21st November 2002 - BYAFA English FinalSouthern Sundevils 18-12
Lancashire Wolverines Colts
These two teams had to battle through many adversities to put on an advert for all that is
good in the Youth game. The gales snapped off an upright from a brand new set of posts
before the teams even arrived. Creative pitch marking, adding an extra foot or so to each
ten yard line, while the sides were greeted with a painstakingly hand painted 37 yard at
half way!
The howling wind was bound to be the predominant factor and with the Wolverines forced to
punt into the teeth of the gale on their first series, they gave the Sundevils good field
position. Using their solid ground game to good effect they worked their way down to the
Lancashire one-yard line before Ben Flood Page sneaked in from the one. A superb tackle
from captain Mark Chatwood, who led by
example all afternoon, stopped the extra two points and limited the Hampshire side to an
early 6 – 0 lead.
The Wolverines set about reducing the deficit but fumbled the ball away on their own
thirty with Tom Jenkins recovering it. Trying to move the ball in the teeth of the gale
proved as difficult for the Sundevils in the second period as it had been for their
opponents in the first. Chatwood seemed to be in on every tackle as the Wolverines fought
to regain possession. An Andy Carter 22 yard blast put
the defending champions under pressure, and although failing to punch the ball home they
kept them pinned to their own goal line and forced them to punt. Sam Fogg grabbed the kick
on his own 40, almost slipped, broke left and dashed down to the Devils three before being
bundled over the sideline. Two plays later Chatwood was on hand to snare a tipped pass to
tie the scores, with under a
minute left. Carter was denied the extra two by a last ditch tackle and the half ended
with the teams tied at 6 – 6.
The third period looked like stalemate until a Flood Page punt to the Wolverines
one-yard put the men in black in serious trouble. Unable to move the ball, McILroy
returned the ensuing punt to the Lancashire three where Irving bounced off left tackle to
give the lead back to the Sundevils. A broken play ruined the extra two point attempt and
the quarter expired with the Sundevils in a narrow
12 – 6 lead but the Wolverines mounting a drive.
The Lancashire outfit continued to drive the ball downfield, with Carter and Fogg, the
Wolverines’ MVP, doing most of the work before the latter broke to the left and
sprinted into the end zone, completing a back flip as part of his celebrations.
The Sundevils went back to their ground game; with McILroy, Flood Page and Irving make
steady progress down to the Wolverine 15-yard line. Baynham faked a hand off and then
sprinted in to score virtually untouched on a keeper to seal the Sundevils second
consecutive championship.
The game was a perfect advert for Youth Football. It was hard, furious and full of spirit
and sportsmanship. James Irving took the Game MVP as well as that for his own side, and
was presented with a game ball and gloves from Claymores’ kicker, and match day
commentator
