TAMPA, FL – On Saturday the Jacksonville Axemen (3-0-0) splintered the Lakeland Renegades (1-2-0), pulverizing the latter’s upstart club 106 to 4. However, Saturday’s flooding rainfall ruined the Atlanta Rhinos at their Atlanta Silverbacks Park(0-1-0) home field. Because of the rain, Atlanta cancelled/postponed their matchup against the Southwest Florida (SWFL) Copperheads (0-1-0). Below, this recap review’s the USA Rugby League‘s (USARL) South Division third weekend in action.
Axemen Splinter Renegades
Jacksonville Axemen media director Brian Lowe recaps and reviews the blowout from JaxAxe’s side:
During the 80 minute match-up, the Jacksonville Axemen ran in a record 20 tries. The 20 tries led the Axemen to a 106 to 4 victory over the South Conference’s new team, the Lakeland Renegades. Multiple try scorers on the night included Steven Knight (5), James Williams (3), James Williams(2), David Thomas (2), David Washington (2) and Alex Eberle (2). Jacksonville hosted Saturdays game at the team’s home field, the University of North Florida (UNF) Soccer Fields.
From the start, the Axemen dominated the first half. Jacksonville’s Webb, Williams, Thomas and center Alex Eberle scored tries. Also, Richter added the extras on two of them to make the halftime score 46 to 0 in favor of the home team. In the second half, the Axemen added three tries to their tally from the restart, taking a 62 to 0 lead
In the end, Lakeland Renegades assistant coach David Ulch would score his team’s only (unconverted) try. As it turned out, this was Lakeland‘s only score in the match-up. After the Renegades‘s lone try, the Axemen ran in eight more tries. Therefore, the defending 2018 USARL National Champions won the game 106 to 4.
Rains Ruin Rhinos Match-up Against the Copperheads
As previously mentioned, flooding rainfall rendered Atlanta’s home field at Silverback Stadium Park unplayable. So, this ruined the Rhinos scheduled match vs the SWFL Copperheads. When speaking with RWU, Nick Newlin, the Atlanta Rhinos team captain, discussed his frustrations about Saturday’s aborted game against SWFL.
“[Unfortunately], the venue [Atlanta Silverback Stadium] where we play doesn’t have very good drainage. What’s even worse, most of the Copperheads were already in town.” When RWU asked about possibly rescheduling the missed matchup, Newlin responded, “[We are] working through that now. [However], most likely not based on the tight schedule and very limited funds for [the] team[s] to travel.”
Wrapping up with this weekend’s fifth USARL Southern Division club, the Tampa Mayhem (1-1-0) had last Saturday’s bye.
Saturday’s USARL South Division Upcoming Games
For this Saturday, the first game will feature the Rhinos hosting Jacksonville at Atlanta’s Silverback Stadium. Also in action, the Mayhem will travel to Bonita Springs for an away match against the SWFL Copperheads. Finally, the Lakeland Renegades will take this weekend’s bye.
