THE US REPORT

The Barrons Brewing Jacksonville Axemen topped the Philadelphia Fight in an opener for Season 11 for the two American National Rugby League teams held at West Chester University in Pennsylvania on Saturday, finishing up with an impressive 36-8 score. Calling it a “solid win,” JaxAxe coach Spinner Howland said despite heavy rain, his team controlled much of the ball in the first half. “The Fight came out in the second half like a new team,” he explained. But in the end, Jacksonville emerged victorious. A full account of the game is featured at the JaxAxe website. The Axemen travel to New York City June 14 to face the New York Knights.

Spinner works tirelessly on expanding the team brand and fans in the US are catching on to a game that delivers excitement through continual play and nonstop action. After the January Australia Day Challenge success, the Axemen jersey has been changed slightly he says, “to pay tribute to the Leeds Rhinos and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. We’ve changed the blue to match that of the Rhinos and added a small green strip to match the Rabbitohs.” Jacksonville fans are still talking about the exciting game that not only drew locals, but drew scores of celebs from around the world with more than 12,000 fans packing UNF Hodges Stadium.

The team chose Southwest Airlines as official air partner for the 2008 season. “With direct flights to many of the airports we fly to for away games and the incredible service during the Australia Day Challenge,” Spinner said, “we are extremely happy to be flying Southwest.”

JaxAxe will add cheerleaders this season, and open tryouts for the Vivid Images Jacksonville Axe Maidens will take place at Bailey’s Gym [ San Jose Blvd.] on June 11 at 7:30 p.m. For more info email JaxAxeMaidens@hotmail.com or visit the Maidens’ MySpace page.

To stay current about the Jacksonville Axemen, bookmark the team’s official website. This season holds lots of promise and excitement will surely follow!

[Filed by Kay B. Day; photo of JaxAxe vs. Philadelphia from last year’s game, courtesy of the Jacksonville Axemen.]