gridiron UK

Yesterday in Cambridge some twenty four Bury Saints outnumbered maybe two to one by hosts the Cambridge Cats had a very honourable 10-18 loss.  Two men with mobile phones were broadcasting the game live on student radio station Cam FM and a first for us, at the game end the refs understandably applauded the players.

At Ipswich Cardinals 14-14 East Essex Sabres in Thundersley (it's near Southend) a stick holder who didn't get out of the way soon enough has prompted much comment mostly from refs.

Made a nice change Sunday to snap american football without rain and/or hail.

It was pleasant Sunday to be snapping the Essex Blades v Royal Holloway Bears final without having a plastic bag over the camera unlike the last couple of weeks.  A decent turn out of supporters  and spectators including a good handful from the Ipswich Cardinals and impressively on the visitor's sideline too.  A 28-06 win for the Blades again helped by the scrambling of quarterback Will Molyneux.  When the two teams lined up at the end it became clear the Bears had been outnumbered by some two to one ... couldn't have helped.

Yesterday in Norwich the UEA Pirates beat the Exeter Demons fourteen to eight with weather including a dramatic hailstorm .  The Pirates are now promoted to the Premiership next season and progress to the Championship final in Loughborough Sunday week.

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.