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American Football BAFA Southern Conference Division Two West
By Twm Owen
South Wales Warriors 62, Cornish Sharks 0
This fixture was delayed by six weeks due to a Sharks player shortage and traffic problems meant the Cornishmen arrived at Llanharan with just 20 minutes to spare before kick-off.
It was agreed to delay the game by an hour but perhaps the referees could have been a bit more understanding than charging the visitors, whose small 26-man squad arrived in two minibuses, with a 15-yard delay of game penalty.
That helped push the Sharks further back into their own territory before they had to kick away their first possession. A block in the back cancelled out Daniel Dacey’s impressive punt return to ensure the Warriors would start at midfield.
However the home side immediately brought powerful running back Joshua Hughes into action. He took his first carry for 30 yards and after picking up a further first down sprinted 20-yards for the first of his two touchdowns. Hughes also powered over to add the two-point conversion.
The Warriors would add a further two rushing touchdowns, from Daniel Abbruzzese and Adam Hilton, after Nate Webb picked off Cornish quarterback Jack Caines, to race into a 20-0 lead before the end of the first quarter. The Warriors failed to add the two-point conversion to either score.
Wide receiver Joshua Hurford grabbed the first of his hat-trick of touchdowns to open the second quarter scoring. Dean Jackson, who started at QB for the Warriors, spotted Hurford racing across the middle of the field to connect for the 45-yard score.
Hurford’s second would come after a penalty ruled out a nine-yard touchdown run from Liam Thomas and with the Warriors finding themselves in trouble for the first time. Jackson had been sacked, following rare pressure from the Cornish defensive line, and the Warriors faced a third and goal – but 30 yards from the Sharks line.
Jackson looked to his right to find Hurford flying down the sideline and seemingly so well covered the referees may have had to consider a pass interference call. But Hurford turned to catch Jackson’s pass and spin into the end zone. Thomas added the Warriors first successful two-point conversion since the opening score.
Hughes ran in his second touchdown late in the second quarter, and also added the extra two, to ensure the “mercy rule”, meaning the game clock would continue to run rather than pause for stoppages, would operate before the end of the first half. A poor Cornish punt gave the Warriors good field position inside the final two minutes of the half and clever clock management meant there was enough time for Hilton to run in his second TD.
At 48-0 down at half-time the Sharks appeared out of their depth in this clash of the Celts and things only got worse when Dacey returned the kick-off 80 yards to open the second half scoring. The Sharks did however stop Hughes’ attempt to run in the conversion.
If the Sharks looked as if they were still on their minibuses during the first half their offense finally threatened late in the third quarter.
Seb Reevers came in at QB and on third and long found Morgan Petrococcino with a short pass. The receiver slipped his marker to race down the sideline for a 30-yard gain to move the Sharks into the Warriors territory.
On fourth down the quick footed Reevers scrambled to keep the drive alive as the Sharks advanced to the Warriors 25-yard line. A dropped interception gave the Sharks a second chance but the Cornishmen were unable to advance further and the ball turned over on downs to end the third quarter.
On their following possession the Warriors offense stalled and a penalty ruled out an impressive fourth down conversion which saw the Sharks take possession with their best field position of the day at the Warriors 18-yard line. Reevers, who had done so much to spark the Sharks, however was picked off by Warriors safety Dacey on first down.
Another long run from Hughes then set up his namesake Hurford for his hattrick as he collected a 32-yard bomb from Jackson. The quarterback connected with Max McNeill-Smith for the two-point conversion which completed the scoring.
Despite the highly charged offensive performance Warriors head coach Geraint Roberts said he was most pleased to have kept the Sharks from scoring.
“The most important thing was to get the shutout as points against is the tie-breaker and to not allow points on the board is the big thing as far as we’re concerned. We’re pushing for the play-offs and seedings,” said Roberts.
Opposite number Brian Smallworth said he had always expected his side to be up against it and praised his players who persevered against the large Warriors squad in temperatures reaching 20c.
He said Sharks have always intended this season to be a rebuilding one having had a “clear out” of players during the off-season.
“We got delayed by an accident on the M5 but they were good enough to let us start late. It’s just football and I don’t care we are on a rebuild this year after a clear out,” said Smallworth of the penalty that started the game.
“We got the goals we set at the start, which was the defense to get a sack and the offense to try and sustain a drive. These guys never gave up and they have all the spirit in the world.”
