Colchester Gladiators v Leicester Falcons

By Flag on the Play

26th September 2009

Colchester Gladiators……….32
Leicester Falcons……….……33

Both teams entered the Keepmoat Stadium to a rapturous welcome from the crowd who were clearly hoping for a good match and they were not disappointed, as it turned out.
Falcons received the kick off and #45 Davis returned the ball thirty five yards to set up good field position on the forty nine yard line, followed by Falcons’ Timi Dada with the first three carries bringing up first down on the forty two yard line. Sanchez now opened the passing game to #16 Glenn Herring and Dada carried the ball for Leicester. Sanchez from the eighteen yard line kept the ball to score the first touchdown but the point after touchdown failed, opening the score at 0-6 to the Falcons. From the kick off Gladiators ran the ball back to the 42 yard line and on third and eight #8 Rich Thomas swept left avoiding the Falcons’ defense to stroll in and tie the scores. Point after touchdown good – score 7-6 to the Gladiators.

From the kick off Leicester utilized the diverse offense with #19 Williams taking good short passes and #24 Dada running the ball. Falcons continued to move the chains and looked good on offense when Dada coughed up the ball for Gladiators to recover around the midfield area and set up another drive.

Gladiators, controlling the ball, stopped in the Falcons’ half and punted to the Falcons’ 20 yard area. Falcons ran the ball with Dada carrying who broke coverage to run the seventy nine yards into the endzone to push Falcons into the lead 13-7. Point after touchdown missed so the score remained 13-7.

The ensuing kick off saw Gladiators #38 Leo Beckford bring the ball back to the twenty seven yard line. Thomas, carrying the ball and always a threat was tackled by Falcons’ #88 Bernie Hackshaw and the quarter finished 13-7 to the Falcons.

At the start of the second quarter Gladiators were in good field position the Falcons were holding firm on fourth and goal when #8 Richard Thomas burst into the endzone to tie the score 13-13. The point after touchdown was good and the scoreline now swung in the Gladiators favour, 13-14.

Falcons’ Rich Davis, returned the kick to the forty one yard line but they were unable to move the ball, however the ensuring punt by Williams was shanked and only gained fifteen yards. Gladiators #38 Beckford, with only 11-12 seconds on the clock ran the ball for a fist down inside the ten yard line. Thomas kept things moving on the eight yard line and the scoreboard now read 20-13 but the point after touchdown was missed.

Gladiators now moved the ball into the Falcons red zone and took the two minute warning. Unable to get on the scoreboard, end of the half score 20-13.
Second half and Dada Puts Falcons back on the scoreboard with Ben Longlands adding the extra point bringing the score very quickly to 20-20 with everything still to play for and an exciting second half ahead.

Gladiators quickly got the ball back and went back into the lead 20-26. From the kick off #45 Rich Davis returned the ball to midfield and Timi Dada skipped wide and left through the covering defense for a first down; Ben Williams took a short pass to keep the chains moving. Dada, with the ball in his hands passed the coverage into the endzone to put the Falcons on the scoreboard 26-26. Point after touchdown was good; 27-26 Falcons.

With 12 minutes and 1 second left in the fourth quarter, Gladiators did what they do best; sweep, sweep and then sweep some more and move the chains. A fumbled centre to Quarterback exchange saw Falcons recover the ball in great field position. Sanchez on third and long carried the ball to bring up first down. #45 Rich Davis, a third down specialist, on third and long took a pitch and gained nine yards for a first down. Davis, now seeing more of the ball, moved the chains before breaking into the endzone give Falcons a 30-26 lead. Two flags on the play for unsportsmanlike conduct are assessed on the kick meaning the Falcons took a restart from their own seven and a half yard line to give Gladiators good field position.

Gladiators took the field on the thirty nine yard line and looked to tie the score but unable to move the ball on the first three downs. On fourth and eight Beckford made a first down with one minute on the clock and on third and eight, Falcons desperately defending, the Gladiators looked to score. Second and ten on the fifteen yard line and Gladiators got into the endzone to make the score an amazing 33-32. Point after touchdown………one for the tie, two for the win……………..AND IT FAILED. Falcons win 33-32.

What a fantastic game, played by two great teams, superbly refereed and watched by an awesome crowd who lifted the whole event with their cheering, banter and good humour.



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