Photo: Steve Chick Photography
In an SFC 1 – West showdown of the Bournemouth Bobcats vs Bristol Apache there was a sense of an intriguing match-up between two teams who met last season and shared the spoils with this fixture ending in a 23-13 win for Bournemouth.
Going into the game, these two teams had experienced differing starts to the season. Coach Gary Gardner of Bristol Apache (and Bristol University Barracuda in the BUCS League) was pleased with their hot start to the season following two wins with a combined score of 68 points to 7. In contrast, Bournemouth were playing their second game of the season following an 8-19 loss to South Wales Warriors in week one and looking to bounce back.
Unfortunately, Bournemouth were thrown a curve ball before the game had started as Head Coach Simon McLean was kitting up at Quarterback for the game. Starting QB Sam Scott, who is also QB for the Royal Navy team who won for the first time mid-week, was ruled out for the game.
Apache won the toss and deferred. Starting on their 29-yard line, Bournemouth moved the ball with a balanced attack. During the drive, both sides gave up a 15-yard penalty and with the ball on the Apache 30-yard line, Linebacker Adam Davies sacked Mclean for a loss of 6 yards. On the following play, DB Marcin Olech intercepted the ball at the 19-yard line with a 6-yard return.
Both sides then traded punts before the Apache put a good drive together. A run-heavy attack moved the ball down to the Bobcat 27-yard line. On a 4th and 5, Paddy King sacked Apache QB Fen Trudgian for a loss of 5 yards to end the first quarter with no score.
The second quarter saw short drives and more punts before the Apache completed an 11-play drive starting on their 17-yard line. The Apache completed six run plays and five incomplete passes but still managed to move the ball into the red zone for the first time in the game. The drive stalled with three plays from the 11-yard line where James Baines kicked a 29-yard field goal for the first points of the game.
Photo: Steve Chick Photography
After the kick-off, on third down, Bournemouth QB McLean was picked off by Baines to give the ball back to the Apache on the Bobcats 37-yard line. Trudgian completed a 15-yard pass to Keiran Calvert for the touchdown. Baines kicked the extra point to give Apache a 10 to 0 lead.
At the end of the first half Hayden Lee, of Bristol Apache, picked off a pass at the Bobcats 40 and ran it back for the touchdown where unfortunately, McLean was injured on the play, so the first half ended with backup QB Oscar Merridew in the game. An extra point by Baines finished the half 17-0 to Bristol.
The Apache opened the second half with a 32-yard kick-off return by Kieran Calvert. A balanced drive, helped along by a Bournemouth penalty, saw them get down to the Bobcat 1-yard line, with Shaun Griffin punching the ball in on the ground for the TD and along with another PAT by Baines the score was 24-0. Bournemouth had an 11-play drive to start their second half, but it finished in a turnover on downs following an unsuccessful fake field goal run.
Beyond the end of the third quarter and into the fourth there were several drives ended by turnovers on downs and fumbles and going into the end of the game Bristol recovered a fumble which ended in a touchdown pass from Trudgian to Nathan Lester and with another pick 6 from Hayden Lee in the following drive Apache found themselves 38-0 winners following Baines’ fifth PAT of the game. The victory puts Bristol Apache alone at the top of the SFC 1 – West with an average winning margin of 33 points with a very stout defence.
The Bournemouth Bobcats on the other hand will be looking to reverse their fortunes and now prepare for South Wales Warriors next week looking for revenge from their week one loss against the Warriors. Looking slightly further ahead it seems their clash against Hereford on the 12th May could be a crucial tie for their Division 1 future.
Notable stats
QB Fen Trudgian – 11 of 26 passes completed, 62 yards and 2 touchdowns
DB Hayden Lee – 2 interceptions for 75 yards and 2 touchdowns
RB Ed Green – 15 rushes for 87 yards