Gladiators tested by Cheetahs

Posted in: BAFL 2, Colchester Gladiators    By Nick Foxley Jun 17, 2009 - 1:28:32 AM

Watford Cheetahs 24-40  Colchester Gladiators

The Colchester Gladiators improved their record to 6-0 with this hard earned test against an improved Watford Cheetahs side.

Entering the game as clear favourites, the Gladiators may have been guilty of some complacency, and looking past the Cheetahs to their forthcoming game against the unbeaten London Olympians. Although the result was never really in doubt after two huge touchdown plays in the first quarter, the visitors were given a real wake up call in a tough encounter, and were reminded that they need to do more than just turn up to win a game.

The Gladiators got off to the best possible start, which may have added to their initial confidence, when Leo Beckford returned the opening kick off 78 yards for a score, after a great block by Adam Burrows. Rich Thomas kicked the extra point and the Gladiators had an early 7-0 lead. After conceding an initial first down to the Cheetahs, the Gladiators’ defense forced the Cheetahs to punt, however the Watford defense showed why they had only conceded 33 points in their first four games, by stopping the Gladiators vaunted rushing attack. A high snap forced punter Rich Thomas to scramble but he was tackled short of a first down, giving the Cheetahs excellent field position. Watford were stopped however, and had to settle for a field goal attempt, but the kick hit the post and bounced out to maintain the visitor’s lead.

That lead was doubled on the very next play when speedster Simon Cruise picked up some excellent blocks and scampered 70 yards for a touchdown. The joy was short lived when star rusher Alex Robinson had to be helped from the field with a knee injury. Thomas again slotted the extra point to extend the score to 14-0. With Robinson sitting out, Offensive Co-ordinator Tarquin Stephenson looked to Beckford to shoulder the load as the second quarter began, and he did not disappoint, rattling off gains of 16, 10, and 11 yards before completing the scoring drive with another 16 yarder. With Thomas’s kick, the Gladiators appeared to be cruising, leading 21-0.

A long kick off return set the Cheetahs up with a short field and they used their strong inside running game to good effect, taking nine plays to march the 35 yards to the end zone, with running back Dan Fay eventually scoring on fourth down. The extra point was wide to leave the score at 21-6 to Colchester. The Gladiators were next on the scoreboard when Beckford scored his second, this time from 11 yards out after Christian Steward recovered a Cheetah fumble. Another successful point after was tacked on to give the Gladiators a 28-6 lead, nearing half time. On their next possession, the Watford running backs started to find some holes in the Gladiators defense and took the ball to the Colchester 29. With the last play of the half, Cheetahs quarterback Paul Symonds launched a perfect pass, splitting the two safeties, where his tight end Deniz Karagulle made a great catch for the score, to bring his side back into the game. Again the extra point failed to leave the half time score 28-12.

After an exchange of punts to start the second half, the Gladiators looked to regain control of the game, but found themselves backed up on their own eight. Quarterback Dan Singer was tackled and fumbled the ball, and Cheetahs linebacker Rich Gibbins scooped it up and rumbled the eight yards into the endzone amidst mass celebrations by the home side and a 28-18 scoreline. Colchester are not a team to be pushed around for long though, and Cruise returned the ensuing kick off 40 yards to the Cheetahs 46 yard line. With Beckford now sidelined with a recurrence of a groin injury, Robinson was forced back into action and, despite his injury, spectacularly took the next play all the way to the end zone to give the Gladiators a cushion at 34-18.

The lead was further extended in the fourth quarter after Singer connected with Thomas with a 37 yard pass, when Robinson went over again from seven yards for a 22 point lead at 40-18. With time running out, the Cheetahs were able to drive downfield one final time, aided by a couple of dubious pass interference calls. On the game’s final play, quarterback Symonds found wide receiver Conrad Patrick for a catch in the corner of the end zone to make the final score a respectable 40-24.

Head Coach Matt Roberts was philosophical after the game, accepting that his team hadn’t played their best, but could take many lessons from the game. He said: “A strange game for us today, and in reality our first test for a long time. Watford were much stronger than we thought and kept playing hard all game. I didn't call a great game defensively, we were slow to adapt and react to their game plan, and we gave them too many chances. We were missing four starters on defense, but I was very pleased with how the guys stepped into the spots and really led by example. Offensively, we managed to put 40 on them which is more than they have shipped all season up to that game. We made the right calls when we needed to, moved the ball well on the whole and really the offense won the game for us at key times.”
 
The Gladiators next game is on Sunday 28^th June, at home to the London Olympians, kick off 2.30pm. Kicking off at 12 noon will be the Gladiators youth team who are also raring to go after the disappointment of having their last game called off. The Gladiators youth host Tamworth Phoenix.

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