the regular season atop the EPRU Freedom Division.  After a bye week PWRFC, the Freedom #1 seed, will host the Keystone #3 seed, figuring to be the loser of next weekend’s match between Wilkes-Barr RFC (3-1) and South Jersey RFC (3-1).

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