Back to work after Xmas break
BCAFL teams got their season started again after Christmas with 10 teams competing on the last Sunday in January. The unbeaten Birmingham Lions continued their winning streak overcoming Bath 21 - 6. The hunt for playoff places continues else where with few teams eliminated from contention wins by each of the teams this week could prove valuable over the closing weeks of the regular seasonBristol Bullets 10 - 0 Plymouth Blitz
The game started slowly and neither offense posed any real threat. The Bullets D made the most of the opportunity caused by their pressure and on 4th down a wayward snap by Plymouth long snapper Dan McMillan led to the punter being downed in the endzone by Chris Lewis after pressure from Brian Isreal and Ric Hampton. The field was heavy and as the rain began to fall conditions worsened slowing the pace of the game down. A fine kicking performance from rookie Bullets punter Chris Taylor and great coverage by head hunter Tunde Adepoju pinned the Blitz inside their 2 yardline. A Bristol defensive stand forced another safety, when veteran DT Lee Richards burst through the line and blocked the Plymouth punt, forcing the ball out of the back of the endzone once again. The Bullets were up 4-0 as the heavens opened.
Both defenses did some sterling work, including an interception from Bristol CB Tom Slater, kept the scores as they were until the fourth quarter. With the game on the line, the Bullets got the ball inside their own half with around 6 minutes on the clock. Fast developing rookie QB Kirk Dunn, substituting for the injured James Carter, led the offense on the game clinching drive with a great pass to rookie WR Anthony Amissah, which set up a diving score from Adepoju in the corner of the endzone.
Reading Knights 0 - 21 Brighton Tsunami
The game started with a defensive battle. Both offences failed to move the ball any real distance and an exchange for field position ensued. After a good punt and some solid defence from Brighton, Reading were forced to punt from their own end zone, where CB Rob Ingram Blocked the kick to score the Brighton safety. The first half ended as it had started with both offences failing to get the running game going.The second half was a different affair. Both offences began to move the ball, However Brighton had the greater success. After a forty yard pass from QB Jon Cahill, WR Mike Goffe was hauled down inches from the goal line. RB Alex Smith carried the ball over to give the Tsunami the score. The extra point was no good.
The fourth Quarter saw a revitalised Brighton team and a continually tiring Reading. Solid pressure form the Brighton Defensive line led to an interception by CB James West who ran it back 25 yards for the touchdown. The extra Point was good.Late on, RB Eber Kington ran in from 8 yds to add to the score. The failed extra point left the final score 21 – 0.
Lancaster Bombers 19 - 24 Glasgow Tigers
A Lancaster side looking to avenge the sides overtime defeat in their last Tigers encounter got off to a lively start. They quickly racked up two TDs through Marc Siaka on runs of 9 and 40 yards, with Chris Mayne adding a PAT. Unfortunately Siaka was forced to leave the game in the fourth quarter through injury. The Tigers regrouped and looked stronger in the second quarter but Lancaster struck again on a 1yd QB keeper by Tom Zydel to finish the half 19-0 up. From the start of the second half the Tigers looked more aggressive and determined and set about repairing the damage caused in the first half. Within the third period they scored three unanswered TDs from McCree, Grant and Bertram with a mixture of accurate passing and hard running.
With the Tigers one point down going into the fourth the game was on a knife edge. Lancaster found good field position close to the Tigers line but an outstanding stop by the defense saw the Bombers held on the line on two drives. The Tigers saw their hopes fading when they gained possession with 3 minutes remaining but some good running and a long pass to Ian Bertram put them 11yds out with under a minute on the clock. The winning score came from a pass into the endzone for McCree’s second TD of the day. Lancaster had one final drive to try and get a score but a solid Tigers D made sure no ground was gained and the win was assured.
UT Cougars 40 - 6 Caledonian Roughriders
Teeside totally shut down the Caledonian offense in the first half, battering into the defense. After halftime regrouping and alterations to strategy the Roughriders managed a TD, scored by Iain Dick in the 3rd quarter. However, there was not enough continued drive for a comeback. It was a good hard hitting game for both sides, both suffering injuries, but on the whole, a clean game.
Birmingham Lions 21 - 6 Bath Killer Bees
Bath started the game on offense having received the opening kick-off. Their first drive resulted in a punt, which was recovered after deflecting off a Birmingham player on their 10yrd line. QB Ben Salisbury was able to run in from on the ensuing play for the opening score. Birmingham managed to reply within the quarter with a 23yd pass to WR Dave Winter from QB Stuart Ennis. Both sides missed their opening PATs. The 2nd quarter brought with it no scores. Birmingham’s 2nd score came from a 20yd screen pass to RB Jay Alexander, who also scored the 2PAT on a dive.
Birmingham wrapped up their scoring for the day with Ennis running in from 10yds out at the close of the 3rd quarter and Dave Winter added the PAT. The Lions defense were able to hold the Killer Bees at bay to prevent a comeback and complete the win.
10 Feb, 04 | 10:15 am