Pumas Continue to Improve

Posted in: BAFL 2, Maidstone Pumas    By Ted Smith Aug 4, 2009 - 8:53:50 PM

Maidstone Pumas 14 Watford Cheetahs 30

 

The Watford Cheetahs travelled for an early kick off, to Aylesford Rugby Club, for a BAFL Division 2 East verses South East inter-conference game. In the fixture between the two clubs last season, Maidstone travelled to Watford and played the game in a monsoon. Luckily for the two clubs the weather was a little kinder, with overcast but dry conditions.

 

Pumas Head Coach Norman Navarro elected to pull on the pads and helmet for one last time to help out with a shortage of players through injuries and holidays. The Pumas had to start inexperienced QB Billy Robertson, as regular QB Jo hn Bowden had cracked a bone in his throwing hand at the previous game. Billy had not played QB since his youth days, many years ago.

 

The first quarter started with both teams taking time to get to grips with the game. The Cheetahs struck first with a 13 yard run after exceptional Pumas defence.

 

The second quarter exploded with offence with both sides trading scores. The Cheetahs added to the score first with a 3 yard run, followed by the first Pumas score when Robertson stepped back and found running back James Cherry, who scooped up the ball and took off on a 59 yard run. Running back Andy Garland ran in the 2 point conversion for a 12-8 scoreline.

 

The Cheetahs immediately hit back on the next drive scoring from short range, making the score 18 – 8. On almost a carbon copy of the Pumas first score, Robertson connected with Cherry again and this time scored from 60 yards. This gave Robertson the impressive statistics of two passing attempts, two completions, two touchdowns for 119 yards! At the end of the first half, the Cheetahs scored again, to go into the break 24 – 14 up.

 

After taking a well earned break, both teams took to the field with the sam e intent. The Cheetahs opened the scoring after returning the kick off to the 19 yard line. However, the Pumas never gave up and started a 16 play 63 yard drive which ended on the Cheetahs 5 yard line. From this point on defences took over with both teams moving the ball but unable to add to the score.

 

Coach Navarro added, “ We saw an improvement today, but we still have work to do in order to be a competitive team week in and week out. The Cheetahs stuck to their game plan and were the better team for it. I wish them luck for the remainder of their season and I look forward to continuing our growth process at the Pumas”.

 

Club General Manager Stuart Crowley added, “We have exciting times at the Pumas with several developments to our off the field activities, which have come about with our activity in the local community. We shall also be in a position to share our post season and pre-season plan shortly, as we look to build upon the progress of this season. Any experienced coaches and players interested should contact the club through the Pumas website at www.pumasafc.co.uk .

 

Please check with the website for details of the next game, as a number of scheduling problems may cause the home game scheduled for 9^th August against Essex to be shifted to the 23^rd.

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