UEA Marches On to Semi-Finals

Details

Published on Wednesday, 21 March 2012 12:38

Southampton Solent 23 - 33 UEA Pirates

Pirates overcome tough Solent side to advance

Sunday 18th March saw the UEA Pirates travel to Southampton to battle the Solent Redhawks. Solent was eagerly awaiting the match having not played last weekend after earning a bye week, the Pirates were hoping to continue with the momentum gained from their 28 – 14 victory over Kent the previous week. What followed was another tense, nail-biting struggle which was not decided until literally the last few minutes of the match.

Solent won the toss and elected to receive, however the UEA defence came out the blocks with impressive speed, stopping and even pushing back the Redhawks run-game on their first three plays. This resulted in a punt which pushed the Pirates back inside their own twenty. Like their defence the Pirates offence started quickly, on UEA’s third play from scrimmage, QB Mark Rivett linked up with WR Andy Custerson for a 40yard gain, with the receiver gaining over half of the yards after the catch. The next play nearly saw UEA almost gift Solent the ball back, but OL Stuart Cooper was on hand to recover the football after a Chris Carson fumble. The Pirates made the most of their luck three plays later, this time Rivett floated a 30 yard pass to WR Dominic Banks who casually caught his third score in three weeks to give UEA a rapid lead. Andy Hurley added the PAT to put UEA up 7 – 0.

The Pirates were in the ascendency and continued to surge as Custerson filling in at Linebacker recovered a fumble on the second play of Solent’s subsequent drive. But the Solent defence avenged their offenses mistakes, reflecting the tone of the game by sacking Rivett on back to back plays after the fumble and forcing a Pirates punt. A breakdown in communication resulted in a fake being attempted on which Andy Hurley was tackled well short of the first-down, giving the Redhawks the ball back at the halfway line.

Utilising the good field-position they had been gifted the Redhawks brought UEA back down to earth as the second quarter began. Elusive running from QB Sebastian Rivas brought Solent to the UEA five yard line. Rivas earned the score for the Redhawks with his arm, completing a 5yard pass to RB Tom Borsay in the flats. Nick Parker added the extra point for Solent to tie the scores at 7 – 7.

Demonstrating their tough attitude, the Pirates offence responded in the best possible fashion as the second quarter began. Starting to find his groove, RB Chris Carson burst through the Solent linebackers for a 63yard gain, eventually being pushed out of bounds at the three yard line. Carson finished off his hard work on the next play sprinting in for a 3yard score to put UEA back in front. The PAT was missed leaving the Pirates’ advantage at six 13 – 7.

Continuing to demonstrate how little there was to choose between the sides Solent once again responded straight away with the score. It was Rivas again who was at the core of the Redhawks offence, with the Pirates defenders struggling to deal with his smooth, patient running style. Once in the red-zone it was Rivas’ arm which brought about the score, this time completing a 12yard touchdown pass to WR Nick Parker. Parker added the extra point to put Solent up 14 – 13.

With little over a minute remaining in the quarter UEA attempted to do what it could to take a lead into the half. Rivett narrowly missed Custerson on a long pass attempt with the penultimate play of the period, (a combination which would be integral late into the match). On the next play UEA ran out the clock, preferring to take their chances in the second half, leaving them trailing by 14 – 13 at the break for the second match in a row.

Like their opponents in the first half, the Redhawks started the second half with a bang. On the first play from scrimmage Chris Carson was forced into a fumble, which he spilled ten yards forward and Solent had the ball in fantastic field-position and an excellent opportunity to extend their lead. The Redhawks did extend their lead, but not by the extent which they would have wanted. Resolute work from Pirates defenders DB Dan Stern and DT Gavin Barnard ensured that Solent would not earn a first-down. The Redhawks attempted a field-goal which was precisely executed, giving them a 17 – 13 advantage.

Again the Pirates offence responded quickly and once again it was Carson who drove them forward. The running-backs big 54yard gain was facilitated by excellent blocking from OLs Arron Jones and Andy Smith, helping move the ball inside Solent’s ten. After firm defence prevented Carson and Joe Van Der Merwe scoring it was left up from QB Mark Rivett to sneak the ball in from 1yard out putting UEA back in front 19 – 17. The 2-point try failed leaving the gap between the sides at two points.

The Redhawks were nearly stripped of the opportunity to respond, fantastic kickoff coverage from WR Greg Inwood forced a fumble however a Southampton player clung onto the ball in the resulting pile up. Solent made the most of this let-off and ensured that UEA would once again have to come back from behind to secure victory, dragging out a long scoring drive which took up what remained of the third quarter. QB Seb Rivas continued his fabulous running day, gaining most of the yards with his wheels. Bruising RB Tom Borsay secured the score from 6yards out to put the Redhawks in the lead once again. The 2-point try was no good leaving the match tensely poised as the fourth quarter began at 23 – 19 to Solent.

UEA began the fourth quarter epitomising the team spirit and never say die attitude that they have taken into the post-season. After narrowly missing on a similar attempt in the first half, QB Rivett heaved an 80yard touchdown bomb to Andy Custerson, who in all honestly could have parked a bus in the space he had created between himself and the defensive back. The play was met with joy on the Pirates’ sideline, with UEA now holding a 25 – 23 lead in the most important part of the match. The 2-point try was no good meaning the Solent offence came out knowing a field-goal would give them the lead.

The next drive was one filled with nerves and anxiety for both sides. The Redhawks gallantly drove the ball dangerously into UEA territory, once again utilising their QB bootleg and read-option plays to great effect to gain four first-downs. But once forced back in the red-zone all parts of the Pirates defence stepped up, with two run-plays being flattened by Gavin Barnard and Ashley Mullin respectively. On third-down with Solent attempting to pass, Chris Forder who had just missed out on a sack earlier in the drive combined with Mullin to sack QB Sebastian Rivas and force a fourth-down. On the fourth-down play it was DB Shyam Nathwani who swatted the ball down to prevent the Redhawks from moving any further and give the ball back to the Pirates offence with the opportunity to seal the game.

After a solid run from Joe Van Der Merwe put the Pirates in more favourable field-position, Chris Carson proceeded to take a toss play 55yards to the house to put UEA in a commanding position with little over two minutes on the clock. Carson was ushered into the endzone by three Pirates offensive lineman who played excellently as a unit all afternoon. The Irishman also added the successful two-point try giving UEA a 33 – 23 lead.

Solent now had their backs against the wall and had to turn to their limited deep passing offence to generate a quick score. After gaining a first down, Seb Rivas was intercepted by DB Andy Hurley whilst trying to push the ball downfield, to all but guarantee the Pirates victory.

With no time-outs remaining, the Redhawks were helpless to prevent UEA kneeling out what was left of the clock. For the second time in as many weeks, the Pirates had come from behind to claim another hard-earned playoff victory, this time against a well-drilled, talented and enormously tough Solent Redhawks team.

Pirates Head Coach Bobby Kerr said after the game: ‘ I am delighted with another great team performance. We broke off long runs and made some great passes, but none of that would have happened without some great protection from the line and some excellent downfield blocking from the whole offense. The defence played as a unit, best team performance that I've seen from them all season’

Offensive Coordinator Nick Rockell echoed this saying: ‘Sunday was the closest we have come to putting a complete game together. You could see the team grow the longer we played. It was a real football performance in a hard-hitting and entertaining game.’

Both coaches also commented on next week’s matchup with the Sheffield Sabres with Kerr stating: ‘We'll be working hard all week on a game plan, and I know that they will be too. I anticipate another difficult game, but if we prepare well, keep our focus and work hard, we'll give ourselves a great chance.’

And Rockell, a coach with vast experience in post-season football, who in 2007 won the BAFANL Division 2 National-Title as Head-Coach of the local Norwich Devils concluded: ‘Next Sunday is going to be tough, as you would expect from a semi-final. If we remain calm and focused first on good preparation then on perfect gameday execution, we have a big chance at success.’

It has been confirmed that the UEA Pirates will now take on the Sheffield Sabres on SUNDAY 25th March, for a place in the BUAFL Challenge Trophy final, at John Charles Stadium in Leeds on Saturday 21st April.

MVPs

Special Teams - WR Matt Ball

Line MVP - Whole O-Line

Rookie MVP - QB Jack Anklesaria

Defense - DB Daniel Stern

Offense - QB Mark Rivett

Overall - RB Chris Carson

Charlie Harris