May 2011 - Inside American Football 1

MATCH REPORTS
Tsunami make Challenge Trophy after Win over Canterbury
13th March 2011
Tsunami 26 - 14 Chargers
Brighton have made the Challenge
Trophy for the second year in a row
thanks to a convincing win over the
Chargers and a little help from the
Mariners. It all came down to the wire
on the final day in the SEC with LSBU
Spartans, KCL Regents and Brighton
Tsunami all in the mix for the final
spot in the Trophy. For Brighton, the
outcome was simple; beat Canterbury
and pray that old foes Greenwich beat
the Regents.
The game started off brightly with
the Spring Sun shining as QB Alex
Surplice led the team down the field
with RB Scott Welsh rushing well
behind a seasoned O-Line. On 2nd
and Goal, Welsh rushed into the
end zone to score his second career
touchdown. The extra point was no
good. The Chargers came out but were
forced into a 3 and out on their first
possession.
The following Tsunami drive bought
more of the same and RB TK Chisango
rushed in to the endzone to once again
put up 6 but the two-point conversion
was no good. Canterbury’s offence
then took to the field and scored. At the
Edinburgh Napier Knights 0
Nottingham-Trent Renegades 43 (at
the Jack Kane Centre, Edinburgh)
The Napier Knights fairy tale season
came to an abrupt halt in the first
round of the BUAFL Challenge
Trophy playoffs. The Knights hoped
to provide yet more heroics against the
travelling Renegades team but were
immediately against the ropes as the
opening kickoff was returned to the
Knights 2-yard line. The opening score
came 2 plays later as Napier scrambled
to get into the game. A second score
just before the half time whistle put the
Knights 14-0 behind.
The second half did not provide any
relief for Napier as they turned the ball
over on 4 interceptions and conceded
30 Inside American Football - May 2011
end of the 1st quarter, Brighton were
12-6 up.
Early in the 2nd quarter, Surplice took
a big hit and got injured; rookie QB
Jake Beale took to the field hoping to
build on his impressive performance
against King’s. Beale passed and
scrambled well and was rewarded
with a rushing touchdown from a
yard out, his first career TD. Brighton
took a commanding 18-6 lead but the
Chargers were not down without a
fight. They rushed in from 2 yards out
to score their second touchdown of the
game and converted the 2-pointer. At
the half it was a nervy 18-14.
At half time, Heach Coach Martin
Harrison led the team to the centre
of the field and gave an inspiring
talk. Greenwich were 13-0 up on the
Regents and were looking untouchable.
The message was clear, play one more
half of solid football and go to the
post-season.
Brighton came out and RB David
Ndebe rushed in for his 4th touchdown
of the year. Late in the fourth quarter
and Tsunami pinned back the Chargers
Renegades @ Knights BUAFL Playoff Round 1
March 2011
Knights 0 - 43 Renegades
a defensive safety. Nottingham-Trent
scored 4 further Touchdowns to finish
the day 43-0 winners as the game
proved a step too far for a depleted
Knights squad.
Head Coach Pete Laird congratulated
the Renegades after the game. ‘It was
a tough defeat to take and well done to
the visitors on a thoroughly deserved
victory. However I always feel it is
important not to dwell on defeats only
to learn from them. I am very proud of
the lads, they have been a pleasure to
coach and would like to thank them all
for what has been a very enjoyable and
rewarding season‘
Team Captain Jamie Charles added ‘If
you had told me at the start of the year
we would have gone 5-2-1 and made
the playoffs I would have grabbed
it with both hands, so I can’t be too
QB in the endzone. As the play
broke down, he threw away the
ball and it was awarded as a safety.
Brighton had won the game 26-14.
Better news was still to come as
Greenwich had held firm and beaten
King’s taking Brighton back into the
Challenge Trophy.
After the game, Harrison awarded
the offensive MVP to TE Ryan
Bushby and the defensive MVP to
DB Ben Soro-Perez.
This sets up a rematch of the 2009-
10 epic game with the Tsunami (3-5)
against UEA Pirates (5-3) on Sunday
13th March. The game will be played
in Norwich. Last season, the game
was won in the dying seconds as
Nick Pyke kicked the field goal that
led to his name being immortalised
in Tsunami folklore. UEA will be
looking for revenge so it should be a
close game. The winner will take on
the Solent Redhawks (6-2).
...Romaine Jackson
down-hearted. The plan is to come
back bigger, better and stronger next
year.’
The loss means the Knights season
has now concluded and the focus for
American Football in Edinburgh now
shifts to the senior season and the
Edinburgh Wolves.
Edinburgh Napier University is
Edinburgh’s top university for graduate
employability (HESA 2010), and proud
winner of the Queen’s Anniversary
Prize for Higher and Further Education
2009, awarded for innovative housing
construction for environmental benefit
and quality of life.
...Peter Laird