The Lancashire Wolverine Colts kicked off the first game of the Lancashire Academy of American Football’s double header on Sunday when they took on the Gateshead Senators Youth. The game was a rematch of the 2009 Northern Final. With another strong showing the Colts triumphed with a 22-0 win and preserved their unbeaten record in 2010.
The Colts received the opening kickoff but after a decent return their first offensive effort did not yield much in reward. This was quickly mirrored by the Gateshead offence and they too were forced to cede possession early. The Senators next drive was kept alive with a penalty against the Colts’ defence but when Jon Varney burst through the offensive line and engulfed the Gateshead quarterback for a sack, the Senators were again forced to punt.
Both the ensuing return and the beginning of the Colts offensive drive featured sloppy fumbles. However, the mistakes seemed to give the team the wake-up call they perhaps needed. After Andrew Newby had recovered one of the fumbles, wide receiver Rihan Malik made an outstanding catch that netted the offence a 40 yards gain. This was followed up with rushing gains by Jonny Glover and Alex Hodson that pushed the Colts inside the Gateshead ten yard line. Finally in rhythm, GB running back Ryan Morton capped off the drive when his powerful run up the middle resulted in a touchdown. The Colts added two points when Ste Czarnecki caught a short pass and tipped-toed inside the pylon, giving the Colts an 8-0 lead.
Despite receiving two quick possessions, one from the kick-off and the other stemming from a fumble they had recovered in Colts territory, Gateshead failed to counter. The visitors were made to pay for this when the Colts offence put together a second scoring drive. Tight end Sebastian Kerridge made a tremendous leaping catch before Lawrence Quinn ran up the middle for a first down. Assisted by the good blocking of his offensive line, Quinn again kept the ball on the next play this time rushing for a touchdown. The extra points attempt was wide and with no further scoring Colts lead at the break was 14-0.
Gateshead had the first offensive series of the second half but could not carry over the little success they had found running the ball at the end of the first half. The second half mirrored the early proceedings in the first with possession flipping back and forth. However, a punt by the Colts was fortuitously ruled to have been downed by Rihan Malik at the Gateshead one yard line. Starting with hazardous field position, Gateshead were soon forced to punt and with a poor boot the Senator’s bad field position quickly transferred to great position for the Colts. Delivering the knockout blow the Colts took advantage of this situation. Mike Frayne put together a series of tough runs and the drive was completed with a run by Jonny Glover. Alex Hodson’s extra points attempt was good, leaving the score at 22-0.
Gateshead’s attempts for a consolation were thwarted as the Colts looked to preserve a shutout. Jonathan Frayne intercepted the Gateshead quarterback and Seb Kerridge made a last ditch, touchdown saving tackle when it looked as though a fake punt-cum-run had caught the Colts napping. Before the final whistle Kerridge also had a 40 yard weaving run for a touchdown chalked off for a penalty. This meant that the neither team managed to tack anything on to the earlier 22-0 score-line which remained as the full time result.
The excellent win means that next Sunday’s away fixture against the Leeds Varsity Bobcats will be a battle between two unbeaten division rivals. Furthermore, the game could have a potentially huge bearing on who clinches the division crown and a home playoff game.
Article by Chris Ollett
Last Updated on Wednesday, 07 July 2010 10:56
Clash of the Titans
The Lancashire Wolverine Colts travelled to Broughton Park this past Sunday to face the Manchester Titans’ Youth where they continued their positive start to the season with an impressive 26-3 victory.
Always a fierce rivalry at Senior’s level, the first meeting between the two Youth teams looked to take on that same intensity. This was proved true right from the opening kickoff when Sebastian Kerridge halted the Titans’ return with a bone-crunching hit. The Titans opening drive proved short and a poor punt left the Colts with good opening field position. However, with penalties negating a couple of would-be first downs the Colts were also forced to end their opening possession with a punt. The Titans’ second attempt proved no more successful as the Colts defence suffocated the opposition with sacks by Andrew Newby and team captain Jon Varney.
The first quarter ended with a Colts’ fumble on an exchange between quarterback and running back which was pounced upon by the Titans’ defence. Looking to capitalise their offence drove inside the red zone. Despite this promise a timely sack by Jake Hodgkinson on 3rddown made sure that the stingy Colts defence prevented entrance into their endzone. Forced to settle for a field goal the hosts took a 3-0 lead.
The next few series saw both teams trade possession on downs and with punts. However, this relatively uninspiring passage of play was given the inspiring jolt it needed when a huge hit from safety John Frayne forced the ball loose from the Titans ball carrier. Ste Czarnecki duly obliged in recovering the fumble for the Colts. Pouncing on the clear momentum shift the Colts’ offence then lowered the boom as they engineered their first touchdown score of the game. A beautifully lofted pass by quarterback Lawrence Quinn found tight end Sebastian Kerridge who completed his tidy route from a split out position by securing the ball as he strode into the endzone. With an unsuccessful extra points attempt the half time score was 6-3.
To open the second half the Colts’ offence engineered a drive of outstanding quality – a perfect balance of flare and clockwork efficiency. Quarterback Johnny Glover delivered a succession of passes to wide receiver Rihan Malik, who in extraordinary form, continually reeled in the passes. This combined with the powerful running of Alex Hodson, who ploughed through the Titans’ defence all day, set the Colts up at the Titans’ one yard line. All that remained was for Johnny Glover to sneak into the endzone and cap off the outstanding drive. This extended the Colts lead to 12-3 and stayed that way following an unsuccessful extra points attempt.
Clearly in the ascendency the Colts defence really began to turn the screws and suppressed everything the Manchester offence could muster. Under unrelenting pressure the Titans quarterback was sacked multiple times, again by Andrew Newby and Jake Hodgkinson as well as Jamie Horsley who took advantage of the rare opportunity of a cornerback blitz. With the Titans’ resistance wilting the Colts’ offence added two more scores. The first came at the end of the third quarter when Sebastian Kerridge took a reverse at around midfield, weaved his way through the Titans defence and then raced away down the right sideline for a long touchdown run. Quarterback Lawrence Quinn then sent a quick pass out to Christian Facchin who caught the ball uncovered in the endzone. This left the Colts sitting with a comfortable 24-3 lead. Another two points were tagged onto the Colts’ score when an awry snap sailed right over the head of the Titans’ punter and out of the back of the endzone for a safety. This completed the scoring and at 26-3 the Colts claimed their second successive victory.
The Wolverine Colts will next face the Gateshead Senators at Blackburn Rugby Club on Sunday 4th July. The game promises to be a thrilling encounter that pitches the two contestants of last year’s Northern Final against each other.
Report by Chris Ollett
Last Updated on Friday, 09 July 2010 19:57
It's news to us!
Following another day of depressing news items, the WISH FM news team put a shout-out for some good news to broadcast on their 4 o'clock slot today. Colts Team Manager Caro Freeman answered the call and was the lucky one chosen from many to take the prime time slot. Sure enough, after several dreary headline items, the newsreader told listeners across the wide WISH FM area about the Colts winning clash with Manchester Titans on Sunday, then went "over to Team Manager Caroline Freeman" for a live quote, expressing her delight at the result. Proof for all to hear that the Academy is making headline news in Lancashire.
Listen to Caro's good news here:
Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 June 2010 20:08
Academy represents Great Britain
Players Ryan Morton, Jamie Horsley and Jonathon Varney joined coaches Simon Purcell and Sam Bloomfield in the crucial qualifier, in which GB Lions beat Holland 18-13 in a thrilling game.
After the game, GB Lions defensive backs coach and Wolverine Colts defensive Co-ordinator, Simon Purcell said: ‘The performance by the GB Lions team was superb – it was a true team performance and one that everyone who travelled to Holland should be proud to have been a part of. All the Lancashire players performed well and contributed to the teams win, especially Wolverines team captain, Varney who was the leading tackler on defense’
The next step for GB is a 4-team tournament in Serbia later in the year and with a total of EIGHT players in the squad the Wolverines are hoping for yet more success.
Due to the lack of funding available the players and staff have to support themselves in order to represent Great Britain. If anybody is interested in sponsoring any of the players or the Wolverines please contact Greg Adam at
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. For more information about the Lancashire Academy of American Football please visit www.wolverineden.com
Last Updated on Tuesday, 08 June 2010 15:48
Colts start with a win
Hoping to improve on their runner-up place in the 2009 BAFL Youth Final, the Lancashire Wolverine Colts opened the 2010 season at home. For their first game in the newly formed BAFACL, the Colts hosted rookie team the Lanarkshire Longhorns. The Colts won the coin toss, extending a streak stemming from last season of the Colts winning every toss. Electing to receive, the Colts put the ball in the hands of new starting QB Loz Quinn, who had spent all of last season waiting in the wings for this opportunity. A drive stalled by some good run defence by Lanarkshire resulted in a punt, which Lanarkshire returner Andrew Steen muffed, but managed to fall on to preserve Lanarkshire’s possession. With Lanarkshire starting at the halfway line, the Lancashire defence, starting 5 rookies, struggled to initially contain Lanarkshire’s GB TE Craig Samuel. However, behind some tough tackling from captains Jon Varney and Kyle Martindale, the Colts D shored up their cracks and forced the Longhorns into a kicking situation. An awry snap caused the Lanarkshire holder to scramble out and try to complete a pass. His pass was completed, but unfortunately for the Longhorns, to the Colts rookie DE Mark Balcombe. The two teams traded punts and the Colts GB CB Jamie Horsley nearly came away with an interception to halt a Lanarkshire drive, only to have it called back for a controversial pass interference call. Two plays later, however, an attempted throw away by Lanarkshire’s QB found its way into the arms of Lancashire’s NT Craig Oliphant, who took the ball back about 40 yards to open the scoring against his fellow countrymen. The extra point attempt by Alex Hodson was wide to the right. The Colts defence had appeared to have scored once again, this time in LB Kyle Martindale returning an interception for 6, only to have this play called back on a 'roughing the passer' call. Martindale later on the drive committed an unnecessary roughing penalty, moving the Lanarkshire offence just outside the redzone. A QB scramble then took the Longhorns to 10 yards away from the Lancashire endzone. However, a goal-line stand by the Lancashire defence left the score at 6-0 to the home team.
On the ensuing Lancashire drive, a fumbled handoff resulted in a Lanarkshire score, equalling the score out to 6-6 with the Longhorns missing the extra point attempt. Half-time followed shortly after and Head Coach Geoff Leigh made it clear he expected more in the second half. Some initial success by the Lancashire offence subsided, with the Colts being forced to punt. This punt was downed by the Colts at the 2 yard line, which led to a subsequent safety by rookie DE Jake Hodgkinson, throwing the Lanarkshire QB down inside their own endzone, leaving the score at 8-6 to the defending Northern champions. The two teams once again traded punts. When Lancashire next received the ball on offence, they handed the reins to veteran QB Jonny Glover, who made the most of his opportunity, driving the Colts from their own 40 yard line all the way to the endzone for a score, completing 4 of his 5 passes attempted on the drive. TE Seb Kerridge received 3 of those passes and scored on an athletic diving, toe-dragging catch in the back of the endzone for six points. Tailback and kicker Alex Hodson then added the extras and took the score to 16-6 in favour of the Lancashire outfit. This scoreline would remain for the rest of the game; with team captain LB Jon Varney picking up an interception on the final Lanarkshire drive to seal the deal.
The MVPs for the day were Seb Kerridge offensively, Jake Hodgkinson defensively, Andrew Newby for the special teams and the team MVP was team captain Jon Varney. The entire Lancashire Wolverine Colts outfit would like to extend thanks and congratulations to the Lanarkshire Longhorns teams, who looked impressive in their first ever competitive game. The Wolverines next game is away to local rivals the Manchester Titans on June 13th at Broughton Park. For more details, please go to www.wolverineden.com or email HC Geoff Leigh at
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.
