Leicester Eagles 9man Challenge - Game Report

Old adversaries the Leicester Eagles and Fen Harriers put on a performance that showed everything that is good about the 9-on-9 game. A great game played in great spirit on a perfect summer's day. Games between these sides are traditionally dominated by defense but Sunday's game was a points fest under a burning sky!

Leicester's promising first drive was eventually halted near the Harriers end zone but before the visitors could settle on offence Eagles Safety Craig Broughton picked off QB Martin Brown and returned the interception for a touchdown to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead with a successful Rich Davis PAT kick making the score 8-0.

Worse was to follow for the Harriers when on their next possession, they conceded an identical score with Eagles Broughton once again scoring an interception TD and Davis adding the extra points with the kick. Eagles 16-0 up in the first quarter.

The Harriers picked themselves up and came right back into the match with QB Martin Brown scoring pass to TE Neil Prothero and Lawrence Tallon's kick bringing the score back to 16-8.

Leicester then turned up the pressure with some high powered offence. Alistair Coulthurst put the home side 22-8 up breaking open a run to leave the Harriers defenders in his wake. Once again, Rich Davis added 2 further points with the conversion.

The Eagles defense continued to exert pressure in the second quarter with Rich Manning picking up a quarterback sack and the Eagles defense keeping the Harriers under control. Harriers’ defense started to step up their game and Matt Ranson and Chris 'Scaramanga' Blackwood sacking QB Pimperton twice. The Eagles then broke Fen hearts with John Pimperton throwing a TD pass under great pressure to WR Rich Davis to put>the home side clear at 30-8.

On their next possession Harriers made a crucial 4th and long with a Martin Brown scramble. Moments later Harriers were back in the game when QB Brown again connected with TE Prothero, on a deep post, to make the score 30-14.

Leicester hit back immediately to re-establish their dominance of the half. QB John Pimperton found WR James Hossack with a deep pass which the receiver ran in. Kicker Rich Davis added the conversion to make the score at halftime Leicester Eagles 38 Fen Harriers 14.

The second half began with the Eagles snuffing out the Harriers first possession and DE Rich Beet claiming his first sack of the day. The Harriers defense though was beginning to make life difficult for the Leicester offence and QB Pimperton was again sacked by the Harriers D lineman Blackwood. Despite constant pressure from the Harriers, Pimperton threw his third touchdown pass of the game to James Hossack. Another Davis PAT kick extending the Eagles lead to 46-14.

Fen Harriers then showed their character by hitting back hard on both sides of the ball. Lawrence Tallon catching a Martin Brown TD pass and Doug Andrews adding 2 points with a catch to bring the score back to 46-22.

The Harriers defense had by now completely shut down the Leicester attack and were beginning to dominate the match. Dougie Andrews intercepted Pimperton and the turnover led to Martin Brown capping a fine game with another TD pass this time to receiver 'Jiggy' Scott to make the final score Leicester Eagles 46 Fen Harriers 28.

Harriers will take heart from their second half performance in which they outscored the home side 14-8. Both sides are now looking forward to their next meeting in Cambridge in September.