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Edinburgh Wolves 0-27 Manchester Titans
The Titans shut out the Edinburgh Wolves on Sunday to take the season
record to 2-0.
Edinburgh were playing their first game of the season where they finished
last season and played hard all the way despite an injury ravaged squad but
just couldn’t get anything past the stingy Titans defense.
The Titans entered their second game of the season knowing that victory
would put them in a strong position at 2 and 0 going into their bye week, and
the fans watching from the packed main stand at Broughton Park were expectant
after their team had dominated the second half of their road victory against
Hull the previous week.
The Titans offensive line looked to be too much for the Edinburgh
defensive line, that was missing some key players, as they came out running again;
picking up another 40 yards on just 5 carries including a 25 yard bulldozing
run from Wakatega. The drive stalled however when Edinburgh’s defense came up
with a big stop on a fourth and 3 which meant they got the ball back at their
own 18 yard line.
Once again though, the Wolves were unable to get much done on offense,
with linebacker Graham Roberts making his presence felt on more than one
occasion. The road team were forced to punt, giving the ball back to the Titans
at their own 31 yard line, as the first quarter ended
Now it was the turn of Titans quarterback Alan Mead, completing all four
of his passes on a 59 yard drive, including 2 to tight end Chris Heap, one of
which went for a 26 yard touchdown strike and a 12-0 lead. The extra point was
blocked this time; the Wolves took over on their first possession of the second
quarter trailing by 12.
Two unsuccessful running plays left the Wolves with a difficult third and
11 from their own 15, and under considerable pressure from the Titans front
four, Edinburgh’s quarterback set up the tip drill, which Graham Roberts
gratefully plucked out of the air and ran his way back for the touchdown which
was converted for 2 by Philip Fitzpatrick to take the Titans to 0 - 20 lead. The
Wolves' next drive started more successfully, assisted in no small part by a
couple of defensive offside penalties, but a momentum shifting sack on third
and 2 by Titans linebacker Tim Barton stopped them in their tracks and forced
them to punt again from midfield. Following a Titans fumble and a Wolves missed
field goal, the home team got the ball back with around four minutes to play in
the half. Dave Barnett ran 33 yards and Alan Mead closed out another impressive
series with 3 straight completions, including a 21 yard fade to tight end Ryan
Farrell for the touchdown converted for the extra point by Dave Barnett to cap
a first half that left the Titans coaching staff pleased with discipline or the
performance. The home side left the field with a commanding 27-0 lead.
The respective Head coaches would have faced very different but equally
imposing challenges with their half time speeches. Edinburgh would no doubt
have been keen to get on the scoreboard and would've reminded their players
that in the corresponding fixture last season, they were on the other end of a
20 – 0 first half scoreline that the Titans turned around in the fourth quarter
so the game should've been far from over, and the Titans would have been
desperate to press home their dominance on offense, and register a shutout on
the defensive side of the ball. The half started with the home side looking
like they would achieve their main goal, forcing the Wolves backwards and
giving them no option but to punt possession back after 3 running plays that
failed to make the necessary progress required to retain possession. However,
credit must be given to the depleted Edinburgh defense who were able to
replicate their opponents’ ability to stifle the other team’s offense and get
the ball straight back for their team on a 3 and out. Their half time
adjustments looked to bringing them back into the game.
The game now seemed to be reduced to a series of strong plays by both
defenses, interspersed with a number of costly penalties, mainly in crucial third
down situations which must have led to frustration for both sets of
coaches.
Roberts, Rob Bainbridge, Rick Hurst,
Andrew Burridge and Tim Barton were the standout performers on the defensive
side of the ball for the Titans, continually forcing the Wolves quarterback out
of the pocket into areas where he wasn’t comfortable. And it was this constant
pressure by the front four which led to the interception by Owen Bryan on the
Wolves’ next series, with the Titans taking over at their own 10 yard line. The
home side now took the ball and marched 65 yards down the field with a solid
mixture of run and pass before the drive stalled and a miscue between center
and holder led to a botched field goal attempt with Dave Barnett in his
secondary role as a kicker thinking on his feet having retrieved the ball to
make an attempted pass which was incomplete to force a turnover on downs rather
than allow the Wolves to prosper from the fumble and possibly returning the
ball deep into Titans territory and possibly their endzone. The third quarter
ended without troubling the scoreboard.
Into the fourth quarter and the Titans defense dominated Wolves tiring
ground attack with the Wolves struggling to make any progress with the
exception of an inspired fake punt with the Wolves completing a pass to make
the first down but the Titans defense held its ground and the long travelled
Wolves failed to register any points in their season opener. This defensive
show of strength was highlighted on a big third and 13 play at the Titans 15
with less than 2 minutes to play. Edinburgh chose to run the ball and defensive
tackle Rick Hurst read the play and knifed into the backfield, tackling the
Edinburgh running back for a 5 yard loss which really put the exclamation point
on a dominant day for the Titans defense.
So the Titans got more than they could have hoped for here, a 2 and 0
record and a shutout as they prepare for the next game on the road in Glasgow,
but Manchester will have to guard against complacency if they are to continue
their run. It was an efficient first half performance that was marred slightly
by a less disciplined second half performance but a lot of credit has to be
given to an Edinburgh team playing their first game of the 2009 regular season
with a dreadful injury list. They played to the end of the game with a never
say die spirit and a determination that they were not going to allow the Titans
to have it their own way, they were just unable to score. Edinburgh are not a
team to be taken lightly with some superb coaches, excellent players and a
great team spirit. They are a credit to the league with a professional backroom
staff that are second to none. The return fixture will by no means be an easy
game for the Titans and by the time American Independence Day comes around; the
Wolves will have started to click and have some of their injured players back
to make it a very difficult fixture for the Titans.
The Titans next take on Glasgow Tigers who are currently 1 – 0 and if the
game lives up to last season's 22–20 Titans win it will be a great game for
players and supporters alike.
Images courtesy and copyright of James Kerr