Derby Braves started theirBUCS PremierNorthseasonwith a slI’m 19-28defeat at home defending national champions Stirling Clansmen.
The Braveslooked in trouble early on. Stirling’s running back,Thomas Campbell, made a number of significantgains including a 30-yard runleading to the first touchdown.
Despite leveling the game at 7-7 through a Bobby Walker touchdown, it looked as if the match had been taken out of Derby’shands when Stirling scored twice more, leaving the Braves7-21 down at the halfway mark.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN BOOTH (@BenBoothPhoto)
However, true to their name Braves madea real fist of it after it looked like Stirling had run off into the wintrysunset. Quarterback Troy Jackson used his powerful arm in combination with some incisive running from running back Curtis Cannon to make quick gains, bringing about an early score in the third quarter.
The Braves’ defence looked much improved after half time and forced a fumble on the 50-yard line which they pounced on and ran clean through to score touchdown making it 19-21.
The Braves elected to go for the touchdown which would have leveled the score but they failed to capitalise leaving them with work still to do.
It took until the dying embers for the Clansmentoclamber to victory with final touchdown from the excellent Thomas Campbellafter a prolonged period of Braves pressure.
The Braves’ caoch, Noel Cassar, said: “I thought the defence played really well, the offence needs a bit of work but it also made goodyards. They are national champions but itmakes no odds, it‘s 11 versus 11. We played really well and have to build on it now.
“We will analyse Durham‘s game against Loughborough today and we’ll work on that and see how we go.“
BY LOUIS MITCHELL (@MitchellinMan98) AND BEN BOOTH (@BenBoothPhoto)
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Ryan Plant
I am Phantom's sports editor.
I am a second-year football journalism student here at the Univeristy of Derby. I'm accredited by the Football Writers' Association and I was a nominee for the Sports Journalism Association's 'Top Student Writer' award.