Report by Rhianna "Ree" Dawes
The Hastings
Conquerors hosted their third game in as many weeks on Sunday, facing the Portsmouth Dreadnoughts. It was another
grey and gloomy day in Hastings… not a big change there but it once again made
for some average photos and an unhappy photographer.
With both teams going into the game without a win, it was a
tough one to call and they both had determination to get their first win in the
national league.
The day started with a minute’s silence in memory of the
Hastings Conquerors’ first shareholder, and partner of one of our players, Chrissy Bland. Then it was time for
kick-off. After both Portsmouth and Hastings failed to get their drives
downfield, Portsmouth were forced to punt the ball away, but the snap was taken
with the wind and through their own end zone, meaning a two point safety for
Hastings.
A good run from Samuel
Oldfield on the following kick-off gave Hastings great field position, but
Portsmouth’s strong defence stopped the Conquerors from advancing. However,
Hastings’ defence were unwavering as they held the Dreadnoughts’ offence,
giving the Conquerors the ball once again.
Conquerors’ quarterback Jack
Beale made the most of a short field and found Jack Stainthorp wide open in the end zone for six points. The PAT
failed and Hastings were up 8-0.
But not for long as Portsmouth’s George Slade returned the kick-off all the way to the end zone to
get themselves on the scoreboard, their PAT failed and the score was 8-6.
Penalties were costing the Conquerors vital yards this game,
pushing them back and a Hastings player was even ejected from the game. The
Dreadnoughts’ running game had them make their way downfield and Slade made his
way into the Conquerors end zone for another six points. The PAT failed and the
Dreadnoughts were leading 12-8.
On the next Conquerors’ offensive drive, the Dreadnoughts’
defence held them off, forcing a punt which they blocked and Richard Saxby returned it for yet
another six points and a two point PAT from Will Purkiss, giving themselves a 20-8 lead. On Portsmouth’s next
offensive drive Callum Murdoch found
holes in the Conquerors’ defence all the way to the end zone and added more
points with a successful two point PAT, once again from Purkiss, giving them a
28-8 lead at the half.
After half-time, the Dreadnoughts drove downfield with some
great runs from their quarterback Stuart
Rees until they were in field goal range but the kick went wide. Hastings
couldn’t stop Portsmouth’s strong running game, as Rees added more points,
followed quickly by their running backs adding scores, racking the points up to
48-8.
With Conquerors’ quarterback injured, Ben Rogers came on and made a long pass downfield to Carl Alsop before being intercepted on
the next drive. With Portsmouth starting near their own end zone, Hastings
managed to shut them down, forcing a punt which was caught by Tyrell Berry who ran it in for some
consolation points for Hastings with the PAT from Josh Perry good, the game was over 48-15 and Portsmouth had their
first win as part of the BAFA National League.
The Macron Store Hastings’ MVPs were: Richard Bames for offence, James Pettit for defence, Sam Vernon for special teams and Tyrell Berry as overall game MVP.
The Portsmouth game MVPS were: Stuart Rees for his performance on offence, Jake Hancock for defence, George
Slade for special teams and Callum
Murdoch as game MVP.
The Conquerors now face a well-deserved week off before
travelling to Bournemouth on the
14th, once again looking for that first win.
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