Steelers hold their nerve to go from worst to first

Article by Leigh French - Sandwell

Photos courtesy of Andy Neale - Whizzyfingers Photography

 

The Sandwell Steelers held on for yet another close victory last Sunday in Peterborough, edging the Saxons 28-24 in a tense affair. The victory means the Steelers finish the regular season with a 10-0 record, along with the number 2 seed & home field advantage for the playoffs. Sundays game topped off a perfect season but with a performance that was far from perfect in itself.

The Steelers fell behind 7-0 on the opening drive, but pulled back to even the score shortly afterwards, Quarterback Jonny Glover running in for the score & Liam Duncan converting the extra point. Glover scored again early in the second quarter to extend the Steelers' lead to 14-7, before the black country men suffered an injury blow: Running Back Antoe Walters was forced out of the game with a fractured patella that unfortunately ends the promising young player's season.

Liam....... keeps the scoreboard ticking with the kicking game.

 

 The Saxons kicked a field goal just before half time to leave the score at 14-10 in favour of the Steelers heading into the break. The home side retook the lead after the break, intercepting Glover and returning the ball all the way for the score to go up 17-14. The Steelers thought they had struck back immediately with a long touchdown run from Leigh French, but frustratingly for Sandwell, it was ruled out for a needless penalty. Not to be denied, the Steelers scored 2 plays later as Glover hit Drew Newiss in the end zone. Newiss' can now boast the record of scoring in every game this season. Duncan again converted to edge the Steelers in front 21-17.

Evans goes up for a reception but finds contact before the ball.

 

In what was proving to be a back and forth affair The Saxons' offense took to the field and were able to repeatedly move the ball along the ground scoring in the 4th quarter with another touchdown run, but yet again the Steelers replied on the very next drive: Jay Alexander crashing over from a yard out to take back the lead. Duncan stepped up to convert to bring the score to 28-24 inside the final five minutes.

RB French stretches for extra yards.
 

The Saxons needed a touchdown to win it & for a brief moment it looked like they may secure the win. Saxons put together a drive and moved down the field, with a tired Steelers defense Saxons manoeuvred themselves into scoring position. Like the Steelers earlier in the game The Saxons seemed to convert a long mazy TD run only to see it pulled back as the referees had littered the field with yellow flags. Just when it looked like the Steelers would taste defeat for the first time this season Greg Freeman made a key interception at the three yard line, Freeman showed his experience by immediately taking a knee, with just 27 seconds left on the clock preserving the win and Sandwell's undefeated record.

Offensively, the offensive line of Simon Arinze, Dan Katri, Ross Barrow, Rhys Hardwick, Pete Wilson and James Astley allowed the Steelers to consistently move the ball on the ground against a tough Saxons defense. Defensively Sandwell will have a few concerns with the poor consistency of their tackling forcing Defensive Back Dan Hampton into having to make far too many tackles down field.

Newis able to keep drives alive with a catch on 4th down

Head Coach Jay Alexander was very honest about his side's performance: "I'll take the win to finish the  regular season, but we didn't perform to the level we were capable of today. No disrespect to Peterborough- they played us tough like they always have, and the fact that they are also in the playoffs shows that today was always going to be a tough test. I just feel that we didn't put in a full shift today, and left too many opportunities on the field. No matter the calibre of opposition we face, we have always held ourselves to our own standard, and the lads will know that today we haven't met that standard. The one big positive is that yet again when faced with adversity, we have found a way to win a game that last season would have got away from us. With the playoffs now upon us, that strength of character is something that will hopefully stand us in good stead against the quality of opposition we will meet. I'd like to think we'll take this result as a warning for what might happen if we fail to perform, and be a much more consistent side in two weeks' time."

 The Steelers now look forward to hosting the Leicester Falcons on August 23rd in the first round of the playoffs. The two sides have already put on two exciting games for the spectators, with Sandwell edging their rivals by first six, and then just four points. The second of these wins secured the Steelers the NFC2 South Division crown in just their second season, but having run them close twice, the Leicester based team will be confident they can gain their revenge in a third meeting and dump the Steelers out of the playoffs at the first stage.

The game kicks off at Tipton Sports Academy at 2:30 on Sunday August 23rd. Admission is £3 for adults, and children under the age of 14 are allowed free entry.