No Walk In The Park For Warriors As Thunder Finally Get On A Roll

By Twm Owen

 

American Football BAFA Division One Central

 

Sussex Thunder 17, South Wales Warriors 6

 

An unexpected team walk to Brighton Rugby Club awaited the South Wales Warriors for the final mile of their more than three hour, 200-mile journey to their second away game of the season.

A low bridge forced the Warriors to disembark from their team coach for a stroll in the south coast sunshine, carrying their helmets and shoulder pads, to the rugby club for their Saturday evening fixture.

But the rude-awaking seemed to ensure the Warriors were switched on come kick-off as they not only held out the Thunder’s quick strike offense for the first quarter but also took their first lead of any of their British American Football Association Division One Central fixtures this year.

Quarterback Max Ayoul Found wide receiver Elliot Bodman, who hauled in the deep pass, before breaking through a tackle to put the Warriors on the scoreboard in the first-half for the first time this season. The Thunder, however, blocked the extra point attempt to limit the deficit to six points.

And the Welshmen were unable to reach half-time with their lead intact as Thunder running back Ben Chukwu-Onu smashed over from the goal line for his side’s opening score.

The Thunder kicked the conversion to leave the Warriors trailing by a point at half-time.

The powerful and pacey Chukwu-Onu tormented the Warriors a fortnight ago during his side’s victory at Llanharan and the defense once more struggled to keep up with him as he raced in from 19 yards to extend the lead in the third quarter with the extra point taking the score to 14-6.

Late in the fourth quarter Thunder kicker Danny Wallace added three points to the total as he booted a 30-yard field goal for the final score of 17-6.

Despite falling to 0-and-five for the season, the Warriors will have taken pride from another competitive game against the division leaders who are unbeaten having played one less game than the Warriors.

Coach Geraint Roberts will now have a month to prepare his team for their next challenge. They don’t play again until they travel to Bedford on Sunday, June 11 to take on the Ouse Valley Eagles who triumphed in a 14-12 thriller at Llanharan on opening day.