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Essex Spartans 0 - 19 East Kent Mavericks
This past weekend saw East Kent travel to Essex in scorching conditions and leave it all on the field as they beat the Spartans 0 to 19.
The game was the first of two encounters between these two teams and the
second game out of three in as many weeks for East Kent. In their previous meetings last year, Essex won both matches by narrow margins.
But the intensity was apparent from arrival, as both teams had won big games the previous week and neither team had intention to give way in this crucial match. Winning this game would have put Essex in contention for second place and relegated East Kent to third from the bottom of the table in BAFL 2 South East standings. The Spartans entered the game hot favourites after their strong showing versus Chiltern the previous week and with a record of 3 wins and 2 loses. The Mavericks came to the game with much enthusiasm, riding in on a huge moral victory over the Maidstone Pumas the week prior.
The game began with Essex electing to kick and the East Kent offense hitting the field first in positive field position. The Mavericks wasted no time picking up where they left off the week prior and on the first play of the day, James Robson broke free from the pack with a thirty five yard carry to put East Kent in the oppositions red zone. After some short gains on the ensuing downs Gary Welch made a dramatic attempt at breaking the plain of the goal line but was stopped just short as the ball was fumbled and recovered on the two yard line by the Spartans defense. The Essex offense took over and began to work the ball down the field, in similar fashion to their earlier encounter with Chiltern. The Mavericks defense responded by clamping down in their fifteen yard line and applied the pressure through the defensive line which caused Essex quarterback to fumble the hand off within the five yard line and the ball was pounced on by Matt Corlett, to give the possession back to East Kent at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw the Mavericks move the ball steadily down the field through the steady pace of Garry Welch and Glenn Lindley, but it was Welch who punched the ball in from four yards out to give the Mavericks the first strike of the day and a 7 - 0 lead, the point after attempt was successful. The Spartan offense took to the field again and continued where they had left off in the first. With steady and precise drives that marched all way down within five yards of the goal line. It was this moment which defined the game, as the Maverick defense put together an impressive stand, lead by Dave Squires, and held the home side at bay for two minutes and prevented them from reaching the end zone as the whistle blew and East Kent took a seven point lead into the half time break.
After the break which saw both sides retreating to the comfort of nearby trees for shade in order to escape the heat. The game was resumed and Essex received the ball to begin the third quarter. Again the Spartan offense put together some strong runs and passes to give them a pair of first downs, but the East Kent linebacker combination of Dudley Ross and Jamie Ewen proved too much as they applied pressure to the quarterback and forced him to throw a dangerous pass which was intercepted by Mavericks defensive back Simon Mackerill. The Mavericks offense took the field again, and this time only needed a short amount of time to move the ball into the endzone on two plays. The first via a great show of skill and determination which saw Mavericks founder Glenn Lindley hurdle
two defenders and spin his way to a massive thirty six yard gain. This was followed by a perfectly timed pass from Matt Barrett, which hit Adam Lillis in stride and put the visitors ahead by 13, after a missed extra point after attempt.
In the fourth quarter the heat began to take its toll on both teams, as they exchanged positions and battled the opposing side in a true show of force. Lead by defensive captain, linebacker Kirk Beacham the Spartans put pressure on the Maverick offense and forced them to punt the ball away. But the East Kent defense answered right back and after a sack by Adrian Benn the Essex offense were forced to punt the ball away. This time the Mavericks offense pushed the ball down the field and culminated the drive by a twelve yard rushing touchdown to give Gary Welch his second on the day and a 19 - 0 lead, as the game ended.
The Mavericks have now won two in a row and have leapt into third place in the South East Division 2 standings. Both teams now prepare for a tough challenge as East Kent will play host in Canterbury to the league leaders Norwich Devils and Essex prepare for a clash away at second place Cambridgeshire Cats. These will be two very highly anticipated match ups and will shape the standings in what many are calling one of the most competitive and interesting divisions of the British American Football League.