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In a series of big match ups that will likely have
playoff implications, it was the Chichester Sharks that emerged victorious in
Leicester on Sunday. With both the Coventry Jets and the Leicester Eagles
starting the day with unbeaten records and the Sharks having only dropped one
to the Mayhem, it was key for all teams to come away with the wins.
Chichester Sharks 47 – 18 Coventry Jets
The day started with Chichester taking on Flag new
boys, Coventry. The Sharks experience showed from the outset, ending the Jets
first drive with an interception by Ricardo Moratalla. The Sharks offense came
out strong, with quarterback Neil Henderson firing long touchdown passes to Jon
Steele-Mills and Tom Newbery and a short shovel pass to Andy Leane.
Already in a hole, the Jets hit back with a
long scoring pass from Marcus Gambrill, but failed to convert the point after.
Keen to halt the Jets momentum, the Sharks drove downfield and Henderson floated
a jump ball to the corner of the endzone, which a leaping Andy Leane snagged
for his second touchdown of the day.
Behind 27-6 at the half, things didn’t improve for
Coventry. Chichester put up two more scores from Henderson to Pete Steel and
Sean Wasley to put the game beyond doubt. There were two late scores from
Coventry, before the Sharks closed the game out with a final touchdown to Tom
Newbery.
Chichester Sharks 35 – 28 Leicester Eagles
Long time rivals from the ESFL, these two teams had
met 17 times previously, with the Eagles holding a narrow 9-8 lead in the
series. It’s been a great rivalry, full of close and exciting games. Sunday was
to be no different.
Aware of the importance of beating the Eagles, the
Sharks defense held firm and stopped an impressive opening drive inside the red
zone. Shifting receivers at the line of scrimmage momentarily caught the Leicester
defense out of position, enabling Henderson to hit a wide open Steele-Mills on
a deep ball for the opening score. Leicester hit back immediately finding holes
in the Chichester defense. On the third play of the drive, quarterback Craig
Broughton found his receiver open in the endzone for the score. Despite
constant pressure from a blitzing Rich Manning, Henderson was able to find his
targets in the short game, before hitting Newbery deep for another score. Both
defenses then dug deep, shutting down the offenses on the next few series. Then
just before the end of the half, Henderson found Pete Steel streaking across
the middle, who then went in untouched for the score.
Despite being 21-7 down at the half, the Eagles
demonstrated their traditional tenacity and hit back hard. Broughton drove his
team downfield, dinking and dunking, before hitting his receiver for a 5 yard
score. The Sharks’ offense stalled on its next drive, and it took just one play
to tie up the score, as a Leicester receiver took a short dump pass the length
of the field for the score. As the clocked ticked down, the tension rose. The
teams exchanged scores once more to leave the game tied at 28-28 at the two
minute warning. Conscious of the clock, Henderson and his receivers worked the
sidelines, progressing swiftly down the field. Just over the halfway line, Andy
Leane caught a short pass and twisted and turned his way through the Eagles
defense, before running in for the final score.
Leicester Eagles 41 – 26 Coventry Jets
The last game saw the two local rivals square off,
eager to avoid a second loss and dropping back in the playoff race.
Leicester started the game well, dominating the
first half. Rich Manning, who had blitzed all day, constantly harassed Jets quarterback
Marcus Gambrill, making it easy pickings for the Leicester corners with two
picks being returned for scores.
The Eagles defense proved too strong for the Jets
and they were able to jump out to an early lead and control the game. Coventry
did attempt a comeback in the second half but it was too late, as Leicester would
not relinquish their lead. One final highlight for Coventry was also likely the
play of the day. A very high snap went over the head of Jets third quarterback
Shad McCook, who turned and raced to catch it, avoided the blitzer before
hurling the ball the length of the field into the waiting arms of his receiver
in the endzone for the score.
Victorious Sharks.
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