Cats shutout - It's Knightime!

Cambridgeshire Cats 0 Farnham Knights 50 ~ Report by Farnham

 

The Farnham Knights made the trip back up the M1 after last weeks win at Bedford and came away with an emphatic victory. The Knights now move to 5-1 and the Division now appears to be a fight between them and the Solent Thrashers (who they beat in game 1) after the Thrashers squeezed past the Birmingham Bulls to go 5-1 themselves. Birmingham were the team who narrowly defeated the Knights.

 

Once again it was last weeks Touchdown Twins (who scored 3 each in Bedford) who led the scoring table - Nick Roope ran in from 14yds and 3yds and Michael Bradley-Banzski added two touchdown receptions from QB Oli De Ruyter from 67yds and 61yds as the two made it a brace each this time.

 

Things looked have started badly for the Knights as, on the very first play of the game, the Cats running back burst clear and raced 60yds into the end zone - an illegal block at the 20yd line however brought the score back and the Cats never really threatened the Knights end zone again as the Defense rose to the challenge of achieving a shut out.

 

The Knights embarked on a drive that started deep in their own territory with Nick Roope picking up good yardage on the ground - but it was the air attack that opened the scoring as De Ruyter found Michael Bradley-Banszki with a 67yd catch and run - John Symons added the extra point and the Knights lead 0-7

 

The Cats next drive ended in a punt and the Knights then went to the ground game with the next score as Roope racked up the yardage completing the drive with a 14yd run. Symons again obliged with the kicked point and the Knights lead extended to 0-14 as the first quarter ended.

 

The Cats were able to move into Knights territory on their next drive - but then the Knights Defense stiffened and the ball came back to the visitors. Ally Reid snared a De Ruyter pass for 38yds and in to the came Gareth "Dash" Davies on this return from injury. An opening 18yd run leaving defenders grasping at air put the Knights into Cats territory - after a couple of short gains Nick Roope came back into the game to finish the drive off from 3yds out. Symons kick made it Knights by 0-21.

 

With the Knights using the run and the Cats also predominantly keeping the ball on the ground the clock was being eaten up with every possession. As the half time break loomed the Cats went to the air - only for young defender Joe Criddle to step up with his fifth interception of the season.

 

The Knights offense had scored on each of their possessions and it looked as if that was going to happen again when a rare mistake saw them fumble the ball away to the Cats. The home team could not break out of their territory and were forced to punt with just 2 minutes remaining. A short kick was caught by Matt Marriott who returned it to the home 25yd line.

 

Back came Gareth Davies and this time he was not to be denied as he raced into the end zone from 9yds out with just 45 seconds remaining. John Symons added the extra point and the Knights lead 0-28 at the half.

 

The Knights had the ball first in the second half and were set up in great field possession after Salim Ben-Romdhane returned the kick off 56yards and into Cats territory. Ben-Romdhane took over at tailback and finished a patient Knights drive with a 3yd scamper. John Symons reliably added the extra point and the Knights lead 0-35

 

The league Mercy Rule kicked in at this point and the clock was switched over to prevent it stopping for the remainder of the game.

 

The Cats were under pressure on their next drive, Luke Bridcutt playing in just his 5th game came up with a huge sack (tackle on the opposition quarter back for a loss) another former knights Junior Alexsi Makinen was dominating the centre of the Defense and then the Cats were then intercepted by Corner Back Matt Marriott.

 

Oli De Ruyter made short work of the task in hand finding the Knights star Junior graduate Michael Bradley-Banszki for his second score this from 61yds out to push the score to 0-41 - Nick Roope carried the ball for the 2 point conversion and the Knights lead 0-43 as the third quarter ended.

 

The Knights used their full squad in the fourth quarter and although the offense didn't trouble the scoreboard again it was the Defense - in the form of that man Criddle who added the final touchdown as he stepped in to intercept the Cats QB and return the ball for 6 points. It is the first score for the defense and put the cherry on the top of the units shut out performance. John Symons returned to kick the extra point completing his second consecutive perfect kicking day.

 

The Knights lead stretched to 0-50 and the game ended following a short Cats possession. One unusual feature in the game was the father and son appearance on the statistics sheet as Colin Marriott who played for the Knights back in the 1980's appeared with his son Matt in the same team and recorded an assisted tackle.

 

Head Coach Steve Rains said "A top of the table against bottom of the table fixture always comes with an upset danger sign. Cambridge were relegated from the Premier division last year while we were promoted to this level - I'm proud of everyone involved because we focused and won this game emphatically - we now prepare for the visit of the Hertfordshire Cheetahs to Farnham Rugby Club on the 28th - it is important to take this one game at a time"

 

Defensive Co-ordinator Stewart Clackson added "We knew we had the ability to achieve a shut out and today it all came together. Four sacks - two from rookie Luke Bridcutt - kept the opposing QB under pressure and Joe Criddle and Matt Marriott were there to take full advantage with the interceptions - I'm particularly pleased to have added our first defensive score to the shut out"