1 October 2010 - Inside American Football
1 October 2010 - Inside American Football
1 October 2010 - Inside American Football
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
MATCH REPORTS<br />
Eagle’s Wings clipped by Warriors - Adult Flag<br />
Leicester Eagles 25 - Woodham Warriors 53<br />
25th July <strong>2010</strong><br />
After nearly two months out of<br />
action from the regular season, the<br />
Leicester Eagles returned to the field<br />
on Sunday 25th July, taking the long<br />
travel up to County Durham to face<br />
both Woodham Warrior teams.<br />
The Eagles took a strong squad, with<br />
head coach Alan O’Sullivan able to<br />
preside over a full strength defence<br />
of Chris Noon, Ed Waters, James<br />
Pimperton, Adam Brindley and Chris<br />
Brown. A slightly re-jigged offence<br />
saw returnee Martin Willder line<br />
up at centre, Chris Brown start at<br />
receiver along with Charlie Craggs<br />
and with starting tight end Mik Smith<br />
making his season debut, it gave<br />
new quarterback James Pimperton<br />
a strong set of targets to throw to.<br />
The absentees were Rich Manning<br />
(Achilles) Garry Crawford and Nathan<br />
Stevenson.<br />
In the opening fixture of the day, the<br />
Eagles faced off against the rapidly<br />
improving Woodham Warriors Black,<br />
under the expert guidance of head<br />
coach Jon Tait. Taking over on offence,<br />
both Craggs and Smith were guilty of<br />
24 <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>American</strong> <strong>Football</strong> - <strong>October</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
drops as the Eagles failed to make a<br />
first down and turned the ball over. The<br />
defence started similarly slowly, with<br />
some unusually lax tackling leading<br />
to the opening score for Woodham.<br />
Following another frustrating drive and<br />
a Pimperton interception, the Eagles<br />
found themselves quickly in a hole as<br />
Woodham twice went over the top to<br />
stretch the score out to 19-0. Despite<br />
worries on both sides of the ball, the<br />
Eagles finally came to life with their<br />
young star Charlie Craggs scoring a<br />
touchdown and extra point conversion<br />
as the offence began to drive on<br />
Woodham, the score 19-7 at the half.<br />
With the words of Coach O’Sullivan<br />
ringing in Leicester’s ears, the English<br />
Champions upped their game in<br />
the second half, with the offence<br />
beginning to find some rhythm, and<br />
the defence managing to stop the<br />
previously rampant Warriors more<br />
often than in the first half. Despite<br />
this, the well drilled Warriors proved<br />
too strong for the Eagles, shutting the<br />
Eagles out and scoring a further three<br />
touchdowns to close out a comfortable<br />
ed wAters, CHArlie CrAggs And mArtin willder on deFense versus soutH wAles wArriors<br />
PHoto © miK smitH<br />
win 37-7.<br />
In their second fixture of the day, the<br />
Eagles faced off against Woodham<br />
Warriors White who had secured a<br />
playoff berth with victory over the<br />
Coventry Jets earlier in the day. Bent<br />
on avenging their first game mauling,<br />
the Eagles defence started brightly to<br />
stop the team from the North East on<br />
their first drive. A stunning sideline<br />
catch from Mik Smith seemed to<br />
inspire the Eagles offence early on,<br />
with Pimperton making good reads<br />
to drive within scoring range before<br />
hitting Charlie Craggs for the go<br />
ahead score. More defensive worries<br />
then ensued as Woodham hit two big<br />
touchdowns to go 13-6 up. The Eagles<br />
offence was now well into its stride<br />
however, as all receivers started to<br />
show sure hands. Pimperton found<br />
Craggs again to pull the Eagles within<br />
a point of the Warriors. The ding dong
Change language