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The Arrows continued their winning season on Sunday with a tough 6-0 win in the BAFL quarter final match up
against Dundee Hurricanes.
With both teams possessing outstanding defensive units points were always going to be difficult and a swirling
wind helped neither side to achieve much in the air and a stalemate on the ground.
With both the Hurricanes and Arrows defense not giving an inch both offense struggled to make much headway during
a tense first half. Despite having better field position for most of the half, the Hurricanes offense struggled to capitalize on the chances they had to put the Arrows defense under
pressure. This was also however not helped when they lost their starting Quarterback to injury early on.
The Arrows also didn't help their own cause when they twice gifted Dundee with the ball deep in their own half,
once on a fumble and once on an interception. Despite this the Arrows defense showed why they are so highly rated when they forced Dundee back on both occasions for no gain.
Dundee had the best chance to take the lead late on in the half. With a first and goal form the Arrow 5 it looked
that the visitors would take a half time lead. Arrows Ian Looms however had other ideas and a sack and forced fumble saw the Arrows recover the ball to run out the half.
The second half started disastrously for the Arrows when on the kick off they fumbled the return and gave ball to
Dundee deep in their own half. Again Dundee failed to capitalize on this opportunity.
As the game went on it looked more and more likely that one score would settle the match. Dundee thought they had
gained the critical advantage when they produced the biggest offensive play of the day only to have it called back on a blocking penalty.
Both team were now going 3 and out for most of their possessions. With time running out the Arrows finally got
the ball back in good field position. Starting the drive with 10 minutes to go from midfield, the Arrows finally started to get some openings in the line and strong running from Ian Lakin set
the Arrows up with first and goal from the 7 yard line. Alan Harris then added 5 yards and Dave Mills went in from the 2 yard line for the critical score.
Dundee responded by going to the Arrows and managed o put a drive together however eventually Arrows defensive
pressure paid off and forced the ball over on downs. With 1.50 left on the clock the Arrows only had to get a first down to finish the game. On 4th and short the Arrows made a critical mistake and a delay of game penalty forcing them to punt.
Dundee had on last chance with 10 seconds left on the clock. With no time outs left a 'all of nothing play' saw
the ball launched to the Arrows end zone. Rows DB Jon Ward came up big the big play to intercept the ball and run out the clock.
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