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London Olympians 26 – 25 Cornish Sharks
Travelling to Cornwall to face the Cornish
Sharks was going to be a test of the Olympians commitment to a regular season
game of importance to the play off aspirations of both teams. It must be said
that the Olympians spoke with their hearts. The game was typified by excellent
running; silky receptions, gutsy quarterbacking, offensive and defensive line
execution that purists would die for as well as bone-crunching tackling from
both teams.
The Olympians intention was established from the kick off return when returner
Kenny Bello weaved through for a gain in the region of about 40 yards. Quarterback
Neale Canning took charge of the drive and late in the first quarter hit receiver
Bello with a pass from 30 yards out and a sprint from there gave the London
team a 0 - 6 lead, kicker Carl James was not successful with the conversion
attempt. This did not stun the Sharks at all because they also returned the ensuing
kick off to mid field territory and commenced a hard running drive. Marching
downfield into the Olympians red zone. The Sharks punched it into the endzone
on an outside run for their responding touchdown and converted the point after
attempt to lead 7-6 and this saw out the first quarter.
One key component of this game that should not be overlooked was the testament
of some really good coaching on both sides of the ball where tactical approach
set the tone for the day. The Olympians turned to showing that they could
produce an emphatic running game and hit the Cornish Sharks from all angles
with crisp running from Adrian John and Toyin Dawudu. Power inside runs were
drilled by Chris Forrester who with his fellow blocking back took it to the
linebackers of the opposition. John ran for over 100 yards for the second game
and saw out the first half scoring a touchdown and giving back the lead to the
Olympians at 7-12. The conversion was again no good.
Commendation must go to the Olympian linemen on both sides of the ball because
they made sure that their team stayed in contention throughout the game by
creating running lanes, sound pockets for the quarterback, and put pressure on
the Sharks quarterback restricting him to throwing only 3 completions, and shutting
down the running game completely in the second quarter.
The Sharks always kept the intensity going and early in the third quarter
forced a fumble in the Olympians red zone. They went to heavy-weighted running
on the weak side and after two attempts scored, but the conversion was blocked,
still, this put them back in the lead at 13-12. Showing true Olympians tenacity
quarterback Canning set to task again and James went downtown with 2 surging
rushing plays to set the Olympians into the Cornish half. A bullet pass to
Kenny “very-hot-on-the-day” Bello saw the Olympians pull ahead with another touchdown
and receiver Daniel Jeanton, who has scored in every game this year, made sure
of the conversion with a catch for 2 points to bring the score to 13-20. On the
resulting kick-off to the Sharks they almost returned the ball for a touchdown
but kicker Victor Olamide zipped from behind the developing blocks to lay pain
to the returner with a power tackle. The drive after did not go far, but a Sharks
deep pinpoint punt placed the ball inside the Olympians 10 yard zone for the
start of the fourth quarter.
The Sharks, making it a habit on the day, forced another fumble off of the
Olympians after it seemed the drive was going somewhere. A few plays later the
Sharks had rumbled in for a touchdown but pressure from a superb special team
forced the conversion kick wide enough for it to hit the upright for an
unsuccessful attempt and the score was 19-20. This touchdown gave the home team
the edge and the Olympians next drive was halted. With good field advantage the
Sharks were upbeat but Olympians linebacker Michael Omeru had something to say
with continuous pressure and eventually linebackers Wajid Latiff and Jermaine
James combined to get the latter a sack on the Cornish quarterback. Soon after
game MVP Bello was on the case again with a superb reverse run that sliced
through the Cornish defense for yet another touchdown to give the Olympians a
chance to breathe at 19-26, [PAT was no good].
A foul from the touchdown was tagged onto the ensuing kick-off and this again
gave the Sharks excellent field position and the chance to either tie or win
the game if they scored. After marching the ball inside the red zone of the
Olympians it seemed that a loss for the travelling team was on the cards
despite resolute defending and a momentous batting down of a scoring pass by
safety Tosin Dawudu. However the never say die Sharks responded when a quick
slant was caught for the touchdown to bring the score to 25-26.
The final word was left for a superb London defensive squad. The Sharks chose
to go for the win with a 2 point conversion; however the Olympians defense were
on fire to deny home celebrations as they totally snuffed out the go ahead
conversion with just 4 seconds to go and the game was over with an Olympian win
25-26.
Olympians MVP awards for the game were overall
Game MVP: Kenny Bello (168 yards receiving),
Offense MVP: Adrian John (140 yards from 18 carries),
Defense MVP: Michael Omeru
Special Teams MVP Victor Olamide
The next game is at our temporary home on May 31 at Warren Park, Bromley
against Essex Spartans, kick-off is at 2:30pm.