MATCH REPORT: BAFA DIVISION 2 EAST. GAME 7. NORWICH DEVILS @ OUSE VALLEY EAGLES

 

The penultimate game of the 2022 regular season saw the Norwich Devils travel back to the Bedford Athletic Rugby Club in the hot sun. The Devils had already clinched the East but were looking for points difference for seeding in the playoffs.

The ground was baked rock solid and the earth was cracking in places due to the complete lack of moisture. It was going to be tough.

The Devils would receive and they started their first drive on their own 27. Running back Tim Johnson put together a series of strong runs and first-time starter El Foley threaded a ball to Aaron Wheatley as the team marched down field. Disaster struck though when Tim Johnson had the ball stripped on his own 45.

Ouse took over but they couldn’t capitalise and punted. Norwich started their second drive with a nice 15 yard run right, with Francisco Santana, but he then fumbled on the next play and Ouse got the ball back. It looked like it was going to be a repeat of the Norwich Ipswich game with turnovers being a problem.

Ouse punted after another 3 and out and the ball was sent high. Devils receiver Fred Harris stood under it but it slid straight through his hands. The ball bounced around and Ouse players dived around Harris’ feet. Francisco Santana ran in to help just as the ball was batted in his direction. He picked it up, ran left and spun out of a tackle before turning on the jets. The Eagles players had converged on the loose ball and were now out of position. It was a foot race that only Santana was going to win. He ran the ball back 102 yards for the opening score. The 2 point attempt failed. Devil were up 6-0.

The Eagles received the kick-off and set to work. They ended up with a 3^rd and short but their running back was stopped in the hole by Devils’ MLB Seth Shipley. Ouse Valley went for it on 4^th down and ran a sweep to the right. Safety Lewis Norton dived at the feet of #39 and tripped him just short of the line. Turnover on downs.

 

The Devils could not take advantage of the defensive stand as QB El Foley was intercepted by the Ouse safety, on 3^rd down, after a MLB blitz straight up the middle.

The Eagles got a drive together and got down to the Devils’ 15 before stalling and attempting a field goal. It sailed wide right and the Devils got the ball back for the first time in the second quarter.

Norwich then put together a drive with a run from Francisco Santana and a big catch and run from Fred Harris. The drive failed in the red zone however and the Devils went for a field goal of their own. This kick was also no good and the score remained 6-0.

Both teams had another possession and the Devils soon found themselves back in the red zone. Yet again the drive stalled and they tried for a field goal. This time kicker Ian Latham’s attempt was good and the score extended to 9-0.

Ouse Valley had changed their attack since the last meeting and came out more aggressive in the passing game. Unfortunately, they were plagued by drops and soon had to punt again. This time, their punter mis-kicked and the resulting knuckle ball went straight at Lewis Norton. He caught in in stride and returned it for an Ouse net of 1 yard.

El Foley and the Devils moved the ball downfield with a great pass to Aaron Wheatley and some runs from Francisco Santana and FB Rich Gray. The ball was finally punched in on a hot route adjustment pass to Adam Jones. The 2 point attempt was no good. The score was now 15-0.

 

Ouse Valley put together another drive and got out to midfield before #39 threw a deep ball right only to be intercepted by safety Ian Latham.

The Devils took over but a strip sack by #22 stalled the drive. The devils jumped on the loose ball but the damage was done and they had to punt. The Eagles fared no better and punted themselves soon after.

A strong jinking run from Santana got the ball down to the 20 before El Foley hit Adam Jones to draw the Devils even closer to the end zone. The drive was capped off with an off tackle run to the left by Santana. He trotted in and this took the score to 21-0. The 2 point attempt was dropped.

Ouse Valley’s next drive was ended by a second Ian Latham interception. The safety tracked a severely underthrown ball from #39 and caught it close to the side-line. He then tapped his feet to stay in bounds before being tackled from behind by Eagles receiver #88.

The Devils then rested El Foley. He had led several long drives into Eagles territory and had helped give the Devils a solid lead. Jeremy Mapalo took the reigns. He hit Josh Segalo on a crossing pattern and later on an out before hitting TE Charlie Keohane on a corner route for the score. The drive was punctuated by runs and catches from Mattia Terenghi, Francisco Santana and a key conversion run from power back Rich Gray. The PAT kick from Adam Jones was good. The score stood at 28-0.

One more drive from Norwich saw Mapalo intercepted by Ouse #28. Ouse Valley took over deep in their own territory and they fought to avoid the safety whilst running the clock out. They succeeded and time expired.

The final score was 28-0. Norwich would move into the last game of the regular season with a 7-0 record. Ouse gave the Devils a guard of honour and congratulated the players and coachers for the divisional win. It had been a good 3 game series between the two teams, and while Ouse had not come away with a win in any of them, they had shown grit and determination throughout.

Roll on Ipswich in the final game at Devils Field.

Photos courtesy of Big Red

https://www.facebook.com/BigRedPhotography