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The Redditch Arrows hugely successful season came to an end on Sunday, as the Farnham MH Knights proved too powerful
an opponent on this occasion, running out comfortable winners by a 49-14 scoreline. Although the team was disappointed to be stopped one game short of the Bowl game for the second successive
season, the Arrows can reflect on a triumphant return to second-tier football and can now focus on areas to improve in the off-season.
Right from the outset, it was clear that the Knights possessed a more powerful squad than any the Arrows had encountered during the regular
season. The Arrows first offensive play resulted ominously in a Richard Wilde interception, setting the Knights up in excellent field position. This was contrasted by the Knights first
offensive play, which saw runningback Kingsley Ejiogu rip straight through the left side of the Arrows' defence for a 36-yard score, with kicker Steve Belcher adding the extra point. If that
play shocked the Arrows at all, the Knights next play certainly confirmed the fact that this was going to be a tough afternoon, as Ejiogu took the Knights second offensive play the distance
as well, this time from 54 yards out with Belcher again on hand for the PAT.
The Arrows response to this early deficit was more encouraging as Wilde made up for his earlier mistake by finding runningback Errol Wilson,
who outsprinted Farnham's defence for a 69-yard score, with kicker John Riddel bringing the scoreline to 14-7. However, the defence was still finding it extremely tough against their larger
opponents, and despite Dan Jacobs' sack ending the ensuing Knights drive, it wasn't long before Ejiogu had scored his third touchdown of the day on a 22-yard scamper up the middle. This made
the score 21-7 at the end of the first quarter.
To their credit, the Arrows defence tightened up considerably during the second quarter, with safety Stuart Williams delivering several big
hits on both running backs and receivers. The first possession of the second half saw normal service being resumed however, as utility back Jon Wyse caught a quick out before weaving past
several defenders on his way to a 33-yard touchdown. Refusing to give up on the match though, a Dan Jacobs fumble recovery provided the impetus for the Arrows offence to embark on 10-play
drive which culminated with quarterback Wilde rolling to his right on a fourth down play, and then firing a 16-yard touchdown bullet to receiver Phil Grove. After the successful PAT kick by
Riddell, the Arrows were clinging on by a 28-14 margin. Any thoughts of a comeback were dashed on the Knights next drive when Wyse took a fake end-around reverse all the way in from 50 yards
out, with Belcher kicking the extra points for a 35-14 lead.
The fourth quarter saw the Knights pad their advantage with a 1 yard goal-line plunge, and a 11-yard pass reception. Despite the lopsided
score, Redditch battled to the very end of the contest with the offensive line of Conor Costigan, Martin Hill, Richard Fraser, Richard Smith and Matt Sheldon drawing particular praise from
coach Ian Hill.
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