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Oxford Saints 20-0 Nottingham Caesars
Nottingham Caesars welcomed Oxford Saints to the Harvey
Hadden Sports Complex Nottingham, for a BAFL 1 South West Conference game. This
was the second home game the Caesars have hosted this season in their new home.
With the Caesars looking to turn their season round and the Saints looking to
regain the top spot in the Conference there was all to play for.
With the Saints winning the toss and electing to receive the ball they caught
the kick off and returned it to the 69 yard line. They then proceeded to put
together three series of plays which saw them arrive on the Caesars 6 yard
line. On the third down of the next series the ball was thrown to wide receiver
Philip Gouldie who caught the ball in the Caesars endzone. Adding the extra
point the score board showed the Saints taking an early lead 7-0. The signs
were ominous as it would appear that the Saints seemed to be able to move the
ball at will and a big score looked on the cards. With the Caesars offense only
gaining possession of the ball twice in the quarter and unable to make any
impression on the Saints half, it was down to their defense to keep them in the
game. Contrary to earlier indications the Nottingham’s defense upped their game
and managed to contain the Saints offense. The highlights of the quarter were a
brilliant interception by Caesars defensive lineman Phil Mansfield and a great
fumble recovery by linebacker Karl Walkinshaw at the end of the quarter.
At the start of the second quarter Walkinshaw’s fumble saw the Caesars offense
in charge of the ball on the 68 yard line. From this position the Caesars had
one of their best periods of offensive plays as the achieved four first downs,
mainly through the powerful running of running back Simon Dale. These plays saw
the offense arrive at the Saints 23 yard line, but this has been the story of
the Caesars season they gain the hard yards but were unable to capitalize on
this position as the Saints defense shut them down and they were unable to make
any further progress. The Caesars offense did manage to threaten the Saints red
zone once more in the quarter when they found themselves on the Saints 20 yard
line, but a fumble on the first play of the series resulted in the Saints
recovering the ball. The quarter finished with neither side making any
meaningful yards.
The third quarter saw the Oxford defense reassert themselves, as on the first
play the Caesars had a pass intercepted and not to be outdone the offense put
together two first downs to get to the home sides 12 yard line. The Caesars defense
managed to hold them out and the series ended with a failed field goal attempt.
During the quarter the Caesars offense had three possessions but were unable to
achieve any meaningful yards. As the quarter drew to a close the Saints gained
the ball on the Caesars 55 yard line and through a combination of hard running
and accurate passing they worked their way to the Caesars 18 yard line. The
ball was then handed off to running back Chris Taylor who put in a devastating
run through the heart of the Caesars defense to score a touchdown. With the
extra point being added the score finished 14-0 to the Saints.
With the Caesars in possession of the ball at the start of the final quarter
they were unable to complete a first down, so the ball was punted to the Saints
who returned it to the 55 yard line. A first down was gained which moved the
Saints to the Caesar 33 yard line, they then launched a 33 yard pass which
found wide receiver Steve Belcher in the endzone for the six points to which
they failed to add the extra point. Leaving the score was 20-0 in favour of the
Saints. The ball changed hands a number of times but with no one getting close
to either goal line the final highlight was when Caesars defensive lineman Phil
Mansfield sacked the Saints quarterback.
The Caesars next game is on Sunday the 28th of
June at home at The Harvey Hadden Sports Complex kick off 2.30pm, when the
Birmingham Bulls are the visitors. The two teams have already played this
season, away at the Bulls in the opening game of their campaign, on that
occasion the Caesars came away with a narrow 13-6 win. Since then the Bulls
have lost a two further games, but have managed to win their last 3 games. Some
series training and planning will have to be done by the Caesars if they are to
beat the Bulls on Sunday.
Images courtesy of Nottingham Caesars