BCAFL Week 1: Stirling stick to winning ways
The 19th BCAFL season kicked off this past Sunday, 26 October, with six games. For 2 of the teams, APU Phantoms and Sheffield Hallam Warriors, it would be their first League action ever. The Phantoms took on UEA Pirates while the Warriors took on local rivals Sheffield Sabres. Also in action were defending College Bowl champions, the Striling Clansmen, along with four other teams that made last years playoffs: Newcastle Raiders; Leeds Celtics; UCH Sharks; and Staffordshire Stallions
|
The defending College Bowl Champions Stirling got their season off to a good start with a victory over divisional rivals Newcastle. Jeff Bryan kicked off their scoring with a 65-yard punt return and two further rushes by RB Jon Sutherland, all of which had 2PATs added brought the score up to 24-0 by the end of the opening quarter. Newcastle struck back in the second with rookie RB Rob Lochrie going in from 14 yards and Receiver Matt Barton adding the 2PAT. The Clansmen struck back quickly with WR Carlos Yanes-Roca collecting a 26-yard pass from QB James Thompson. Both teams added another TD before the half with Raiders QB finding Barton from 3-yards and Sutherland breaking for a 58-yard run, part of his 184-yard, 3TD rushing day. The Defences stepped up in the second half with both teams restricted to just a TD each with Iain Smith, Clansmen, and Tom Evans, Raiders, leading the tackle count for their teams.
Sheffield Sabres 22 - 14 SHU Warriors
Divisional rivalry saw Sheffield teams the Sabres and new boys the Warriors clash in League action. Sabres DT Eddy Mellor recovering a fumble on the Warriors 2-yard line set up the first score of the game. Robert Levy ran the ball in and Jon Cuthbert scored the 2PAT on a reception from QB Paul Musker. After an exchange of punts the Warriors scored their first League points with Chris Jones catching a 23-yard pass from QB Phil Wood. Gareth Pattinson's reception for the 2PAT tied the game. The half ended with the Sabres up 14-8 after Robert Levy hauled in a 5-yard pass from Musker. Neither team were able to break the deadlock until the 4th when Pattinson scored on an 11-yard reception to again tie the game with 6:51 left. The Sabres left it late to take the lead again, with 30 seconds left Musker connected with WR Will Abbott for an 8-yard score, and then David Leslie ran in the 2PAT. The Warriors tried but after 3 long pass attempts a sack by DT Oscar Hugus on 4th down allowed the Sabres O to take a knee and finish the game.
Leeds Celtics 13 - 6 UCH Sharks
The other all-Northern Conference Eastern Division game saw the Celtics travel to Hull. The Sharks started off the stronger of the two teams, their defence kept up pressure on Leeds while their Offence built each drive before a 20-yard run by Yasine Salmi set up veteran Shark Robert Avery's 1-yard run into the end zone. The Sharks started the 2nd quarter still dominating Leeds but were unable to capitalise. With the Celtics defence gaining good field position the Offence were able to run the ball down the field culminating in QB Jack Nill running in from 15-yards for the score midway through the quarter. A defensive stalemate ensued until the fourth quarter when a Richard Nice interception set up the Celtics Offence with good field position. From there the offence were able power in the score coming from RB Todd Scales on a dive play and the PAT was successful. Although Hull gave a great last ditch effort in driving the ball downfield the Celtics were able to hold on to secure the win.
Tarannau Aberystwyth 0 - 44 Staffordshire Stallions
This week’s only inter-conference dual saw Tarannau Aberystwyth play away at Staffordshire. After exchanging punts on their opening drives Stallions RB Jason Prince swept left from his own 39-yardline breaking tackles on his way to the end zone. With the Stallions DLine holding firm Aber were unable to run the ball effectively. As the game ran into the 2nd quarter the hosts enjoyed another good drive culminating in a 10-yard score for returning QB Anthony Charles. While Aber were now starting to move the ball they couldn't manage to get on to the scoreboard. A nine-play Staffordshire drive was finished off by a 20-yard TD reception by WR Chris Richards off a Charles pass. As the half closed the Aberystwyth QB under pressure from DE Chris Ward found only MLB Gavin Newcombe with his pass who returned it 28 yards for the score, the half ended 26-0. Despite Aber coming out and pinning Staffs in their own half they were unable to score. Three further TDs from game MVP Richards secured the win; he scored on another pass, a reverse from his 38 and on an interception return following good pressure from the DLine.
APU Phantoms 0 - 37 UEA Pirates
UEA got their season off on the right foot following a victory over another new team to the league, APU Phantoms. The Pirates struck on their fourth play from scrimmage with QB Lucien Giordano hitting TE Neil Morgan for a 28-yard TD. Two plays after an APU fumble Giordano passed for his second TD, a 19-yarder to WR Mike Callen. HB Rich Barnard capped off a five play 32-yard drive by running in from the 1-yardline. On the Pirates next possession Giordano threw for another TD, a 40-yard pass to WR Martin Ray. The Pirates leading tackler, LB Jesse Lamberth was also able to get on the scoresheet with a 25-yard interception return. The Pirates rounded off their day with Giordano throwing his fourth TD pass of the day to WR Toshiyuki Takahashi.
Bath Killer Bees 21 - 12 Plymouth Blitz
The Killer Bees opened their season with a hard fought victory at Plymouth. The first score of the game came with 10 minutes left in the half with Henry Murray powering through the middle from inside the 5. Plymouth came back 3 minutes later with RB Tawoozara scoring a 28-yard outside rush enabling the Blitz to go in at halftime on level terms at 6 apiece. Both sides struggled for superiority until late in the 3rd Ben Wiltshire took an option pass to go in for a 10-yard score. For the 2PAT Bath again ran the option but this time QB Ben Salisbury kept the ball to go in for the points. The 4th quarter started with Plymouth moving upfield on the running of Tawoozara before completing a pass to WR John Siddons but were unsuccessful with the 2PAT. Bath left it very late to close out the game with QB Salisbury bootlegging right and running in for the TD, and the PAT was added.
Week 2 of the BCAFL season sees a fuller schedule:
Stirling Clansmen @ Glasgow Tigers
Caledonian Roughriders @ Sheffield Sabres
UT Cougars @ UCH Sharks
Leeds Celtics @ SHU Warriors
Derby Braves @ Lancaster Bombers
Loughborough Aces @ Leicester Lightning
Staffordshire Stallions @ Nottingham Outlaws
Tarannau Aberystwyth @ Warwick Wolves
Birmingham Lions @ UEA Pirates
UKC Falcons @ Essex Blades
Southampton Stags @ Cardiff Cobras
See www.bcafl.org for further details.
29 Oct, 03 | 11:38 am