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 playoff hopes in tatters
The Oxford Saints hopes of reaching the play offs took a major blow on Sunday when they went down 27-7 to new conference leaders Sussex Thunder. The Saints now have to win their remaining 3 games & hope that other results go in their favour.
The Saints travelled to Sussex with an undermanned squad but still harboured hopes of an upset victory. It was a game of missed opportunities for the Saints who squandered a number of chances to turn the game their way.
The game started in disastrous fashion for Oxford, with QB Jay Taylor throwing interceptions on the first two drives deep in Saints territory, both leading to Sussex scores and a very early 10-0 lead. The first score for Sussex was a 28 yard field goal from Thunder kicker Chris Percival and the second a 3 yard plunge into the end zone from RB Chris Lampey.
The Oxford offence finally got going in the 2nd quarter, moving the ball successfully on a number of occasions only to self destruct each time inside the Thunder 20 yard line. The Saints Defence kept the Sussex offence at bay for the remainder of the half, keeping the game close at the break 10-0.
Stern words from Offensive coach Eric Watts sparked the Saints into an early 2nd half resurgence. New boy Paul Gouldie received the kick off and exploded up the middle of the field for a scorching 81 yard return, only to be ankle tap tackled on the 1 yard line to deny him his first touchdown in his first game as a Saint. QB Taylor bulldozed his way into the end zone on the next play for a touchdown, Adam Newman slotted the PAT and the Saints were briefly back in it at 10-7.
The Saints defence stopped the next Sussex drive, giving the offence the ball back on their own 20 yard line. Some good runs from Chris Taylor put Oxford in good position. Unfortunately the Saints pushed the self destruct button again and fumbled the ball on the next play. The Sussex offence needed no second invitation and QB Eber Kington found Adam Fishlock in the Saints end zone from 18 yards out to put the Thunder up 15-7.
The 4th quarter saw Oxford with another chance to get back into the game. The Saints D led by some great tackles from Stephen Bentley was still keeping the Saints in it by shutting down the Sussex offence time after time. Some big receptions from Pete Cleaver and Rich Bloomer took the Saints within striking distance once more, only for another fumble (this time from rookie TE Tony Bennett) to end another promising drive.
A tired Saints defence took to the field and 2 plays later Thunder’s Lampey burst through a gaping hole in the Saints D to race 46 yards into the end zone to kill off the Saints fading hopes of victory at 21-7.
With just over a minute left the Thunder struck again, the deadly combination of Kington & Fishlock pounced again, this time from 21 yards out to end the game 28-7 to Sussex.
The Saints next game is at home to Norwich Devils on 20th July.
Published: 07-07-2008 by Andrew Day