gridiron UK

Despite initially an impressively completing pass game from visitors the Bath Killer Bees there was no first quarter score in Norwich today.  With touchdowns in both the second and fourth quarters the UEA Pirates won 14-00 assisted by running back #90 Cornelius Walters' impression of a double decker bus.  The Pirates now progress to the semi-finals playing at home to we think the Exeter Demons.

Today in Norwich and the playoffs the UEA Pirates beat the Queen Mary Vipers 14-06 and so progress to the quarter finals.

Yesterday's UEA Pirates v Kent Falcons american football in Norwich looked like it was going to be a native American game ... four quarters and no squaw ... sorry.  In the fourth quarter with very little time left the Pirate's punter was hassled into not kicking but responded with a splendid 20/30 yard run (one for the brand) followed by two decent running back bulls and eventually in for six.  That left Kent with maybe 47 seconds and despite a couple of very decent Hail Marys failed to return score.  Joy was definitely unconfined on the Pirates' sideline.  If UEA beat Queen Mary Uni away in London next Sunday unlike last year they will have home field advantage when they meet the Falcons again in the playoffs.

After the ARU Rhinos (that's Cambridge) lost 33 to 2 against the Essex Blades at the season start we were expecting more of the same today in Colchester but on the very first play the Blades offensive centre snapped so enthusiastically that the ball went straight through the end zone for a two point safety.  Shortly after (possibly the next play) the Rhinos intercepted and ran in a touch down but normality returned with a comfortable 32-14 Blades win assisted by impressive scrambling from the Blades quarterback Will Molyneux.  Despite a penetrating wind and repetitive rain there were supporters and encouragingly at least three women players.  Congrats to the Blades for winning their division.

Women's american football gets its own Facebook album.

We arrived yesterday in Thorpe St Andrew in time for the lunch break (impressive catering) to be told it had tried to snow earlier but thankfully the rain had held off.  Women's american football team Iceni Spears were hosting the Peterborough Royals and Essex Hellcats for joint  training followed by a seven a side tournament.  In the event there weren't enough players to make two seven sides so empty slots were filled by coaches and as one player observed We've learnt more this afternoon than we would from three practices.

Yesterday in Norwich we noted that the UEA Pirates impressively had (rather like Country and Western) both kinds of running backs, big and bulling plus small and slippery.  In the second quarter with the score 12-06 to UEA very regrettably #27 Jonas Eschenfelder for the visitors Imperial Immortals received a sufficient injury he couldn't be moved.  After what must have been around an hour and no ambulance the game was abandoned.  We've been told Jonas' injuries are soft tissue and he should be fine in a couple of days.

We found French director Céline Sciamma's film Tomboy highly involving and rewarding not least because it made the Parisian suburbs look idyllic.  So very gratifying to find a sealed copy of her later film Girlhood in the Framlingham EACH chazza.  Here the banlieue is relentlessly gritty and though Vic essentially remains trapped in her situation the opening sequence is women's american football from team Les Molosses.

The Bury Saints have moved over the county line from Thetford to play at Red Lodge Sports Pavilion in Suffolk this year .... appropriate eh?

CORRECTION: We originally reported that the CCU Chargers' honoury captain last Sunday was Ken Matcham.  The honoury captain was in fact Joe Waller who is being treated for cancer, our apologies to both gentlemen.

Sunday we arrived in Norwich too late for the shaking of hands at UEA Pirates v CCU Chargers but not too late for a Charger to be ejected for illegal use of the helmet.  Erin Jones 51 (one the Chargers' two women players) left injured in the first half and we think we saw she'd taken her pads off but she returned later to play offensive guard and was getting close up and personal ... impressive.  A Pirates 37-00 Chargers whitewash but the Chargers stuck at it cheerfully in support of their player and honourary captain for the day Joe Waller who is being treated for cancer.