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The Redditch Arrows emerged as champions of Division 2 - Central on Sunday, as they defeated the Chester Romans
34-6 in a convincing performance. With Chester having lost only one game all year (their home fixture against Redditch) and the Arrows being undefeated, it was a battle of in-form teams with
divisional bragging rights at stake.
It was the Arrows who came out of the blocks the fastest with the defense forcing a quick 3-and-out to set the
offense up with the ball. After driving down to the Romans 20-yard line, the Arrows were then faced with a tough 4th and ten, which was converted when quarterback Richard Wilde fired a pass
to leading receiver Phil Grove. He then scampered the rest of the way for the crucial first score, with Kicker John Riddell adding the extra point. The Romans next drive was snuffed out when
linebacker Ian Looms crashed through for his fifth sack of the season. Unfortunately Chester's quarterback injured his shoulder on the play and was unable to return to action, meaning
that Redditch could concentrate more on stopping the Romans main threat - running back James Tootle. Arrows quarterback Richard Wilde soon got the scoreboard moving again as he capped another
impressive drive by hitting wide receiver Steve Bell on an out pattern from 10 yards out, to bring the first quarter score to 14-0.
The second quarter followed the same pattern as the first, with the Arrows in a dominant mood on both sides of
the ball. A 42-yard reception by WR Neil Solomon got the Arrows offense on track again, and running back Ian Lakin followed his fine performance last week with a 2-yard blast up the middle
for the Arrows third touchdown of the day (converted by Kicker John Riddell), and a 21-0 lead to the home side. With a couple of minutes left in the half, the Arrows offense got the coverage
they were looking for and were able to exploit it when quarterback Wilde found receiver Phil Grove wide open across the middle. There was no catching Grove from there as he sprinted in to
complete the one play, 67 yard drive. Kicker John Riddell brought the first half scoring to a close with his fourth PAT of the day.
Defenses had the upper hand in the third quarter with linebackers Andy Mortimer (11 tackles), Ian Looms (8) and
lineman Adam Talbot (7) leading the way. The Romans came the closest to scoring in the period, but Andy Mortimer's big hit on the Romans Tight End was good enough to dislodge the ball in
the endzone. As the quarter drew to a close the Romans were given a tremendous opportunity when a terrible bounce led to a 4 yard Arrows punt. Three consecutive personal foul penalties on the
Arrows defense left the Romans with a 1st and goal from the 2 yard line as the final period commenced, and from there, Chester's runningback James Tootle got his side's first
touchdown, and left the score at 28-6.
Displaying the same team spirit that has been the key to the season thus far, the Arrows were keen to get the
final score to cap off their day. This was secured when, following a 37 yard hook up between Grove and Wilde (who finished the day with a spectacular 139.2 passer rating), running back Mark
Collet was able to run in from a yard out to leave the Arrows with a very satisfying 34-6 triumph.
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