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The Bank Holiday blues came early for the Redditch Arrows in their second game of the season against the Sussex
Thunder.
Having successfully navigated the M25 on their way to Crawley they started the game with high hopes of bouncing back
from the defeat at Oxford.
Things looked ominous with the opening Sussex drive making steady progress towards the Arrows goal line. RB Smyth
placed the first points on the board with the Arrows defenders playing the role of spectators as Sussex swept around the left end.
With the Arrows offensive drive failing to spark they were forced to punt and a great effort from rookie Matt Gavin
saw the ball go out of bounds on the Sussex 1 yard line.
Two plays later and lady luck smiled on the Arrows as outstanding tackling saw the ball ripped from the grasp of
Sussex running back. Veteran RB Dave Mills then took the ball in from 4 yards out to even the score at 6 apiece.
The game settled into a tough battle with neither team finding a way to add to their total. With halftime looming,
Sussex QB Smart guided his team to the Arrows 5 yard line.
It was now or never, with the game in the balance conceding a score would have severely dented the Arrows confidence
and given them a mountain to climb in the second half.
A magnificent tackle by CB Andy McAnenny just short of the goal line was followed on the very next play by an
outstanding athletic performance from DE Adam 'Bjorn' Savage making the initial hit and grimly holding on until the rest of the defense could bring the runner down.
The Arrows couldn't find a way to capitalise on their changing fortune and Sussex took over, with 2 minutes
remaining in the half. However it wasn't to be when they fumbled the ball into the welcoming arms of DE Dan Jacobs for another turnover.
In the second half, spirits were lifted when an errant snap sailed over the head of the Sussex punter who recovered
the ball in his own end zone moments before being tackled by LB Jim Mortimer and DE Matt Sheldon, scoring a Safety to give the Arrows the lead 8:6.
The joy was short lived however, when things went from bad to worse for the Arrows. QB Phil De Cassan, making his
first start, had two passes intercepted. The first was bad, being returned for a touchdown. The second was worse, with the ball returned to the Arrows 5 yard line the game was delayed while
De Cassan received treatment on the field for a rib injury.
The medical team were kept busy throughout the second half as the game turned into a war of attrition. Injuries to C
Stuart 'Sponge Bob' Potts-Perkins (foot) and RB Al Harris (ankle) saw both players added to the list of those taking no further part in the game.
Backup QB Adrian Room had some success but not even a spectacular catch in traffic by WR Phil Grove could get the
Arrows back into the game.
The superb effort of LB Will Powell, refusing to be blocked on a blitz, who forced yet another turnover
couldn't quell the building sense of frustration that finally boiled over resulting in DL Noel Fischer being ejected from the game.
A 32 yard field goal from Matt Gavin clawed back three points in what turned out to be the final score
of a game that ended Sussex 20 Redditch 11.
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