BSFL Week 6 - Game Report

The Leicester Eagles booked their place in the end of season BSFL Finals with two shutout victories on Sunday against the Bournemouth Raiders and the hometown Chichester Sharks. The Raiders also qualified for the BSFL Finals after finishing the regular season with a 4-1-1 record.

Chichester Sharks 8-24 Bournemouth Raiders

In the opening game of the tournament, some strong rushing by the Raiders Mark Elliott (10 carries for 75 yards), and 2 TD passes by QB Matt Heasman led Bournemouth to a 24-8 victory over the Sharks. Elliott opened the scoring on the first drive of the game on a 1-yard run after an impressive drive.

The Raiders extended their lead to 12-0, when Heasman faked a handoff to Elliott, and then hit WR Tim Smith on a streak for a 57 yards TD. On the Raiders next possession, Heasman passed his second TD of the game on a short out pattern to TE Nick Michael, who broke several tackles and ran it in from 43 yards out. 18-0 to the Raiders at half-time.

Defensively, the Raiders kept the Sharks at bay with Karl Forrest and Nick Michael leading the way with a sack apiece and a number of key tackles. Allen Gilbert and Vincent Gurrea also secured sacks for the Raiders. In the second half, the Raiders were intent on eatting up the clock on a number of runs and scored their final TD, on a 46-yard reverse from Tim Smith to go 24-0 up.

The Sharks deserved something out of the game for their efforts and play throughout, and got it inside the two minute warning when QB Nick Watson hit WR Pete Steel for a 50-yard TD pass down the sideline. Watson hooked up with Krystian Sordyl to convert the TD to leave the final score 24-8.

Bournemouth Raiders 0-10 Leicester Eagles

In this eagerly awaited game between two unbeaten sides, it was the Eagles who came out on top in a defensive match.

In the first half, neither team could get things going on offense with both defenses playing outstanding football. Sacks from Daniel Nehorai, Allen Gilbert, Matt Hemsley and defensive kingpin Nick Michael held things together for the Raiders, and Rich Manning, Alan O’Sullivan and Martin Gwilliam proving a handful for the Eagles. The scores remained locked at 0-0 at half-time.

The Eagles broke through early in the second half on a Ryan Melbourne field-goal to go 3-0 up, and then Ryan Melbourne scored the crucial TD on the Eagles next drive to put the Eagles 10-0 in the lead. Despite, a couple of breakaway runs by HB Tim Smith, and 3 catches from Nehorai the Raiders could not effectively move the ball against the more well organised Eagles team.

Chichester Sharks 0-30 Leicester Eagles

The Eagles improved to 4-0 on the season, and they blew the Sharks away early in this final fixture of the day. On their opening drive, Eagles QB James Pimperton hit his brother John on an out pattern and he outpaced the Sharks D to put the Eagles ahead. Ryan Melbourne kicked the 2 PAT to make the score 8-0. After the Sharks first drive stalled, the Eagles extended their lead to 16-0 with Ryan Melbourne’s run, and 2 PAT kick.

The Sharks showed great character at the start of the second half to launch a 13 minute drive which took the ball to the Eagles 6, but they failed to punch it in after successive sacks by Rich Manning (who secured 6 in the match). The Eagles wrapped things up with 2 more TD's near the end. Ryan Melbourne ran in his second TD of the game, and then a spectacular 31-yard punt return by James Hossack.