British American Football News
Colchester Gladiators V Norwich Devils
Nick Foxley
29th March 2009
Nick Foxley
29th March 2009
The Colchester Gladiators kicked off their 2009 season in style with a comfortable win over Division One team the Norwich Devils. The Gladiators youth team also wrote the first chapter in their recent history by hosting the Devils youth team in a controlled scrimmage in a fantastic double header of action at the Wivenhoe Stadium.
The kickoff for the younger Gladiators’ scrimmage was delayed by an hour but they wasted no time in taking the lead once it started when QB Curtis Bourke launched a long bomb to wide receiver Danny Saxton who hauled in the accurate throw for six points.
The Devils levelled in the second quarter and a defensive battle ensued but the home side acquitted themselves extremely well as they gear up for their first taste of competitive league action. Honours ended even but to hold an experienced youth team like the Devils to six points is a tremendous effort by all the youth team players and coaches.
The senior team received the ball to begin the game and made some good gains before a fumble by Paul Gates lost big yardage and forced a punt. The Devils also fumbled as both teams showed some rust in their first action of the year and Charles Greig recovered to give the Gladiators a great opportunity to open the scoring, set up on the visitors’ 34 yard line. A Rich Thomas fumble stalled the drive however but the home defence made up for it when Dan Johnson tackled a Devils running back for an eight yard loss, pinning them back on their own one. Mark Gilbranch sacked the Norwich QB in the endzone for a two point safety and an early 2-0 lead.
A penalty thwarted to resultant Gladiator drive and Scott Taylor had to punt. A fumble by the Norwich returner was recovered by the Gladiators setting them up only 14 yards out and Gates made no mistake on the next play, out running the covering defence to register the Gladiators first touchdown of the season. Anthony Goater missed the conversion but the score was now 8-0.
The Norwich offence could not get anything going all day due to the aggressive play calling of Head Coach Matt Roberts and the heavy pressure linebackers Mark Gilbranch, Matt Selby and Dan Johnson brought on the Norwich QB.
A Phil Moreton sack forced Norwich to give up the ball before Alex Robinson capped a six play, 49 yard drive with a six yard touchdown run, to extend the lead to 14-0.
On the next Norwich drive, Gilbranch sacked the Devils QB on consecutive plays before more pressure forced a hurried pass and Selby was in the right place to intercept the ball and run the four yards into the endzone for his first ever touchdown.
The Devils then put together their best drive of the day, moving the ball to the home 23 before another Gilbranch tackle for a loss on fourth down gave the ball back to the Gladiators with another chance to score before half time. Unfortunately QB Dan Singer’s pass was intercepted and the score at the interval remained 20-0.
The pattern of the second half continued as in the first with the rampant Gladiators defence harassing the Devils QB and running backs in their own backfield and Gilbranch intercepted the QB to return the ball to his offence.
Thomas gained 13 yards on a fourth and eight to set up Robinson to take the ball 23 yards to the Devils seven. Thomas took the ball in for the six pointer to increase the lead to 26 which became 27 when Goater slotted the point after.
Turnovers from both teams blotted the third quarter’s copybook but normal service was resumed in the fourth when Thomas scored his second of the day to increase the home tally to 33.
Robinson scored the most spectacular touchdown of the day on the Gladiators’ next possession, following blocks from Dave Hogarth and Tom Burridge before outpacing the defence to register a 59 yard score. Goater kicked the final point of the day to bring the final score to 40-0.
Head Coach Matt Roberts was delighted with the performance but warned about over confidence as the Devils clearly were under full strength, as indeed were the Gladiators. But confidence will be high at training on Sunday as they prepare for the opening league game of the season when they travel to the international athletics stadium in Bedford to take on the Blue Raiders. Last season’s opener was also a trip to Bedford that the Gladiators edged by 14-0. Anyone wishing to travel with the team should contact club secretary Tom Burridge on secretary@colchestergladiators.org.uk.
(All home games for both teams are played at Wivenhoe Stadium, the home of Wivenhoe Town FC.)
Further information is available from the Gladiators website at www.colchestergladiators.com
The kickoff for the younger Gladiators’ scrimmage was delayed by an hour but they wasted no time in taking the lead once it started when QB Curtis Bourke launched a long bomb to wide receiver Danny Saxton who hauled in the accurate throw for six points.
The Devils levelled in the second quarter and a defensive battle ensued but the home side acquitted themselves extremely well as they gear up for their first taste of competitive league action. Honours ended even but to hold an experienced youth team like the Devils to six points is a tremendous effort by all the youth team players and coaches.
The senior team received the ball to begin the game and made some good gains before a fumble by Paul Gates lost big yardage and forced a punt. The Devils also fumbled as both teams showed some rust in their first action of the year and Charles Greig recovered to give the Gladiators a great opportunity to open the scoring, set up on the visitors’ 34 yard line. A Rich Thomas fumble stalled the drive however but the home defence made up for it when Dan Johnson tackled a Devils running back for an eight yard loss, pinning them back on their own one. Mark Gilbranch sacked the Norwich QB in the endzone for a two point safety and an early 2-0 lead.
A penalty thwarted to resultant Gladiator drive and Scott Taylor had to punt. A fumble by the Norwich returner was recovered by the Gladiators setting them up only 14 yards out and Gates made no mistake on the next play, out running the covering defence to register the Gladiators first touchdown of the season. Anthony Goater missed the conversion but the score was now 8-0.
The Norwich offence could not get anything going all day due to the aggressive play calling of Head Coach Matt Roberts and the heavy pressure linebackers Mark Gilbranch, Matt Selby and Dan Johnson brought on the Norwich QB.
A Phil Moreton sack forced Norwich to give up the ball before Alex Robinson capped a six play, 49 yard drive with a six yard touchdown run, to extend the lead to 14-0.
On the next Norwich drive, Gilbranch sacked the Devils QB on consecutive plays before more pressure forced a hurried pass and Selby was in the right place to intercept the ball and run the four yards into the endzone for his first ever touchdown.
The Devils then put together their best drive of the day, moving the ball to the home 23 before another Gilbranch tackle for a loss on fourth down gave the ball back to the Gladiators with another chance to score before half time. Unfortunately QB Dan Singer’s pass was intercepted and the score at the interval remained 20-0.
The pattern of the second half continued as in the first with the rampant Gladiators defence harassing the Devils QB and running backs in their own backfield and Gilbranch intercepted the QB to return the ball to his offence.
Thomas gained 13 yards on a fourth and eight to set up Robinson to take the ball 23 yards to the Devils seven. Thomas took the ball in for the six pointer to increase the lead to 26 which became 27 when Goater slotted the point after.
Turnovers from both teams blotted the third quarter’s copybook but normal service was resumed in the fourth when Thomas scored his second of the day to increase the home tally to 33.
Robinson scored the most spectacular touchdown of the day on the Gladiators’ next possession, following blocks from Dave Hogarth and Tom Burridge before outpacing the defence to register a 59 yard score. Goater kicked the final point of the day to bring the final score to 40-0.
Head Coach Matt Roberts was delighted with the performance but warned about over confidence as the Devils clearly were under full strength, as indeed were the Gladiators. But confidence will be high at training on Sunday as they prepare for the opening league game of the season when they travel to the international athletics stadium in Bedford to take on the Blue Raiders. Last season’s opener was also a trip to Bedford that the Gladiators edged by 14-0. Anyone wishing to travel with the team should contact club secretary Tom Burridge on secretary@colchestergladiators.org.uk.
(All home games for both teams are played at Wivenhoe Stadium, the home of Wivenhoe Town FC.)
Further information is available from the Gladiators website at www.colchestergladiators.com
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COLCHESTER GLADIATORS ….….. 40
NORWICH DEVILS ……………………....0
NORWICH DEVILS ……………………....0
