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The second game of the Wolverines' current run of four saw the Lancashire side travel to Sheffield to play league newcomers the Sheffield Predators. The Predators stepped into the league at the last minute to take the place of the Redditch Arrows after the Midlands side were unable to participate in the 2010 season and whilst results haven't gone their way, clearly the Predators are supported by a strong backroom staff and deep squad that will see results turn around in the future.
The game started with the Wolverines receiving the ball and it didn't take long for the first score of the day. Quarterback David Mead rolled out to his right, saw room in front of him to run and went for it. Seventy five yards later he was in the endzone. Kicker Danny Morton used his sure right boot to kick the extra point.
With the Wolverines Defence not in the mood to concede yardage, it didn't take long for the Lancashire side to get on the scoresheet again. The second offensive drive saw Mead spray the ball around with receptions for youth graduate Tight End Chris Astley and wide receiver Mike Jay. With the ball at the five yard line, running back Eden Quigley bounced a run to the outside and scampered into the endzone untouched. Morton was again automatic and put the score at 14-0. The first quarter was completed with one more score for the Wolverines, with Tight End Rick Cole executing a spectacular catch to take the Wolverines up 21-0 after another successful PAT.
Yet again the Lancashire Defence held strong during the second quarter. Led by Linebackers Carl Rimmer and Martin Williams, the Wolverines stopped the Predators from reaching the endzone despite flashes in the passing game from Sheffield Quarterback Andrew Hukin aided by reliable receiver John Gilmartin and tight end Jeremy May. The Wolverines scored two more touchdowns before half time, both on passes to tight ends. Mead found Chris Astley first, followed by Chris Plant who converted to tight end this season. The score at the half was 33-0.
In the second half the game calmed down somewhat, with both teams able to drive but scores proving harder to come by. It was late in the third quarter when Wolverines running back Anatoly Kulikov forced his way through the Sheffield defence for his first touchdown of the season. With a successful conversion, the score went to 40-0 at the end of the third.
The Wolverines rang the changes in the fourth quarter, yet still managed to perform at a high level. On the day the dominant defence forced a fumble through Sam Bloomfield which was recovered by Chris Astley and intercepted the Sheffield quarterback five times with picks for Ben Clark, Danny Morton, Lex Dunn, Ian Jeffries and Rick Willoughby. Eden Quigley made his senior Quarterback debut for the fourth quarter and on his first drive took the Wolverines offence down the field before punching the ball in himself on a quarterback sneak. Danny Morton completed the scoring for the day by converting the extra point, leaving the final score at 47-0 to the Lancashire side.
After the game, Head Coach Paul Horsburgh said:
"I'm pleased with our execution in all phases of the game today. We started quickly and didn't allow Sheffield into the game. The defence was excellent as always and the offence put points on the board on the ground and through the air. We now possess a winning record for the first time this season and we have every intention of building on that."
The Wolverines carry on their run of games with two home games in the next two weeks. First up is the Hull Hornets, followed by the Staffordshire Surge on the 4th of July. Visit the Wolverines website for more information:
http://www.wolverineden.com/ |