22nd August 2003 - Harriers take the upper hand in BSFL 9-on-9 championship

A re-surgent Harriers side blew away the current BSFL champions, the Leicester Eagles, at Belgrave Rugby club in Leicester. The first half was dominated by the defenses as both sides struggled to move the ball.  Fen took the lead in the first quarter when QB Martin Brown lofted a perfectly timed pass to Lawrence Tallon in right hand corner of the endzone to give the Harriers a 6 - 0 lead.  The Eagles offense failed to move the ball and only an endzone interception of a Brown pass by Eagles DB Tom Gill prevented the Harriers extending their lead.  Eagles LB Alistair Coulthurst also had an interception as the half ended. 

The Harriers defense then turned up the pressure, first sacking and then intercepting Eagles QB John Pimperton.  On their ensuing possession Tallon scored his second touchdown of the day, breaking a number of tackles as he ran in from 60 yards.  The Harriers now had a 12 – 0 lead.  They stopped the Eagles drive with another interception and Greg Enright ran the ball through the middle of the Eagles defense to give the Harriers an 18 point cushion.  Shane Frost caught the 2pt conversion pass from Brown to put Fen further ahead, 20 – 0. 

The Eagles’ offense finally started to move the ball when, on a bizarre play, a Pimperton pass popped out of the receivers hands and was intercepted by Greg Enright who returned it for his second score of the day.   

With the Harriers up 26 – 0, the Eagles finally scored a consolation TD when QB Pimperton hooked up with WR Jeff Brown.  Final score Eagles 6 Harriers 26. The 2nd leg is scheduled for September 14th in Cambridge.