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Colchester
Gladiators 20 Maidstone Pumas 14
The Colchester Gladiators
travelled to Aylesford on Sunday to take on the ever improving Maidstone Pumas,
and were made to work right until the final whistle before claiming the win.
With three seconds to go,
tied at 14-14 and camped on the Pumas one yard line, the Gladiators’ running back
Alex Robinson swept around right end behind a Duncan Flack block, for the
winning score, improving his team’s league record to 3-2. The play was the
culmination of a see saw battle in sweltering conditions, that nearly didn’t
even kick off.
The mandatory presence of
an ambulance prevented the game from kicking off on time and this was delayed
for nearly an hour while attempts were made to contact the ambulance company.
The game eventually did kick off with 12 minute quarters after the delay. After
completing a long 28 yard pass from Pumas quarterback John Bowden to Anthony
Maylan for a first down, the Gladiators defense stepped up to thwart a fourth
down attempt when Dan Johnson and Christian Steward halted Maidstone’s running
back James Cherry a yard short of the first down marker.
The Gladiators offense drove smartly downfield with Paul
Gates catching a Dan Singer pass for 25 yards, before Robinson ran first for 7
then 37 yards for an apparent score. A holding penalty negated the score
however and the Pumas were off the hook when Singer was sacked on fourth down,
turning the ball over to the Pumas.
Maidstone proceeded to
drive the ball from their own 32, taking up most of the quarter, behind the
strong running of Cherry, and after a Maylan catch to the one, Bowden sneaked
over to open the scoring. The extra point attempt was blocked leaving the Pumas
up by 6-0. The Gladiators lost the first of three fumbles to halt their next
drive and there was no further scoring in the half.
The Gladiators received
the ball to open the second half and made a statement by driving 60 yards in
eight plays, capped by an 8 yard plunge from Flack to tie the score. Backfield
partner Robinson made no mistake with the two point conversion to give the
Gladiators their first lead at 8-6.
A Dave Walton tackle
forced a Puma punt on their next possession, which was returned by Tom Clarke
to the Gladiators 36. Two consecutive runs for first downs were wasted by
another lost fumble, but a Dan Johnson sack on Bowden forced a three and out
and another Puma punt. This time Scott Taylor picked up blocks and returned it
30 yards to the Pumas’ 18 yard line. The visitors made no mistake, taking just
one play as Gates avoided a couple of tackles before sprinting up the sideline
for the touchdown. The two point conversion attempt was stopped just short but
the Gladiators lead 14-6.
The Pumas were not going
down without a fight though and after a fortuitous pass interference call
against the Gladiators on a third and 11, Bowden connected with Maylan again
from 31 yards out to keep them in the game. Cherry converted for two more
points and the game was tied at 14.
Colchester moved
menacingly into the red zone behind more strong running by Robinson and Flack
but a six yard loss on a sweep brought up third and long. On fourth down,
Robinson was stopped a yard short on the Pumas 4 but the home team had the ball
with time running out.
After Cherry ran for a
first down, the Gladiators defense decided enough was enough and Paul Brunsden
and Mark Gilbranch stopped Cherry for zero and one yard gains on the first two
downs. Nick Foxley halted Cherry on third down and the Pumas had to punt again
with less than a minute remaining.
The Pumas plan to kick the
ball out of bounds backfired when it travelled only 16 yards giving the
Gladiators the ball only 37 yards out. The game changed on third down when
Gladiators quarterback Singer launched a long pass to Gates who hauled in a
terrific catch on the sideline for a first down on the 8 setting up the
dramatic final play to Robinson and securing the 20-14 win for the Gladiators.
Robinson finished the day
with 127 yards from 15 carries, one touchdown, one two point conversion and a
catch for 11 more yards to gain the MVP award although Gates ran him close with
two catches for 56 yards and the crucial late play, and 55 more yards on the
ground and a touchdown.
Head Coach Matt Roberts
was relieved after the game stating, “it was terrific to be part of such a
great game, the Pumas pushed us right to the end, but I feel our class showed
and we were deserving winners under some tough conditions. From here we have to
build, put some things to right as we’re still making too many mistakes in some
areas, and get ready for our next game against the division topping Cats.”
The Gladiators now have a
four week break from league action and will get back to training ready for a
homecoming on 13th July when Cambridgeshire Cats come to town, a
game the Gladiators need to win to continue pushing for a post-season playoff
place.
Full details of the
Gladiators fixtures, together with latest results and news, can be found at:
www.colchestergladiators.com.