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Senior Flag Report - June
June 29th, 2010
The Coventry Jets Senior Flag Team finally tasted victory at the fifth time of asking as they hosted games against two of the League’s Warrior sides, Woodham Black and South Wales. Head Coach Andrew Gambrill and his team exploded with passion and joy as they scored their fourth touchdown against Woodham Black. The Jets were criticised for the pitch markings by all the teams present on the day with Gambrill quick to defend his home venue, “We don’t have the money or the venue to pay out for white markings or endzone cones at the moment so lets just call it home field advantage. It was our first tournament at our venue and we will learn from this”.
Five teams were present on the day being the biggest gathering of teams this season meaning that the Jets had to wait for the third game of the day but it turned out to be worth the wait. Coventry’s first opponents were the Woodham Warriors Black team and the Jets, with a full roster for the first time this year, were in confident mood. First year quarterback Adam Grindrod looked comfortable early on completing passes to a receiving core that appeared greatly improved from their previous outings. The Jets put two touchdowns on the board early to take a 13-0 lead, offensive MVP Steve Timmins and the versatile Rob Coleman were on the receiving end as Grindrod hit full stride.
Woodham hit back quickly with a touchdown pass of their own only to see Shadrach McCook restore the two touchdown lead at the half. Trailing 20-7 heading into the final period, Woodham made it a one score game and set the Jets nerves tingling. Timmins quickly settled them as he picked up his second touchdown of the game to seal the Jets’ first victory. Gambrill added “We have been getting closer and closer to this but luck has not been on our side so far this season. That said there was no luck involved in this, every player played their part, the defence definitely stepped up. Tikisha McCook played both sides for the ball getting seven receptions and six tackles was worth her defensive MVP nomination today. Even our elder statesman Steve Podmore leading a passionate sideline deserves a massive mention.”
Buoyed by their victory the Jets then took on a very different team in the South Wales Warriors. In their second season, the Warriors stand as a formidable foe, with the enthusiasm of youth and incredible athletic ability they look to be one of the favourites for the league title lead by their Head Coach Tony Mansfield. This game had a South Wales victory written all over it as they had already disposed of Woodham Warriors White 40-0 earlier in the day. The game was very tight defensively though with the Warriors putting the only score on the board before half time.
Coventry scored early in the second half to tie the game with Coleman taking in a perfect long pass from Grindrod, a conversion followed to hand the Jets an unlikely lead. It would be short lived though as the Warriors took control of the game again with two quick, efficient touchdowns. It looked all over for the Jets but to their credit they didn’t give up and with five minutes remaining Carl James contributed a great diving pass break up on fourth and short to save another Warriors score. On the ensuing drive Timmins was again able to clutch in a vital grab to pull the deficit back to one score.
Luke Gambrill, efficient all day on defence got his just deserts with an interception with fifty seconds remaining and with just nine seconds remaining McCook caught a touchdown pass to pull the Jets within one point. Luke Gambrill squeezed into the endzone on the extra point to tie the game and send the Jets’ sideline into raptures as overtime beckoned.
South Wales had other ideas though and even as Coventry lined up in a prevent defence they launched a Hail Mary pass towards the Jets’ endzone. It proved to be a wise decision as Coach Mansfield placed faith in his receivers and wasn’t disappointed as they beat Coventry’s defensive backs to score a game winning touchdown silencing a vocal Jets’ sideline.
Coach Gambrill was visibly gutted at the final whistle but had to praise the Warriors receiver for the catch adding “I’m extremely pleased with all of my squad today, everyone one of them deserved an MVP award. We will build on this and get the wins we are just missing out on”. Coach Mansfield was full of praise for his opponents “That was the best game of football my guys have played this year, its always enjoyable to play the Jets and this made the trip worthwhile”.
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