Leicester Remain BSFL 9-man Champions

15th September 2003

The Eagles and the Harriers met for the 2nd leg of the BSFL Championship Game / the Harrier Challenge Cup at Coldham Common, Cambridge on Sunday, 14th September. The Harriers held a 1 – 0 advantage having beaten the Eagles in Leicester 26 – 6 in the first leg.

Defenses dominated the early exchanges and there was no score until a Rich Manning sack forced the Harriers to punt. Eagle Jeff Brown fielded the punt at the half way line and out-raced the Harrier defense to score and give the Eagles a 6 – 0 lead. On their next drive, the Harriers were intercepted by Eagles safety James Hossack. The Eagles quickly took advantage of the turn-over with QB John Pimperton finding Hossack in the end-zone, with Ryan Melbourne kicked the extra point the Eagles were ahead 13 – 0. The Harriers suffered a further set back when Eagles linebacker James Pimperton picked off the ball, setting up Hossack to score his second TD of the game when he caught a Craig Broughton pass in the end-zone. Half-time saw the Eagles ahead, 19 – 00.

The Eagles started with the ball in the second half and moved down the field. However, the Harrier defense held firm and the Eagles had to settle for a Ryan Melbourne field goal and a 22 – 00 lead. This time the Harriers offense got going and Martin Browne found Clive Yap-Young in the middle of the end zone for a Harrier touchdown. The Harriers defense stopped the Eagles on their next drive but Hossack stopped the Harriers offense by collecting his second interception and returning it for a score – his third TD of the game. Melbourne kicked the extra point and the Eagles were ahead 29 – 06.

Melbourne completed the Eagles scoring when he took the ball into the end zone and the Eagles ran out 35 – 06 winners.

With the series tied at a game a piece, the Eagles edged the Harriers 41 - 32 in points scored.