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Oxford Saints 20 Birmingham Bulls 7
The Oxford Saints got their BAFA Community League Division 1 campaign off to a flying start on Sunday, beating the Birmingham Bulls 20 - 7 in a bruising defensive battle.
Johnny Dover was the star of the show for Oxford, scoring 1 touch down on a scintillating interception return and kicking 2 Field Goals and 2 PATs.
The Saints rolled into Birmingham under new Head Coach Len Scott, determined to start the season with a victory. The Oxford defence set the tone for the game on the very first play from scrimmage, a big hit from Clive Russell caused the Bulls QB to fumble the exchange from centre & veteran LB Andrew Day pounced on the loose ball to immediately turn the ball over to Oxford.
The Bulls defence was equally as pumped & the Saints offence went 3 and out. This pattern was to continue for the remainder of the 1st quarter. Both defences on top with Oxfords looking far more menacing.
Into the 2nd quarter & the Oxford defence kept up its relentless attack on a stunned Bulls Offense. Chris Ellis burst through on a blitz for a massive sack on the Bulls QB Rob Wylie. On the next play Dick Carr recovered a fumble to end the drive. Oxfords offense struggled to move the ball again & after a punt the Bulls took over on their 35 yard line.
By now the Saints D line was wreaking havoc with anything the Bulls tried to do. DE Simon McEvoy burst through the line with the Bulls trying to sweep to the outside. McEvoy read the play & stepped in front of the pitch from Wylie to RB Williamson to intercept the ball, McEvoy scampered 31 yards untouched into the end zone for the first score of the day. Dover kicked the PAT, Oxford up 7 – 0.
The ensuing kick off saw the Bulls start from their own 25 yard line. Having no joy at all trying to run the ball, the Bulls tried their luck in the air. Wylie dropped back to pass & sent the ball down the sideline towards WR Grant. Oxfords star man Dover jumped in front of the pass to intercept it & scorched his way down the sidelines for a 32 yard touch down, Dover then converted his own score, Oxford up 14 – 0.
The Saints defence was not finished & continued to ramp up the pressure. Time and time again the Bulls RBs were hit in their own backfield. DE Dean Bryan popped up with another fumble recovery for the Saints to set up the offence in great field position deep in Bulls territory. A couple of short gains from RBs Chris Taylor & Kyle Micallef took the Saints into Field Goal position, where the drive ended. Up stepped that man Dover to try a 24 yard Field Goal which he dually slotted, Oxford up 17 – 0 at the interval.
The game followed the same pattern in the 2nd half with both defences well & truly on top. The highly rated Bulls defence got their side on the scoreboard early in the half. The Bulls pinned Oxford down inside their own 20 yard line & Oxford was forced to punt. The punt was blocked & a Bulls defender managed to fall on the loose ball in the end zone for a touch down, the PAT was good, Oxford up 17 – 7.
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Oxfords defence were not going to be outshone & were straight back into battering mode. Ellis smashed through the Bulls O line & nailed the Bulls QB for his 2nd sack of the day. The next play Marco Pinder recovered yet another fumble for Oxford to set the Offence up inside Bulls territory. A 23 yard pass from Jay Taylor to Sam Armstrong took the Saints right down inside the Bulls 10 yard line. However a couple of big plays from the Bulls defence & a penalty against Oxford pushed the Saints way back. Dover came on to attempt a 35 yard Field Goal, Dover stepped up and banged it straight through the uprights, Saints led 20 – 7.
The 4th quarter was again dominated by both defences with neither offense able to move the ball or influence the scoreboard. Oxford had one last fumble recovery to add to their tally. Tristian Orr unleashed a lethal hit on the Bulls punt returner late in the game, causing the Birmingham man to fumble & Karl Sears recovered the ball for Oxford to effectively end the game.
A brutal, bruising, dominating performance from the Saints defence held the Bulls to just 3 first downs all game (one of which was down to a penalty) & only a remarkable 4 yards total net offence.
The Saints game MVPs were MVP Defence Simon McEvoy, MVP Offense Stuart Cribbes, MVP Special Teams Ali Galbraith, Team MVP Simon McEvoy.
The Saints play their first home game of the season this Sunday, against the South Wales Warriors at Abingdon Rugby Club, Kick Off 2.30pm.
Published: 25-04-2010 by Andrew Day