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Maidstone Pumas 33 Essex
Spartans 43
The Maidstone Pumas travelled
to Essex for the early kick off against conference rivals Essex Spartans. The
Pumas had beaten Essex in the first game of the season, but expected a much
tougher contest as Essex had recruited additional coaches, one who had been
working with the Pumas.
Last weeks 16 heroes’ were
boosted by the return of running back James Cherry, defensive back, Jeremy Reid
and defensive lineman Charlie Flynn. It was 20 players who warmed up prior to
the game.
The game started with the Pumas
defense shutting down the Essex offense, however, the usually potent Pumas
offense, put together some good drives, which petered out. Midway through the
first quarter, the Pumas clicked into action, with strong running by Cherry and
a John Bowden 32 yard pass to Anthony Malyan, which set up Cherry’s 2 yard trot
into the endzone for the opening score. The Pumas kept the pressure on and
Bowden then found Cherry open in the end zone for a 25 yard pass reception.
David Kerr slotted home the extra point.
To their credit, Essex adjusted
and started the next possession running the ball behind rookie sensation Gary
Cohen. It fell to veteran Matt Campbell Carr to finish off some excellent work
with a 5 yard run. The Pumas offense came out with the intention of scoring
just before the half time break and did so when Bowden found Anthony Malyan in
the endzone from 22 yards. It was the Pumas who took a 19 – 6 lead into the
break. Coaches Smith and Lear warned the team that they needed to continue with
the smart play, but were concerned that with players rotating on both offense
and defense fatigue may come into play.
The second half started as the
Pumas coaches had feared, with an improved defense and strong running attack,
Essex punished any Pumas mistakes and in a three touchdown blitz, thought that
they had secured the game. Two scores from Matt Baker and a Gary Cohen scamper
left the Pumas feeling bruised.
However, on the first play of
the fourth quarter, Cherry ran back the opening kick 75 yards and then two
plays later strolled in from 7 yards, Kerr added the extra point. Then after
the Pumas defense had rallied, quarterback Bowden drove the ball downfield and
Cherry finished off, this time from 12 yards. Kerr again added the extra point.
A remarkable turn around which put the Pumas in a 33 –28 lead.
Essex came out a little shocked
but with both teams tiring, replacement running back Craig Willis broke through
the line and raced 50 yards for the go ahead score. This was followed by a
Shulba Hunt 8 yard run to finish off the game with 17 seconds left.
Coach Lear said after the game,
“Despite losing, I am really proud of all 20 players, many of whom only had 6
or 7 plays off. Obviously, we are a threat on offense, but our defense lead by
Steve Berry – 10 solo tackles and 13 running yards and Dan Malyan 7 solos and 2
assists, played as though possessed. We were out numbered by a much larger
squad, which told in the end as Essex were able to bring on fresh running
backs, in the second half”
Coach Smith added, “I thought
the officials handled the game well, even though they had to drive to
Colchester for the 4:00pm game. I am also pleased that we appear not to have
suffered any additional injuries, although receiver Chris Damski did pull a
hamstring early on. I am pleased that we now have a two week break before a
three game run in to finish the season”.
General Manager Stuart Crowley
added, “We will be in a position to announce two significant sponsorship deals
in the next few weeks, finishing touches are being put to the deals”.
The Pumas youth and senior
teams will be holding a series of player recruitment days in September, more
details to follow.