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MATCH REPORTS<br />
Cardiff Cobras win National Plate Final<br />
April <strong>2011</strong><br />
Cobras 20 - 0 Sharks<br />
The Cardiff University Cobras<br />
travelled up to Leeds last Friday for a<br />
team overnight stay with a difference:<br />
this was their first national final<br />
appearance since 1996, and if they<br />
won, would be their first silverware<br />
since 1988.<br />
With a team of 38 players and 7<br />
coaches, the Cobras were fresh and<br />
ready for Saturday’s fixture in brilliant<br />
sunshine against Hull Sharks, an old<br />
rival with who the Cobras shared<br />
national honours in 1988 and then lost<br />
to in 1989’s final.<br />
Following warm-ups – although<br />
these were scarcely needed in the<br />
heat – and the national anthems, the<br />
Cobras kicked-off and for the first<br />
series of play relied on their everstrong<br />
defence to start off the game.<br />
Ably led by Linebacker Ollie Devon,<br />
the defence forced a Hull 3-and-out<br />
and the offence, under the guide of<br />
Quarterback Gareth Humphreys, set to<br />
work. A long drive, in which Running<br />
Backs Alex Brew and Ayo Akintunde<br />
ran the ball hard and well behind<br />
strong blocking from the Cobras<br />
Photo © garry Neesam<br />
48 <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>American</strong> <strong>Football</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2011</strong><br />
offensive line, culminated in an inch<br />
perfect pass from Humphreys to rising<br />
star Wide Receiver Josh Hurford,<br />
who caught his second touchdown<br />
in as many games, giving the Cobras<br />
and the stadium of fans behind them<br />
good reason to celebrate early. Kicker<br />
Christy Caldwell converted the PAT to<br />
give the Cobras a 7-0.<br />
More of the same followed on defence,<br />
with monster hits and decisive<br />
interceptions from first year Defensive<br />
Backs Tom List and Robin Ford,<br />
although the offence were unable to<br />
convert possession in to points until<br />
shortly before half-time. This time,<br />
with precious seconds left on the<br />
clock, Humphreys aired a deep ball up<br />
in to the end zone for Benny Sherwood<br />
who miraculously came down with it<br />
for a 6-point touchdown. With another<br />
successful PAT, the score at the half<br />
was Cardiff 14-0 Hull, the old rival<br />
looking beaten by a much stronger<br />
Cobras team.<br />
However, the Cobras came out<br />
sluggishly after the break with the<br />
offence failing to convert some key<br />
Photo © aDam russell
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