LEEDS CELTICS

Both teams approached this game with a certain amount of anticipation - the Spartans wanting to make ammends after their 59-7 loss at the hands of the Durham Saints in Week 1, the Celtics wanting to begin their home campaign with a "W".

Kickoff was slightly later than expected due to the late arrival of the match ambulance, but once the game got underway, it became clear that it was going to be a close contest.

 

The Spartans started off with posession, but after their first play was chased down in the backfield by DE/LB Fred Gough, the rest of the series followed in a similiar fashion, and the Celtics defence came off the field 3 plays later.

 

The offence then took to the field, under the leadership of rookie quarterback James Warren, stepping in after an injury to the 1st string QB in the game last week. Initially the Celtics made some yards, including a reception from rookie WR Alex Mavor. However, small errors prevented the offence from capitalising on some opportunities, and were ultimately forced to punt the ball away.

 

Once again, this became the tone for the majority of the first half - the defence managed to hold the Sunderland offence at bay, with the front 7 locking up the run game, whilst the back 4 prevented the Spartans from making big gains through the air. As both teams went into the half-time break, the scores remained level at 0-0.

 

When play resumed, the Celtics came back out with a renewed determination to move the ball down the field. After the opening kickoff, the Celtics were able to move the ball all the way down to the Spartan's goalline, and despite a determined effort, were unable to get the few yards they needed for the score. Once again, possession changed hands, and the Celtics defence took to the field.

 

Following an attempt to take to the air, rookie Ben Smith came up with his first interception of the season, returning it around 15 yards before being brought down, setting up the offence with excellent field position to try and punch in a score. They seemed to relish this opportunity, and after driving down the field, a ball found TE Alex Hall, and the Celtics were up by 6. The two point conversion was also successful, with QB James Warren knifing into the corner of the endzone for the score, putting the home side up by 8.

 

On the resultant kickoff, a switch between the two Spartan returners tricked some of the coverage team, and the Spartans were able to make some yards on the return. Following this, a short pass to a sunderland running back went for a large gain, with several defenders missing tackling opportunities, allowing the player to get downfield, before eventually being tackled by Strong Safety Felix Titherley.

 

As play moved into the final quarter, the Spartans found themselves with their first real scoring opportunity, and from about 20 yards out, a lofted ball landed in the hands of their reciever, and despite attempts from two defensive backs to knock the ball out,  the Sunderland player made the catch, leaving the score at 6-8. The Spartans also elected for a 2-point conversion, which they scored in a similiar manner to the Celtics, with the QB rolling out and finding a corner of the endzone, to leave the scores once again level at 8-8.

 

An excellent kickoff return from Toby Richardson left the Celtics with only 30 or so yards to go for the score, and despite Fred Gough stepping in at Fullback for the offense with some excellent power running, the Celtics were once again unable to find the endzone, with a pass aimed at a Leeds player being batted away by the Sunderland defence.

 

With about 7 minutes to go in the final quarter, the Spartans once again found themselves in a scoring position, and, adopting a new formation, tried to first run the ball straight into the endzone. However, this was initially unsuccessful, and it was a QB run that was the Celtics undoing, with the Sunderland player just crossing the plane of the goal-line before he was stopped - sadly this was enough, and the Spartans were up by 6. The extra point attempt was blocked however, and so the scores stood at 14-8.

 

Once again, the kick-off return set up the Celtics with a good position to try and get back the lead, and a deep pass to Alex Mavor connected, and it seemed like the Celtics were back in with a chance. However, the receiver was brought down short of the goal-line, and 4 downs later, the Spartan defence had once again held. As the clock wound down, the visiting side elected to take a knee and run out the clock, leaving the Leeds defence powerless to stop them, and the final score at 14-8.