Photos courtesy of Alison Berrisford
Farnham Knights 50 - 7 Hertfordshire
Cheetahs
The Farnham
Knights entered the play offs as the number one seed and justified that ranking
with a display of power football that saw Gareth Davies run for 4Touch Downs
and 205yds from just 13 carries with Nick Roope adding a further 112yds and a
TD from 11 carries.
The Knights
Defense also pitched in with arguably their best performance of the season
against a Hertfordshire team that showed great spirit throughout the 4
quarters.
The Knights
opened the scoring on the first offensive play of the game as the Offensive
Line blew open a huge hole in the Cheetahs defense (a sign of things to come)
and Gareth Davies sprinted 74yds for the opening score - John Symons added the
extra point and the Knights led 7-0
Davies scored
his second on the Knights next possession and the home team led 13-0 at the end
of the first quarter.
The Cheetahs
kept their heads up and struck back with a score of their own in the second
period but the Knights stamped their authority on the tie with further scores
as Davies completed his hatrick from 50yds out and Anthony Appleyard, who was
playing on the offense for the first time, ran in from 3yds out. Nick Roope ran in 2point conversions on both
scores and the Knights led 29-7 at the half.
Despite the
lead the Knights were aware that play off football is sudden death and no
opponent will sit back and accept defeat - the Cheetahs came out determined to
narrow the margin - but the Knights defense were up to the challenge led by
star rookie lineman Luke Bridcutt and Rezz-J Wills who has recently converted
to the defensive side of the team.
With the ball
back in their possession the Knights powered the way to the final with a fourth
TD for Gareth Davies and a 20yd run from Nick Roope. A high snap prevented the
first score being converted but Roope's short pass to Ben Poppy added two
points on the second occasion and the Knights led 43-7 at the end of the third
quarter.
With the
league's running clock rule in place because the Knights led by more than 35
points the fourth quarter was over quickly but there was however time for QB
Oli De Ruyter to get his first rushing TD of the season as he plunged in from
1yd out. Jon Symons sealed the final score with the extra point.
Knights Head
Coach Steve Rains said " I am so proud of the team and my coaching staff -
this success is the result of hard work and commitment by all concerned - like
most sports you get the results you want in equal proportion to the effort you
put in.
This will be my
6th Bowl game for the Knights - for many of the squad it will be their first
and I guarantee we are all equally excited by the prospect. When I came back to
the club last year I didn't think we would get to this point so quickly - but I
am confident we are ready to go and represent at the Final - we all know that
the Solent Thrashers will be coming to avenge our win over them at the start of
the season - the work begins now to prepare for the Final"
The Final will
be held on Sunday 13th Sept at Leicester Road Stadium (formally
Hinckley United Stadium), Hinckley LE10 3DR. Kick off will be 4-00pm
Ticket
Prices are 5 GBP for Adults, 2 GBP for concessions, and Children (U16) Free of
Charge .
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OFFENSE:
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DEFENSE:
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Passing:
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L Bridcutt 4S 2A +1FF
R Wills 3S 3A
R Balderson 1S 2A
J Criddle 3S
Ash-Lee James 2S 1A
C James 3A
S Price 2S 1A
A Evers 1S 2A
R George 2A
K Ejiogu 1S 1A +1FR
T Roberts 2A
D Kerr 1S
K Goswell 1A
D Francis 1S
A Makinen 1A
F Isaac 1A
A Gillard 1A
A Reid 1S
M Gumas 1S
W Paris 1S
B Monk 1A
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O De Ruyter 4 of 8 for 38yds
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Receiving:
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S
Godfrey 2 for 20yds
S
Wills 1 for 11yds
A
Appleyard 1 for 7yds
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STATS:
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G Davies 13 for 205yds 4TD
N Roope 11 for 112yds 1TD
P Wakeford 5 for 41yds
K Helps 5 for 17yds
A Appleyard 1 for 3yds 1TD
O De Ruyter 1 for 1yd 1TD
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KICK
OFF RETURNS
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Ash-Lee James 1 for 62yds
S Godfrey 1 for 20yds
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OFFENSE TOTALS:
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KNIGHTS:
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Rushing 36 for 379yds 7TD
Passing 4 of 8 for
38yds
TOTAL 44 for 417yds 7TD
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