Bulls Take a Bite out of Knights in the Big Apple

Inclement weather affected Round Two of the C.D. Ferrainola Cup competition with the double header at Swarthmore College between the Mantarays and Sharks, and the Fight and Slayers, being postponed. The matchup between the Raiders and the Wildcats was also deferred. Make up dates for each game will be announced shortly.

The only match able to be played was in Manhattan. Overcast skies threatened throughout the match to offer the same rainfall as in other locations, but fortunately the match was played in dry conditions with the Bulls turning on the power against the hometown Knights.

Bulls Captain Shayne Mains ignited the Bulls offense with three tries in the opening 15 minutes that set the stage for a tough evening for the Knights. The New York squad found the going tough in the early exchanges as the Bulls started on fire through unforced Knights errors that kept presenting the Glen Mills squad with plenty of possession to gather momentum.

The match was officiated by Australian referee Robert Irwin, who is in NYC on business. The performance of Mr. Irwin was a telling factor in the match with both teams benefiting from his clear interpretation of the rules and total control of the field. His contribution to the 2004 season cannot be understated as the standard of play rises. Both teams enjoyed his communication on field and look forward to him controlling future matches.

The Knights battled hard all evening and were well led by senior players Rob Balachandran, Matt Astill and Christian Rahui. While the final score did not reflect the effort put forth by the Knights, it is only a matter of time before they get their act together and return to the winners circle.

The Bulls have found an ace in Johnny 'Sanchez' Numa, their latest recruit from downunder. Hailing from the Cook Islands, via Auckland, and now living in Sydney the tough backrower has added a new dimension to the Bulls lineup and his presence would suggest that the Bulls are well placed to challenge for the 2004 Cup title.

With Marcus Vassilakopoulos, Shayne Mains, Ed Woodbridge and Kevin Deal the Bulls have a formidable squad, and that was clearly evident in the performance against the Knights. New recruits for the Bulls are beginning to develop with Ryan Kiniry-a standout performer in his first two games of Rugby League.

The Bulls gained the maximum five points from the match which will be vital at the season's end, while the Knights snared a bonus point and fought hard to the end.

Both teams will head into the next round's War at the Shore VII looking for cross conference victories.

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