Due to cuts in leisure facilities in Staffs, the pitch on Sunday only had 1 set of posts, which could explain the poor performance of the Caesars kicking game........................well that and the high velocity wind, which funnily enough didn't really affect the Surge's passing game.( look, it wasn't the holders fault, it was laces out at least twice!!!)

This was a typical opening match for both teams, mistakes being made both sides of the ball. 

An evenly matched 1st quarter saw the Caesars put together some impressive drives but mistakes and miscues in the red zone meant that failed FG and 4th down attempts were all the offence came away with. A poor substitute for good field posistion, a good indication of a tough D!

the Caesars D meanwhile was coming to terms with the Surge's O, Rich Large always a thorn in their side through the years.......about time he retired and stopped giving me coronaries!!!!   Now where was I? Oh yes,  both teams entered the 2nd Q tied at 0-0, but a good drive with some tough running allowed Stainton to find returned WR Ian McCartney from 47yds out for the opening score, a failed extra point gave the C a 6-0 lead going into the break.

 

The 2nd half started much the same way as the first, with both teams driving but unable to capitalise, until a good drive from the C gave RB Scott Messom a chance to plunge in from the 2, which he took, yet again a failed PAT left the score at 12-0.

 

This seemed to spur on the Surge and they too came back at the C going into the 4thQ, and a good drive ended with a scoring pass as an off-side penalty froze the D, Large found Garnsey in the end-zone for a legitimate score ( though I could of sworn I heard a whistle!!) as though to put pressure on the C the Surge attempted a 2pt conversion, but, an interception by D MVP Martin Hilton was returned all the way ( the boy can run!) for 2pts for the C to leave the score at 14-6 and a tight finish!

 

With the Caesars offence struggling to click, it was left for the D to keep the game in favour of the C, all went well until a reverse from Garnsey punished an over exuberent D and he took it all the way for an 87yd score, the 2pt conversion was good to tie up the game at 14-14.

A nail biting final 2 minutes came to nothing as neither team were able to break down the other's defence.leaving the score at 14-14.

A deserved draw and good performances by Terry Mayers- 105yds off 20 carries and Martin Hilton - 6 tackles, 2 assists, 3 passes defended and 2 interceptions,but the C will feel as though better execution would have made a difference, something to work on in practice.

It was a bright searing day, with a brisk wind blowing across the pitch, the caesars goalposts resplendent with their new pennants atop the posts. A hush came across the field as the referees called for the captains.......................

 A deep kick forced the 'hawks to start on their 2 yd line, tough d meant that a punt from the end zone allowed the O to start on the nighthawks 35. some tough, power running on the drive saw guy kersey punch in the endzone from 2 yds for the first score of the  day. On the following k/off a fumble was recovered by mark Collett and gave the O good field position again.this time terry Mayers took the ball in from 7, the extra point good made the score 13-0.

A good drive by Mersey on the following possesion went deep into Caesars territory, an attempted FG was blocked, but quick thinking allowed the 'hawks to keep the drive alive as a first down was gained. No further yardage was allowed and the 2nd FG was blocked and recovered.

The Big C then put together a long drive that was capped off with a Stainton dart to new boy WR Alex Robson. Again the pa was good. Jay smith weighed in with his first interception for what seems almost 5 yrs, to end the 'hawks next drive which was capitalised on immediately by Stainton who found McCartney from 47yds out for the TD, a failed pa made the score 26-0.

Another promising Mersey drive was ended on a failed 4th down. The Caesars then drove to mid-field where Mayers broke away for a 50 yd score. and just to prove it was no fluke jay smith grabbed his second pick of the day to bring the half to an end Caesars 33, Nighthawks 0.

 The 2nd half got underway in spectacular fashion as Mayers returned the kick off all the way for a TD..... no! sorry my mistake, he could have returned it all the way if he hadn't fallen over his feet 8yds out!!!!! but Mayers' loss was kersey's gain as he went in from the 2 for his 2nd of the day. A 2pt attempt was good, making the score 41-0

 With the Mersey offence unable to move the ball except for the odd power run, which they are renowned for,  it was left to a little known back-up QB by the name of Trix Thompson to finish off the day, and he led by example, taking the O on 4 drives he took the first in from the 3 after a 65yd march, then another Britball veteran, Bernie Hackshaw capped off the next drive with a bruising run from the 7.  Mayers got his hat-trick on the next drive sprinting in from the 29. 

A great day for the BIG C was finished when Thompson found Kersey in the endzone for the final points of the day. A great team performance, the O-line having a standout day and allowing the boys behind them to do their job, a big day also for the D, the first shutout of the season, perhaps back on track after a lack lustre outing against the Surge.

 The only drawback was the loss of handsome SS Adi Giles, who went off in the 2nd quarter with a sprained knee!( it's alright Vanden I don't blame you.........i would have pushed you in the back as well!!!)

 A spirited Nighthawks team with a lot of rookies had unfortunately caught the big C on the rebound, a 67-0 scoreline belying the way in which the game was played.

On a day when the weather couldn't quite make up it's mind, come rain or shine the 2 teams seemed fired up for this encounter, some pre-match banter on the web-sites of both teams had added a little spice to what was to become another D inspired day.

 

With what appeared to be an all-star stat crew on the side lines the Caesars players seemed optomistic of some genuine stats for the first time this year!!!

 

The C entered the match without starting QB Gary Stainton, off sunning himself and treating the ladies in Tenerife!! but no fear, we had a ready made back-up...........the shovel-handed Trix Thompson, a veteran of some 53yrs experience and head spinning impresario! The Caesars elected to receive the ball on the opening kick-off, but  the early exchanges were dominated by the defences and an interception for either D ended any hopes of quick scores for the offences.  Towards the end of the 1stQ  a blocked punt by Vanden Warner gave the O the ball on the Saxons 16, 4 plays later saw Terry Mayers sweep in untouched for the first score and a good PAT by Lee Stone made it 7-0 to the C.

Into the 2ndQ, and the Caesars took it to the Saxons, after a fumble recovery by Bernie Hackshaw  the offence drove to half way, where deputy QB Thompson launched a deep pass to ex-Saxon Ian McCartney who out-ran the D for a 48yd score, once again Stone tagged on the PAT and the Caesars had a 14pt cushion.

On the following drive the Saxon punter saw the ball fly over his head on 4th down, but was able to recover it before being clattered to the ground by LB Gareth Lucyszyn, giving the O great position on the Saxon 12, but great D from them meant that a 25yd FG from Stone was all the Caesars came away with.  And it was another FG attempt from Stone which sailed just wide minutes later that ended the half.

The 3rdQ was a bit of a stalemate and penalty strewn with neither team able to sieze the initiative as both defences held firm, the only highlight being Jay Smith's 3rd interception of the year.  As the game entered the 4thQ it was the Caesars who gained the upper hand when a tipped pass found it's way into the hands of LB Marcus Atkin and the following drive was finished off in style as Thompson booted into the end-zone from 8yds out, fighting off defenders all the way, and celebrated with his trade mark headspin, again the PAT good, made the score 24-0.A great finish for the day for the deputising QB, a good all-round performance for the Caesars, especially on defence, which has started to find the form that gave them 6 shut-outs last year.