American Football BAFA Division One Central
By Twm Owen
Ouse Valley Eagles 3, South Wales Warriors 0
A lacklustre and error strewn performance by both sides saw the South Wales Warriors travel back home from Bedford on Sunday on the wrong end of a football score.
Though there was just one score in it, the final scoreline was more typical of the round ball game than gridiron football.
Eagles kicker Mike Turner put the home side up by three points with a second quarter field goal and that was the last time either team troubled the score keeper until early in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors looked to have taken the lead, and set themselves up for a first win of the campaign, but what looked like a touchdown pass was called back for a flag on the play.
Otherwise, though, both teams struggled to put together effective offensive drives.
Justin LaRoda, who played at quarterback when he led the Eagles to 14-12 victory over the Warriors in the opening game of the season at Llanharan, put in a star performance on defense.
The New Jersey native continually thwarted the Warriors attack and claimed three of his side’s impressive haul of seven interceptions.
But it was a Mikey Davies pick in the second quarter that prevented the Warriors from opening the scoring.
The visitors had recovered an Eagles fumble at their host’s eight-yard line but on third down a pass to the endzone was intercepted by Davies.
The Eagles were unable to capitalise on the turnover and after an exchange of possessions the Ealges had the ball back at their own 12-yard line and from there they drove the ball all the way to the Warriors two yard line.
The Welshmen drove the Eagles back to the 10-yard line and on fourth down Turner was called on to put the ball through the uprights.
The Warriors attempted to threaten the Eagles once more – inside the final two minutes – but LaRoda again seized on a wayward pass to all but secure vicotry for the Eagles who now have three wins and two losses to move to joint second in the table.
The Warriors, who’ve lost all six of their fixtures, are back on the road on Sunday when they return to Southampton, the scene of their only other shut-out this season, for a second fixture against the Solent Thrashers.