Following their 17-10 loss to Gonzaga in the previous week, the Pride of Perry Street Prep returned to their winning ways against a game and determined Eleanor Roosevelt side. Following injuries and a need to develop some depth, the Pride’s starting lineup saw several changes (Hooker, 2nd row, flanker, scrumhalf, wings and fullback) from the previous week.
Despite sitting at the bottom of the MAVRC standings, Roosevelt came to play and from the first whistle showed they still had plenty of fight left in them.
The Pride opened scoring at the 10-minute mark off a penalty play. Tyrell Stevenson (’13) crashed through several defenders from 40 meters out and won the footrace to the try line, and Justin Owens was good for the conversion. The Pride scored again a couple minutes later off of a weak side scrum move that was initially stopped by Roosevelt. Christian Adams, playing his first game on wing (having spent the season at flanker), went into the ruck, picked the ball and raced down the blindside to score under the posts, but Marcus Mcintyre missed the conversion (12-0 to the Pride).
Over the next 10 minutes, both teams stymied each others efforts with stout defense. Roosevelt had several line breaks but solid open field tackling by Justin Owens kept them out of the try zone. Owens, who is normally a scrumhalf, showed his versatility with a solid performance at the back. Roosevelt closed out the scoring for the half by punching the ball in from 5 meters out following penalty against the Pride for diving over in the ruck, conversion missed (12-5 Pride).
The first score of the second half was the result of a Roosevelt penalty kick out of bounds that failed to “find touch.” Through a remarkable display of alertness and athleticism, the ball was kept inbounds by Pride's Jihad Khabir who tapped it into the eagerly awaiting hands of Christian Adams. Adams stiffed armed off the initial defender and raced the 70 meters for his second try of the afternoon. Jihad Khabir missed the conversion. (17-5 Pride), and Roosevelt answered back several minutes later with and excellent effort from 50 meters out to make it 17-10.
The Pride replied on the ensuing kickoff when #John Murray fielded the kick and punched his way through several defenders before setting the ruck for Jihad Khabir. Khabir picked the ball and stepped his way through several defenders on his way to the try line, conversion missed (22-10 Pride). Several minutes later the Pride used their long throw lineout to strike again when Christian Adams who was moved back into the forwards minutes earlier. Adams caught the throw and easily scooted the 10 meters to score under the posts, conversion by Khabir good (Pride 29-10). Khabir added another three points several minutes later off a penalty kick 20 meters out (32-10 Pride).
The Pride's final scoring of the night came off a 5 meter scrum that went out to flyhalf Jihad Khabir. Finding himself with a flat line and not many options, Khabir turned it back inside and fed Christian Adams for their final try of the day, conversion missed (37-10).
While the score line could draw one to conclude that the Pride had dominated this game, that would be a mistake. Roosevelt showed a tremendous sense of heart and were just a dropped ball, missed pass or unbeaten final defender away from adding to their score line.
The Pride, while getting back to their wining ways, have shown that their depth beyond their starting fifteen is of concern. With games against DeMatha and Warrenton this week and Model School the following, they need to build up their reserves in their closing games to bolster their chances at a MAVRC playoff run and championship rematch with Gonzaga.
