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To everyone concerned with the Colts, now seems a good time to sum up this season and say a big thank you, because regardless of Sunday’s result, we have had a fantastic year of football. In January I joined a Colts team, which had ‘played’ 8, lost 8 in 2007. The returning players and staff, far from losing heart, were full of enthusiasm and committed to making improvements in the new season. And make improvements we have. We have strengthened the coaching team, gained new players and drawn on the experience of the returning players. We have embarked on a demanding schedule of games in which we have won 5, lost 2, tied 1 and deservedly made it to the play-offs. We have an excellent points difference and a running back with over 1000 rushing yards. As a bonus, we have made road trips that will go down in legend: who could forget Mouse’s unplanned bus ride to Manchester or Greg’s car keys? I would like to thank you all for your contributions to this achievement. We have made massive strides forward. Thank you to Emma for all her organisation, particularly of the Inverness trip, and also to my coaching team of Greg, Ian, David T and Dave A for their commitment to the team. Thanks to the supporters who have attended our games, home and away, and to our unique bus crew of Jason and Rachael. And thank you to everyone on the players’ roster for their intensity during the pre, regular and post- season, particularly our retiring players whose heart and personality will be missed. Keep up the desire and effort into the 2009 pre-season, and let’s see you all at the end-of-season ‘do’ on the 10th October to celebrate our successes. You are a winning team that has had a winning season. You can all be proud to call yourselves Wolverines. |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 26 August 2008 13:02 |
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End of Season Presentation Evening 2008 |
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The Lancashire Academy of American Football has announced that the annual End of Season Presentation Evening will this year be held on Friday 10th October at Blackburn RUFC. The event is open to all members of the Academy, and will include a buffet, disco, raffle and more. The evening will start at 7pm, and the awards ceremonies will start at 8pm sharp. Dress code for the evening is smart (suits/shirts/ties).
Last year's event was very well attended by all the teams in the Academy, and it is hoped that this year's event will be even better. Academy chairman Steve Norris recently said:
"Each year the Academy goes from strength to strength both on and off the field. This event is a chance for all teams to get together and celebrate the achievements of the season gone by, and with the presentation of awards, we can recognise the contributions of those people who have given their all to the cause. Of course it's also an opportunity for the teams to meet up and have some fun after long, hard, and hopefully successful seasons."
Tickets for the evening are £15 for adults, £10 for Colts (players only) and £10 for under-16s and these are available from Debbie Carr or Caroline Freeman. |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 September 2008 09:00 |
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Wolverine Colts Lay Highland Low |
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On a weekend of high drama, the Lancashire Wolverines Colts fought through adversity to complete a 57-0 rout of the Highland Wildcats in Inverness. The weekend began very differently from an average one for the Lancashire players; a 12pm meet on the Saturday not their usual preparation for a league match. However, having been together twenty-four hours by the time kick-off came on Sunday, the players seemed more tight-knit and ready for the challenge ahead.
As with most matches involving the Colts this year, the first half began slowly. The game was expected to be fraught with intense Anglo-Scottish rivalries, and the opening Lancashire drive underlined this point. Lancashire’s skilled running back corps was made to work hard for their opening score by tough hits from the Inverness defense: outside linebacker #21 particularly impressing. It was left to rookie running back Eden Quigley to score the first of his four touchdowns on the day, with a two-yard canter off the edge. The next drive of the quarter followed a similar pattern, this time with starting quarterback Johnny Glover crossing from one-yard. Having fluffed the first PAT, kicker Chris Astley rectified his mistake by chipping over for the extra two. He later scored the only other points of the first half, executing a medium range field goal, to leave the score 17-0 at the half.
Following a strong Lancashire defensive showing in the first half, the offense understood following half time that they had to come out and justify their teammates’ hard work in the second stanza. It was on the opening drive of the second half that the Colts finally began to show their true potential as an offensive unit. Although still displaying high effort levels, the Highland defense simply had no answer to the punishing running game of Quigley and co. Two touchdowns in the third quarter, both from Quigley, ended the game as a contest. It was now time for the Colts to show how what potential they had to be a genuine force in the championship this season.
Highland, having already convincingly beaten the Bolton Bulldogs earlier in the campaign, may have been surprised when another three touchdowns rained in during the fourth quarter. Quigley grabbed yet another for the tally, and also surpassed the 300 yard mark for the day, whilst first year receiver Joel Wilson grabbed a sensational forty-five yard catch.
It was later recognised that although Quigley managed 317 rushing yards in the game, he could not do the job without impeccable support from wingbacks Gareth Ball and James Littler, and intimidating lead blocking from fullback James Lago. Ball was awarded offensive MVP for a professional performance, in what is being considered his ‘break-out’ game.
I have somehow managed to near the end of this report without a meaningful mention of the Lancashire defense. However, that fact probably sums up how this defense operates. Led by the ever classy and mature performances of captain Craig Davidson, it goes about its business in a manner not unlike that of the current New England Patriots defense. Living somewhat in the shadow of their fast scoring, glorifying offense; the players are more than happy to accept that a zero on the opposition scoreboard means they have done their job. Four interceptions on the day (once each for DBs Phil Hooper, Sam Bloomfield and Jamie Horsley, with captain Davidson making the other), are merely part and parcel of a unit that gives its offense the opportunity to create chances and make scores.
Observers may look upon this game as the one that officially kick started the re-birth of the Lancashire club, and I doubt there are too many people around the league who will not be pleased to see that North West football finally has a team to call its own again. By Greg Freeman |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 July 2008 14:41 |
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Lancashire Send Bolton to the Doghouse |
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The scene was set for the game that had it all: intense derby rivalry, the return of old friends and foes, and a little bit of proper Lancashire weather. Both teams entered the game prepared for a battle that had been brewing since the Bolton Bulldogs club announced they would be entering this year’s league. Add to that a close fought encounter late last season that was just shaded by Lancashire, and the prequel script to the first league meeting of a long rivalry is written.
It was however, a rivalry that had to wait over a quarter for its first sight of real action. Following a first quarter that dragged through twelve minutes and ended 0-0, Lancashire’s offense finally began to show the qualities it had shown a few weeks previous in Yorkshire. Built on a solid running game led by mercurial halfback Eden Quigley, quarterback Johnny Glover made the most of his first start, nailing a 59-yard touchdown connection to makeshift receiver Phil Hooper. Glover completed this score with a two-point completion to Joel Wilson. A tense first half ended 8-0 to the Colts.
Bolton came out stronger in the second half, with their powerful running game causing the Colts defense a few problems up the middle; huge fullback Jimmy Allen making light work of the smaller defensive players. However, as history has shown already with this Lancashire defensive unit, times of adversity are the times that these young players relish. Captains Craig Davidson and Sam Bloomfield rallied the troops, and managed to take the team through to the end of the third quarter with the Bulldogs still unable to break the line. On the other side of the ball, Quigley was again making the moves that will almost certainly have him recognised as one of the premier running backs in youth football come the end of 2008. He ran in for the only score of the third quarter, leaving both Lancashire blockers, and more importantly Bolton tacklers, in his wake. It was a key moment for Head Coach and Offensive Co-ordinator Geoff Leigh, who saw every member of the offense finally fit in to his system, leading Quigley home with excellent downfield blocking.
Later in the game, with defensive players such as Sam Bloomfield (7 tackles, 3 assists), Chris Martin (5 tackles, 2 assists, 1 interception) and Stephen Donaldson-Ellison (6 tackles, 5 assists, 1 fumble recovery) making huge contributions to the Bolton washout, Quigley ended his day with another rushing score, and by completing a tally of 216 total yards on the ground.
With a final score of 20-0 in Lancashire’s favour, they can certainly feel they have the county bragging rights moving in to the second half of the season, however, the rivalry will be re-ignited on August 10th, and Bulldogs staff and players will feel they have the firepower to recover on home turf, aiming to quash any playoff aspirations their rivals may have. By Greg Freeman |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 July 2008 15:11 |
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Wolverines Aim to Hold Off Invasion |
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Following victories over Bolton Bulldogs and Manchester Titans in their recent double-header at Blackburn RUFC, the Lancashire Wolverines youth and senior teams face their next challenge this Sunday (1st June) with visits from Yorkshire side, Sheffield Tomahawks and Scottish side, Edinburgh Wolves in what promises to be yet another great day of American Football action.
The Wolverines youth side, the ‘Colts’ will kick-off first at 11.00am against a potent Sheffield side that has racked up an impressive 72 points in their previous two games. The Tomahawks face a Wolverines defense yet to concede any points this season, however, and the ‘men in black’ will be determined to maintain that record – this game should be a classic encounter!
The second game of the day will see Edinburgh travel to Blackburn with a won 2, lost 1 record. Edinburgh’s loss came in their opening match and since then they have gone on to beat tough opponents Merseyside Nighthawks and Chester Romans. Edinburgh seem to have turned a corner in their season and will travel to Ramsgreave Drive with confidence high. The Wolverines enter this game following their victory over local rivals Manchester Titans. That game saw the Wolverines build an impressive lead before mistakes allowed the Titans to almost snatch victory. Similar mistakes this week could prove costly as this fixture last year saw a close game, which the Wolverines eventually won 33-28.
The ‘Invasion’ kicks off at 11.00am at Blackburn RUFC. Food and drink will be available throughout the day and entrance is free.
For directions and more information on American Football in Lancashire, including how to get involved, please visit www.wolverineden.com or email head coach, Paul Horsburgh at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. The Lancashire Wolverines are 1 of 8 teams in the Lancashire Academy of American Football, which is able to offer the sport to boys and girls from the age of 7 upwards. |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 May 2008 12:50 |
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