Divisional Day of Destiny

 

Leading receiver Kinder Mann will look to link up with undefeated Cats QB Brown.

The 3-3 East Kent Mavericks will be looking to take control of the race for the second playoff spot in BAFL 2 South East this weekend as they travel to the 4-2 Cambridgeshire Cats. The Cats currently control their own destiny; however, with only this single meeting between the sides in 2007, the winners this Sunday will own the tiebreaker. Cats Head Coach Rick Bice is fully aware that a slip-up this weekend would leave the sides with identical records, thus handing the impetus to the Canterbury outfit; “This game is what we have worked all off season towards and I expect it to be a hard fought affair. Last years game was close through the first half and fortunately we were able to pull away in the second half to secure the win. However, this year, both teams have bulked up in numbers and I fully expect them to come to Coldhams Commons ready to play, as will we!”

Injury held Dom Fox to just twenty five yards the last time the two sides met. All photographs are courtesy of Cambridgeshire Cats.

The Cats offense is still without running back Rob Kibbles Jr., who undergoes surgery this week. His partner in the backfield, Dom Fox, will be keen to make an impression as he aims for his first 1000 yard rushing season. Having missed out on the landmark by just 14 yards in 2006, Fox rues his time spent on the sideline after he picked up an injury early in last years game in Canterbury, and will be looking to add to his seven touchdowns so far in 2007. Quarterback Martin Brown will also be looking to continue his blistering and unbeaten start leading the Cats.

The Cats defense has given up a mere two points per game in 2007, and the long break since their last game means they go into this must win clash at full strength and with no major injury concerns. They also welcome back defensive tackle Aaron Harp and linebacker Justin Royer from their recent sabbaticals; the Americans having racked up forty six tackles, three fumble recoveries and a sack between them, despite having missed three games each this season.

Ric Bice becomes the Cats second longest serving Head Coach this weekend.

The game will be a landmark for Head Coach Bice, whose 25th game at the helm of the Cats surpasses fellow American George Zentner’s total from the mid-1980s, placing him second in the all-time list of longest serving Cats coaches. Zentner was the founder of the Cambridge County Cats and Head Coach during that teams first two seasons.

Historically, the third week in July has been successful for the Cats, with a perfect 7-0 record on this weekend in home fixtures. Similarly, the team is unbeaten against East Kent Mavericks; last years 26-12 road victory being the only previous occasion the clubs have met. The Canterbury-based side are relative newcomers in Britball terms, having formed in 2004 after two previous years as a flag-football team. This year is by far their most successful in the BAFL, with several achievements, including the clubs first home win as they shut out county rivals Maidstone Pumas recently. The Mavericks are fast becoming a force in the area and seem determined to keep up their playoff ambitions to the bitter end.

This Sunday, the Cats penultimate home fixture of the regular season, marks the start of a three game stretch, with back to back road trips to unbeaten Conference leaders Norwich Devils and struggling Maidstone Pumas in the coming weeks. It is hoped a strong crowd will come out to support the team at Cats Field as they endeavour to enter the post season for the first time since 2004.