Pumas development continues

Posted in: BAFL 2, Maidstone Pumas    By Ted Smith Jul 21, 2009 - 6:43:57 PM

Maidstone Pumas 6-58 Hampshire Thrashers 

After a two week break in the schedule, the Maidstone Pumas travelled to Winchester to take on the Hampshire Thrashers in a British American Football League 2 Inter Conference game. The Thrashers are the form team in the South West Conference, and are currently undefeated.

The game was also a reunion, with Pumas coach Alan Lear coming up against not only his son Rick, but many of the successful Southampton University side which won numerous championships during Coach Lear’s involvement with the club. It was to be his son who had the last laugh after the game.  

Pumas Coach Norman Navarro continued to expand the depth of the team by adding yet another two rookies to the side with Rob Elias and Junior Farrell joining the team, and with a productive couple of training sessions in between games, a quiet confidence is developing amongst the squad.  

In typical Pumas 2009 luck, after conceding the opening score of the game, running back Scott Spearink was bought down after fielding the kick off and returning it 18 yards. In the mass of bodies someone was blocked into Scott and fell onto his ankle. As Scott lay on the floor, memories of Andy Davies’ broken ankle in the game against Leicester flooded over the team. Scott left the game for immediate medical treatment, but early indications are that his season is now over.  

The Thrashers play an “NFL” style offence, which includes power running and a wide open passing game, which the Pumas had trouble covering, not having played against such an offence this season. The Thrashers scored 6 touchdowns before halftime to effectively close out the game.  

Coach Navarro and his coaching team spent the half time break working through options and trying different formations, which were successful in the second half. However there was more bad news for the Maidstone based outfit when quarterback Jo hn Bowden broke a bone in his hand in the 4^th quarter when he was trying to make a tackle after being intercepted.

The high point for the Pumas was a 57 yard run by Seth Jo hnson, who took advantage of exceptional blocking and breaking several tackles to reach the end zone for the Pumas only score.

Coach Navarro added, “I congratulate the Hampshire Thrashers, who are a class outfit and have a wonderful organisation. My team played well, despite the score line, and some of the things we worked on in training are starting to develop, but we have a long way to go and Rome wasn’t built in a day.”  

Club General Manager Stuart Crowley added, “We are in the process of finalising our post season recruitment and training plans and are aiming to share these plans next Sunday after training. We are continuing to look for experienced and rookie players, for both our senior and junior programmes, along with quality coaches for the 2010 season”.  

The Pumas’ next game is on the 2^nd August when they return to Aylesford RFC to take on the Watford Cheetahs. Please note that this is a 12pm kick off and will be followed by the youth team taking on Bristol Aztecs.

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