nEssex Spartans running back Steven Hull celebrates scoring against the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders. Pic by Mike Cartwright of Ponderosa Pics www.ponderosa.org
ESSEX Spartans American Football team have one foot in their leagues end-of-season playoffs despite a 16-13 loss to divisional rivals Bedfordshire Blue Raiders.
The loss drops the Spartans into a potential three-way tie with the Raiders and Norwich Devils, but the team can take comfort in knowing that only a Devils victory over the unbeaten London Olympians would spell the end of their season.
In a hard-fought contest, the travelling Spartans were dealt a major blow when Steven Hull was forced to sit out the first half though injury. Hull watched from the sidelines as the teams played out a scoreless first quarter.
Bedfordshire opened the scoring in the second quarter, dropping Spartans quarterback James Dawson in his own endzone for a 2-point safety. However, the swarming Spartans defense forced a Bedfordshire error, Tom Marston intercepting a wayward pass and returning it for a touchdown and a 7-2 Spartans halftime lead.
The Bedfordshire rushing attack finally broke through in the third quarter, and the Blue Raiders found themselves back in the lead with an 8-7 advantage. Once again, their lead was to be short-lived as Hull returned to the game with a spectacular 50-yard rush for a touchdown putting the Spartans back on top, 13-8.
Despite Marston’s second interception of the game in the forth quarter, the Spartans struggled as Bedfordshire marched down the field in the games final moments. With less than a minute to play, the Blue Raiders powered in for the games final touchdown and emerged victorious, 16-13.
Spartans Head Coach Marc Saunders said, “This was a good effort by the players who travelled to Bedfordshire, but sadly it wasn’t quite enough on the day. We now need to put this behind us, and focus on the playoffs. The Spartans are not done yet!"
The Billericay-based Spartans will now return to training at Hannakins Farm and await their fate when the Devils and Olympians face off on August 22. For more information on the team, visit their website at www.essexspartans.co.uk.