Standings 2008
| Team | PCT |
|---|---|
| Sussex Thunder | 0.700 |
| Southern Sundevils | 0.600 |
| Kent Exiles | 0.600 |
| Oxford Saints | 0.450 |
| Ipswich Cardinals | 0.444 |
| Norwich Devils | 0.150 |
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Saints' Thunder Blunder
Oxford Saints first home game of the season ended disappointingly with a loss to Sussex Thunder.
In a game totally dominated by both team's defences it was the Thunder who came up with the one and only good offensive play of the game to claim victory.
The Saints took the opening kick off in front of a large home crowd and proceeded to go 3 & out, a pattern that would continue for the Saints offence all game. After a booming punt from Adam Newman, Sussex took the ball on their own 20 yard line.
On the 2nd play of the game for the Thunder Offence Saints linebacker Andrew 'Snake' Day pounced on a loose football to set the Oxford offence up in great field position. The Sussex defence however were in no mood to give up anything and quickly shut down the Saints O.
The Thunder got the ball back and this time it was in Saints territory. A quick pass from QB Eber Kington saw the Thunder inside the Saints 20 yard line. The next play Kington connected with A.Clarke in the Oxford end zone for the go ahead score, Percival slotted the PAT and Sussex were up 7-0. Both defences dominated for the remainder of the 1st half.
The 2nd half saw Oxford's defence at its marauding best. Time and time again the defence shut down the Thunder offence. The bad news for Oxford was that the Thunder defence was in equally as devastating form.
Late in the 3rd quarter Oxford had the ball inside their own half and were looking to mount a drive to tie the scores when disaster struck. Saints QB Jay Taylor put the ball in the air, looking for TE Tony Bennett, the wayward Taylor pass sailed straight into the arms of a welcome Thunder defender who raced all the way back to the Saints 4 yard line.
The Saints D stood firm. Ian Harry and Tyler Kamish both batting down passes in the end zone to deny the Thunder a 2nd touchdown. The Thunder were eventually forced to go for a field goal and up stepped top kicker Percival who had no problem slotting the kick home from 26 yards to give the Thunder a 10 – 0 lead.
The 4th quarter was more of the same from both teams, both defences well on top. Saints D-line in particular was in menacing form. Paul Harbour and Adam Newman both making key stops with Newman and Lee Hutton both sacking Thunder's Kington for big losses.
New boy Ben Tolley had a big 4th quarter with 4 unassisted tackles and a batted down pass. Preston Perkins and Marvin Reyes both intercepted passes with Hutton also recovering a fumble, all in the 4th quarter. The Saints offence however could not capitalize on any of the turnovers and the Thunder saw the game out to win 10 – 0.
The Saints next game is away to Southern Sundevils on May 18th, now a must win game for the Saints.
Published: 04-05-2008 by Andrew Day
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