The first quarter was an intense tussle. East Kent received the opening kick off, and the mix of strong rushing from Gary Welch and
David Jenkinson and a long completion from Adam Lillis to Glenn Lindley saw the
vistors move to within seven yards of the Renegades goalline. The Renegades
defense were not going to give up a score this early on though, and a fourth
down tackle by Shaun Blake and Guy Robbins kept the scoreboard clean.
Berkshire went three and
out on their opening drive, before the defense held firm again, this time
protecting the goalline from just three yards out as Martin McGuire and Jamie
Foster tackled running back James Robson for a loss on fourth down. The
Renegades defense struck on the next Mavericks drive as Steve Portwine forced
the ball loose on a rush, and Blake pounced to recover the fumble. Despite
aggressive running from backs Drew Cameron and Ian Lakin,
Berkshire
were forced to go three-and-out again as the first quarter drew to a close.
At the start of the second quarter,
East
Kent put together another controlled drive, making the most of the
success they were having on the ground. Jenkinson broke the deadlock on a
twenty yard touchdown rush, the point after attempt was no good, as a bobbled
snap forced Lillis to try to unsuccessfully pass for the score. 0-6 to the
visitors.
Berkshire fumbled the ball
on their next drive, a lateral pass from Paul Waddington drifting away from the
receiver in the wind and the Mavericks’ Tom Arnold gratefully recovered at the
Renegades’ 11 yard line.
East Kent wasted no
time in scoring, Lillis connecting with Lindley for the touchdown on first
down. Welch’s point-after kick was good, and the lead had opened up to 0-13.
The Renegades turnover troubles would continue as a
third and long pass from Waddington was intercepted.
East
Kent extended their lead on the ensuing drive, as ex- Renegade
John Zinkus showed great awareness and footwork to tip toe catch a 6 yard pass
from Lillis at the back of the endzone. Welch’s point after kick was again
good, and it was 0-20.
East Kent would score once
more in the dying minutes of the first half, the Lillis to Lindley combination
working again from the 9 yard line. The pair repeated their success on the
two point conversion success, and it was 0-28 at the break.
The second half started disastrously for the Renegades, as
East Kent East Kent
drives, and Duncan Scott’s interception ending their third. jumped on a fumble just inside the Renegades
half. The Berkshire defense was still playing strong football though and would
keep a clean sheet in the third quarter, with Jamie Foster and Guy Robbins recording
sacks of Lillis on the next two
The Mavericks went on to score twice in the fourth quarter
though, firstly through another Lillis to Lindley connection for 17 yard touchdown
pass, then with Welch going over from 2 yards out. One of the point-after
attempts was good, to round the score off at 0-41 to
East
Kent.
