12th
September 2004
BSL Division Two Semi-Final
Chiltern Cheetahs 34-6 Sussex ThunderThe
Chiltern Cheetahs entertained the Sussex Thunder on Sunday, in the Southern Championship
at Amersham & Chiltern Rugby club. The Cheetahs had twice beaten the Thunder this
season, but both games had only been won in the last few minutes of both games, and a
close hard fought game as predicted. Chilterns Quarterback, Rob Suttling, played the game
of his life, by guiding the Cheetahs to a 34 - 6 win, with 334 passing yards and 5
Touchdowns, passing to 8 different receivers.
Scoring by
Quarter 1st 2nd 3rd 4th TOTAL
Chiltern Cheetahs 12 14 0
8 34
Sussex Thunder 0 0
0 6 6
1st Qtr Darren Shepsman 1 yard
catch from Rob Suttling 6 - 0
1st Qtr Chris Gill 65 yard catch from Rob
Suttling 12 - 0
2nd Qtr Spencer Whybrow 28 yard catch from Rob Suttling 18 - 0
2nd Qtr Spencer Whybrow 46 yard catch from Rob Suttling 24 - 0
Andy
Cochrane extra point x 2 run 26 - 0
4th Qtr Sussex Thunder 1 yard TD run 26 - 6
4th Qtr Adrian Stemp 31 yard catch from Rob Suttling 32 - 6
Spencer Whybrow
extra point x 2 catch from Rob Suttling 34 - 6
Sussex received the opening kick-off, and on the first play
Paul Robinson pass was intercepted by Andy Crowther and returned into Sussex territory.
But a strong Sussex defence held firm after the Cheetahs picked up a first down, by
stopping Andy Cochrane run short of the down mark on 4th down. Sussex next drive ended by
a punt, only for the Cheetahs to drive down field, with Spencer Whybrow catching 2 first
down passes, setting up Suttling first Touchdown pass of the game to Darren Shepsman from
the 1 yard line 6 - 0. The Cheetahs defence again force a Sussex punt, and on the next
play Suttling passed to Chris Gill for his first senior catch down the sidelines for a 65
yard Touchdown 12 - 0.
Chilternâs lead was increased in the second quarter, When Suttling connected
with Spencer Whybrow for a 28 yard Touchdown (18 - 0). On Sussexâs next drive
they picked up a couple of first touchdowns including Paul Robinsonâs 38 yard
pass to Will Graystone, before Chilternâs Ally Reid defended a Robinson pass
into team mate Andy Crowther hands in the end zone, for a touch back. Then Andy Cochrane
running moved the Cheetahs down the field, before Rob Suttling found Spencer Whybrow for
his second touchdown of the game, this time for 46 yards. Cochrane then ran in the 2 extra
points to get the Cheetahs a 26 - 0 half time lead.
Sussex kicked of the second half, and force the Cheetahs to go three and out, but a bad
snap on the punt hand the ball to the Thunder in scoring range, only for the defence to
sop them on 4th down. Then backed up inside there 10 yard line, the Cheetahs where
forced to punt again, but with a strong wind against them and bad bounce handed the ball
back to the Thunder in scoring range again. The Cheetahs defensive again held firm
on a 4th a goal situation, leaving the Offence starting with they end zone right on their
backs. Again the Cheetahs punted to the half way line. Then just as the third quarter was
coming to an end both teams quickly turned over the ball on interceptions. Chilternâs
Ally Reid intercepted a Robinson pass in the end zone at the start of the fourth quarter.
Then Rob Suttling found David Williams, who raced down the sideline for 56 yards, then an
all out blitz by the Thunder recorded a 12 yards loss on a sack, before Suttling was
intercepted for the second time on the 10 yard line by Dayle Kirby. Sussex then scored on
a 1 yard run, with the two point attempt unsuccessful. Sussex Paul Robinson then
attempted an onside kick, which was recovered by Chilterns Darren Whybrow. Then came
Suttlingâs fifth touchdown pass of the game, when he found receiver Adrian
Stemp wide open for a 31 yard score, with the extra point pass to Spencer Whybrow to
complete the scoring 34 - 6.
In addition to Suttling Offensive MVP the Defensive award went to Mike Butler who recorded
9 tackles.
Chiltern, will now go on to the Division 2 finals on 26th September at the Don
Valley Stadium, Sheffield (Kick-off 12 noon) as the Southern Champions to face Doncaster
Mustangs, who beat Dundee Hurricanes 13 - 12 in the Northern Championship.
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