Sharks Lose a Storming Encounter by One Point

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The Cornish Sharks kicked off their first home game of the season on a very hot, sunny afternoon on Newquay’s busiest weekend of the year, Run to the Sun.  With record numbers of fans, a “Sharks Shop”, cheerleaders, music and a BBQ the party atmosphere was well underway with great anticipation when kickoff began at 2.30pm against the legendary London Olympians, who have been 8 times national champions.  The fans were not to be disappointed as the game went to the final seconds ending in a heart breaking 25-26 defeat for the home team.

The London Olympians starting offense got held by the Sharks defense within the mid field and had to punt and the Sharks started back.  They too made steady progress but got held on the 40 yard line and had to punt.  This time the Olympians capitalized and on their first play passed the ball and ran it back 87 yards for a touch down.  They tried to throw the ball in for two extra points but missed the catch, going into the lead 0-6.  The Sharks took the kick back and kick returner Lee Ambridge ran it back to a good field position for the Sharks and Running Back Ian Taylor ran it in to even the score and the point after touchdown, taken by receiver David Krierhn was good, putting the Sharks into the lead 7-6.  The Olympians hit back with a quick score to regain the lead, but missed the extra point bringing it to 7-12.  After the kick off Lee Ambridge again ran it back to the half way mark and kept up the pressure.  Half time the score was still Olympians 12, Sharks 7.

At the start of the third quarter, the Sharks punted it away and the Olympians fumbled the ball deep in their own half, recovered by line backer Anthony White.  Running Back Ian Taylor converted his second touch-down of the day bringing the score to 13-12 as the extra point was blocked.  After lengthy penalties on the kick off giving 30 yards advantage to the Olympians who took over inside the Sharks 40 yard line giving them good field advantage, the ball was again passed to the Olympians number 3 for a touchdown.  They converted a two point extra point with a pass in to the end zone bringing the score to 13-20 – this two points was to be a crucial factor in the game.  Still in the 3rd quarter the Olympians fumbled the ball again deep inside their own 20 yards which was recovered by David Krierhn.  The Sharks ran a few plays making steady progress and then Ian Taylor converted his 3rd touch down of the day plunging in from about 3-4 yards.  The extra point was missed when the field goal hit the post driving the Sharks fans mad as they had thought it was good.  With the score standing at a tantalizing 19-20 it slipped into the 4th quarter.  The Sharks kicked off again and the Olympians, on the ensuing drive, ran a slot reverse and number 3 again converted to a touchdown running it from the Sharks 35yards into the end zone.  They failed again to convert the two extra points brining the score to 26-19.  The Olympians thought they had the game sown up.  The Olympians kicked off and Lee Ambridge once again stepped up returning the ball to give the Sharks excellent field position deep in the Olympians half and with only 1 minute 40 seconds of the game left, the Sharks offense took the pitch.  There was steady progress on the first two plays and the Sharks used their final time out with 33 seconds left and 25 yards left to go to stop the clock, compose themselves and select the play.  With 16 seconds to go Quarterback Richard Atkinson dropped back and threw a bullet of a pass to Lee Ambridge for a fantastic score in the end zone bringing the score to 25-26.  So it was decision time – take a field goal for a draw or go for the extra 2 points for a win.  The fans discussed frantically what the choice would be and as the QB walked back to the huddle after a discussion with Head Coach, the crowd held their breath.  The Sharks ran a play action faking the run to suck in the Olympians defense leaving tight end Travis Rogers open inside the five, just outside the end zone but it slipped through his hands and the game was over with a heartbreaking score of 25-26.

Head Coach Brian Smallworth said after the game “It was a fantastic game – I knew it would be close and this one certainly went down to the wire.  The last play was my decision in the end and I stand by it – we had the chance of a win or settle for a draw and I felt it was worth taking the risk.  You have to make snap decisions when there is only 10 seconds on the clock and it could just as easily have gone the other way.  The London Olympians were fantastic opponents and we all just loved the game – the score is of course disappointing but the team can hold their heads high and go into the next game with confidence.  We need to work on some of our silly mistakes that give away field position to our opponents and I still feel that some of our players need more training to gain a greater understanding of the techniques that we need to use.  This will be the focus for the preparations for our forthcoming games.”

Ends

For further information or electronic/hard copies of photographs, please contact Sharon Smallworth, Marketing & Fundraising on 07789484817 or email mrscoach@innisrhia.eclipse.co.uk or Brian Smallworth, Head Coach on 07786370980 or email bjscoach@yahoo.com.