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In what can only be described as a classic play-off encounter, the Redditch Arrows fell one game short of the
Division 2 Final as they could not quite outlast the West Coast Trojans in a 38-30 thriller. With both teams entering the game undefeated, it was a game that had been
predicted all season long as a meeting between the best in the North & Scotland, and it certainly lived up to the hype. Having led for much of the game, the Arrows were unable to
stop a 23-yard touchdown run by Trojans running back Jon Sutherland inside the final five minutes, which proved to be the decisive score.
It was the Arrows who came out firing on all cylinders in the first quarter, dominating play on both sides
of the ball. On their opening drive, fine running by tailback Dave Mills and a 15 yard reception on a 3rd & 15 by wide receiver Phil Grove, culminated in a 7 yard run up the middle
by Mills for the game's first touchdown. The extra point by kicker John Riddell was successful and the score was 7-0 to Redditch. On the ensuing drive the Arrows defence got in on
the action as well, when safety John Ward intercepted Trojans quarterback Gary McNey to stop a promising early drive of the visitors.
After a couple of exchanges of possession, the start of the second quarter saw the Arrows in scoring position
again, with kicker Riddell booting a 23-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead to the home side. It didn't take long for the Arrows to find themselves even further ahead, as another
interception, this time by linebacker Andy Mortimer left the Arrows on the Trojans 19 yard line. From there, quarterback Richard Wilde zipped a pass to Phil Grove on a fly pattern down
the left sideline, and he was able to elude the covering safety to increase the Arrows lead, with the conversion again coming from Riddell. With the Arrows now looking to shut-up
shop before half time, a series of penalties that went against them assisted the Trojans in their drive downfield. The Glasgow based outfit then opened their account when McNey hit
receiver David Pasnik on a crossing pattern from 7 yards out, and after cornerback Stuart Irons intercepted the 2-point conversion attempt the halftime score was left 17-6 to
Redditch.
Having clearly now got their offense on track, the Trojans opened the second half in similar fashion to how they
ended the first, with their running game becoming increasingly effective from their spread formation. Running back Jordan Falconer brought West Coast straight back into the game by
first scoring a touchdown from 8 yards out, and then adding the 2-point conversion for a 17-14 scoreline. The Arrows now had a match on their hands, but more worrying was the injury
sustained by defensive captain Andy Mortimer, who had to leave the game. However, quarterback Wilde got things back on track for Redditch on their next possession, by slinging another
6-pointer to his favourite receiver - Phil Grove, from 43-yards out. With the extra point tacked on by Riddell, the score now stood at 24-14 to Redditch. As the 3rd
quarter wound down, Trojans running back Falconer again came up with back-to-back momentum shifting plays. A 13 yard run on 4th and 1 was followed by a 15-yarder up the middle
and into the endzone. The 2-point conversion was added by receiver Petr Svanda, and the Arrows were now clinging onto a 24-22 lead.
In what was evidently becoming a shootout, it appeared that whoever had the ball last
would emerge victorious. West Coast were now running the ball almost at will, and as the final quarter started, runningback Jon Sutherland sprinted down the left sideline from
32-yards out to give the visitors their first lead of the day. This was extended by Falconer's 2-point conversion. But showing the grit and determination that has been a trademark
of the Arrows season, a miraculous catch of a deflected ball by Phil Grove, enabled him to step over two fallen defenders and run into the endzone from 59-yards out, tying the score
30-30, which it remained after the extra point try was missed. With a little under 5 minutes to play, the Trojans took over at their own 42 yard line. Three plays later,
running back Jon Sutherland booked his team's place in the final with his 23-yard scamper, leaving the Arrows agonisingly short of achieving the season's goal.
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