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Peterborough
Saxons 10-31 Kent Exiles
This was
the first time the Exiles had played the Saxons in a competitive match, and
knowing they had only narrowly lost to the Ipswich Cardinals the previous week,
the Exiles started the game cautiously. Taking the ball first the Saxons took
to the air, a move which was immediately snuffed out by a Carl Cahoon
interception, which was returned 35 yards to the Saxons 5 yard line. Despite the
great field position the Exiles could not
score and
the drive ended with Richard McHugh pushing his 32 yard field goal attempt wide
right of the posts. The Saxons then got a good drive going
themselves,
and took the lead with a 23 yard field goal from Nick Kay. The rest of the
quarter was a defensive affair, with neither team threatening the endzone.
Early in
the second quarter the Exiles found some room, and behind the running of
Stewart Muir, 17 carries for 90 yards on the day, they drove to the Saxons goal
line. Unable to punch it in,
they
settled for a
McHugh field goal from 21 yards, and tied the game. Kent then got the ball back
after a good defensive series, Joe Alexis (9 tackles) and Aaron Alexis (7
tackles) leading the stand. This allowed the offense to take the lead when
after catches from Clive Palumbo and Harry Innis, quarterback Aaron Griffiths
found Sean Starwind from 20 yards out for the go-ahead score. McHugh kicked the
extra point, and it was 10-3 at the half.
The Exiles
received the kick off to start the second half, and immediately drove
downfield. Muir again making good yards before the Griffiths to Starwind
combination scored again, this time from 31 yards out. McHugh was again good
with the point after. The home defense then again came up with a big play, when
linebacker Sacha Conte snagged an errant pass from the Saxons Ed Helton. This
led to another Griffiths touchdown pass, this time from 6 yards out to McHugh
who leapt above defenders at the back of the endzone, and bought his feet down
inbounds for the score. McHugh then also converted his own touchdown.
With the
score now 24-3, and in the fourth quarter, the Exiles began to rotate their
squad, but with dire consequences. A defensive mix up led to a scrambling
Helton finding Dervan Alleyne alone behind the Exiles secondary, and he raced
in for a 54 yard touchdown, Kay converted the point after. Sensing an
opportunity, the Saxons defense then came up with a forced fumble, and gave
their offense another chance to score, and get within a touchdown of the
Exiles. But once again Conte stepped up and picked off Helton's pass in the
endzone, ending the Saxons scoring hopes. Kent then put the game away with a
fine drive, culminating in Griffiths finding Palumbo from 12 yards out. McHugh
again kicked the extra point.
Following
the game Exiles Head Coach Scott Rowe commented, "I'm pleased with this
hard fought victory over a tough Saxons team. We've still got a lot of work to
do, but it is good to get the wins on the board, and the players can be proud
of their efforts so far this season".
The
Exiles go on face the Cambridgeshire Cats away from home next weekend, will the
game lead to another scoring frenzy, or will both teams have learnt from the
122 point thriller a fortnight ago? Full details of the match can be found on
the Exiles website www.kentexiles.co.uk