8th Anglo-Irish Flag American Football Challenge - Game Report

The Leicester Eagles traveled over to the Irish Republic last weekend to play the Drimnagh Cycos in the 8th Anglo-Irish Flag American Football Challenge in Marley Park, Dublin.

Both defenses were the dominate factors for most of the first half with the Cycos Liam Farrell and Aidan Kelly picking off Eagles QB Chris Wild to end Leicester's opening two drives. Wild got the Eagles to the Drimnagh 1-yardline but was unable to find his receivers on 4th down. The Cycos offense started to move down field but Eagles' safety James Hossack intercepted an Aidan Kelly pass and the Eagles took full advantage of the turn-over with running back Ryan Melbourne sweeping down the right hand side of the pitch to put Leicester 6-0 up. Wild found WR Tom Gill for the extra point and a 7-0 lead. The Eagles stopped the Cycos next drive and Craig Broughton found Hossack with an option pass to extend the Eagles lead with Wild and Gill hooking up again for the extra point. The Eagles went in 14-0 ahead at half-time.

The Eagles came out firing at the start of the second half with TE Alistair Coulthurst taking a short Broughton pass the length of the field. But then both teams' defenses began to dominate again. Hossack got his second interception of the game and a long Eagles drive saw him score his second TD when he hung on to another Broughton pass to put the Eagles 26-0 in front. The Cycos refused to give in and Aidan Kelly hit Steve Dunn on a short pass across the middle and the wily Irishman weaved his way through the Eagles defense for a consolation Cycos TD. Final score: Leicester Eagles 26 - Drimnagh Cycos 6.