Bournemouth Raiders Pip Canterbury Coyotes

15th July 2001

BOURNEMOUTH RAIDERS 14-8 CANTERBURY COYOTES

A depleted Bournemouth Raiders side moved to 3-1 on the season with a heart-stopping 14-8 home victory against the similarly under-strength Canterbury Coyotes side at Brockenhurst College. The key to the Raiders victory was an interception count of 8 to 1 in their favour, but it still needed a TD with just over 2 minutes to go to beat off the strong challenge of the team from Kent.

After the teams traded punts on their opening possessions, it was the Raiders who took the lead after 5 minutes on Brad Smith's 65 yard pass to WR Tim Smith. Smith still had work to do but weaved past a number of defenders with a blistering turn of pace. The 2 PAT failed, and the Raiders were 6-0 up. This was a lead they held onto half-time as both sides defenses's held firm.

The Raiders tried to keep it tight at the start of the second half, but it was the Coyotes who exploded out of the blocks and took the lead on a long range pass following a pump fake from Richard Mayhew to their star WR Abdul. The 2 PAT was added to put the Coyotes 8-6 up. The Coyotes proceeded to take control of the game, and it was only Bournemouth's impressive defense that prevented them from going further behind. Interceptions by Tim Smith (3), Brad Smith, Matt Heasman, Allen Gilbert and Warren Rees all stopped Canterbury drives in their tracks.

The crucial passage in the game occurred with just 4 minutes remaining. The Coyotes #81 Abdul sprinted clear of the Bournemouth D and appeared to be heading for the winning score for the Coyotes, but a diving tackle by Warren Rees stopped him on Bournemouth's 5 yard-line. The Raiders defense held out impressively with Lee Eatly's goal-line stop of the Coyotes Richard Mayhew a huge play, and Brad Smith's interception in the corner of the endzone getting the ball back for the Raiders.

With the ball turned over and with 3 minutes on the clock, Brad Smith connected with Tim Smith on a 80-yard TD to get the Raiders out of jail.

The Smith combination worked again on the 2 PAT to give the Raiders a 14-8 advantage with 2 minutes to play. The Coyotes attempted one final drive to win the game, but a second interception of the game by Brad Smith ended their chances. The Coyotes drop to 2-2, but still can make the semi-finals. They have to defeat the Bournemouth Raiders by 7 points in their decider on August 5th. If they don't it will be the Raiders who qualify.

The tournament was hosted by the Brockenhurst Exiles, who played Canterbury and Bournemouth in friendly matches. Canterbury defeated them 26-6, and Bournemouth defeated them 34-0.

Week 8 of the BSFL season is this weekend (22nd July), and is hosted by the UCLA Renegades. They take on Birmingham Raiders and the Sheffield Lightning in a three-team tournament in Boston, Lincolnshire.