Swansea Titans 38 – 12 Royal Holloway Bears
By Ned Bristow (TheWaterfront)
Swansea Titans brushed aside Royal Holloway Bears to
claim a brilliant BUCS American Football Trophy win in Leeds. The Titans waltzed to the final with
resounding victories over Newcastle, Lancashire and Exeter, and went into the
match as favourites.
The match started in explosive fashion, as the Titans
won the toss and scored early on in the first quarter. After just two plays, long runs from
Marcus Wyatt and Jacob Amadi culminated in the latter touching down before captain
Simon George duly converted to make it 8-0.
Refusing to sit back and defend their lead, the
Titans added another touchdown before the end of the quarter. A swift power run
game saw Amadi in the end zone for his second touchdown of the match.George converted once more, making the score 16-0 at
the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter began in the same mould as the
first, as some extravagant trick play between Chris Aldred and George helped
Wyatt add a third Titans touchdown of the day. Frankie Pankhurst converted,
leaving the half-time score at 24-0.
The Bears looked to fight back in the second half and
came close before a pick by Rhodri Jones-Pritchard prevented them. Swansea
returned to the front foot, answering Royal Holloway’s questions with more
power running and a third Amadi touchdown. The conversion was missed with the
score at a comfortable 30-0.
Royal Holloway refused to lie down and came back at
the Titans once more, before some great defensive work by George Downs-Wheeler
and the influential Amadi to see out the third quarter.
The spirited Bears finally got on the scoresheet at
the start of the fourth quarter, but failed to convert. With the game now out
of sight, Swansea got the ball back on the attack. Amadi scored his fourth
touchdown and brushed himself off to convert, bringing the score to 38-6.
While the Bears scored with the last play of the
game, the final score was a dominant 38-12 victory for the Titans. Amadi picked
up the Gridiron TV MVP award for his four touchdowns and three sacks.
Simon George commended the hard work of the squad and
coached throughout the year, adding that he was pleased with the manner of the
victory.
“I wanted a comprehensive victory. No one has been
able to stop our offense all year, and we were confident that was not going to
change.”
George was named the BUCS MVP, but says the team
effort is what pleased him most.
“My university life has revolved around this team. To
win for my teammates is what means the most; the accolade is just an extra. This
needs to be the start for the Titans. We can improve in every aspect. The
Titans need to compete for the Championship title next year. I want the American
Football team to be a flagship for the university, as at places like Birmingham
and Stirling.”