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The Redditch Arrows finished off a remarkable turnaround to their
season when on Sunday they reached the BAFL Division 1 Bowl following a 30-22 win over Southern Sundevils in the semi-final.
The Arrows who had won only 1 game in their first 4 games have now
put together a string of 7 consecutive victories to not only take the Conference championship but a place in the prestigious end of season Bowl game to be played at the new Keepmoat stadium,
the home of Doncaster Rovers.
Sundays game was a game of 2 halves with the Arrows having total
domination in the first and then having to hang on when Southern put together a tremendous challenge after the break..
The Arrows started in determined mood. A 21 play 10 min 35 sec drive
ended with Arrows QB Richard Wilde connecting with Kieran Mcloed on a 3 yard pass for a 7-0 lead. Possessions were then swopped before James Chattoe forced a fumble and recovered the ball on
the Sundevils 2 yard Line. This was rewarded when on the second play Mike Sinyangwe went in from 3 yards out to extend the lead to 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Southern however were determined not to be blown away and drove up
the field looking for the score to get them back into it. Costly penalties from the Arrows gave the Sundevils with a first and goal inside the Arrows 10 but a sack forced them to attempt and
make a 30 yard field goal for a 13-3 scoreline.
The second quarter saw the Arrows extend their lead when Sinyangwe
went in again from 4 yards for a 20-7 lead followed by Wildes second touchdown pass of the day to Neil Solomon from 17 yards for a commanding 27-3 half time lead.
The second half started in completely different fashion. The
Sundevils offense started to hit the groove and on the back of strong running from Jon Wyse started to make serious inroads into the Arrows defense. Wyse eventually broke free and
sprinted 45 yards into the end-zone to reduce the Arrows lead to 27-10. This was followed on their next drive went the visitors again went in from 1 yard to close the score to 27-17.
The Arrows were now reeling , however they managed to put together
their first real offense of the second half and a Jon Riddell 26 yard field goal gave the Arrows some breathing space at 30-16.
The Arrows next possession saw them start to run out the clock
however Southern got the ball back with 5 minutes remaining. On a first and 10 from the 15 yard line their QB found the receiver open in the corner of the end-zone to bring the score back to
30-22. The Sundevils elected to go for a 2 point conversion but the Arrows defense held.
Southern then tried an on-side kick but failed in the recovery. The
Arrows, getting the ball with only 2 minutes on the clock , kept the ball on the ground and a couple of first downs later were celebrating an historic victory.
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