Wolves flag tournament 1 - Junior report

JUNIOR REPORT - TOURNAMENT 1 - 16/04/2011, MIDLANDS UK

The Marlow Wolves Juniors got off to a 1-4 start on opening weekend and a tough first day. 3 losses were decided by one touchdown but the signs are there that the Wolves will not just compete this year, but as they come into there own, they will win plenty of games.

The Wolves went into the tournament with only 1 player over 13 years old going against players 14 and 15 years old. The juniors also started 5 rookies so there is plenty of room for improvement and growth and with the exception of the match with the London Blitz, they were in every game until the end.

GAME 1 - LONDON BLITZ - LOST 51-0

The Wolves were outmatched on every level against a bigger, older, more experienced and more athletic Blitz team that elimated last year's first placed Wolves in the playoffs. The Wolves only fielded 1 player from last year's team. The Blitz got off to a flying start scoring on their first 2 possessions, they then returned 2 interceptions for touchdowns. Their zone defense with a spy linebacker shut down the short passing game constantly leaving the Wolves in 3rd and long situations. The age/height difference then left the Wolves throwing deep passes against much bigger defensive players, leading to 5 interceptions, 4 returned for touchdowns.

PLAY OF THE GAME - Barnaby Smith hauling in a heroic pass, wresting it away from a linebacker who looked to have intercepted it. It kept the Wolves in possession and was a heads up offensive play with courage and determination.

PLAYER OF NOTE - Eddie Ntahira was a good 2 years younger than the receiver he marked but chased him endlessly never giving up on a lost cause.

GAME 2 - STUDLEY BEARCATS - WON 17-12

The Wolves then went up against the Bearcats team they faced in last year's cadet championship game. Both squads featured plenty of those players meeting for the first time since. The Wolves controlled the game but were hanging on at the end as time expired, retaining the ball on 4th down and running out the clock for thier first win of the season. After forcing a 4 and out the Wolves drove for a first down through good running before a great rushing TD by rookie Dan Pierce in his first tournament as a wolf. Eddie Ntahira then caught a magnificent conversion off a tipped pass in the corner of the endzone to ake it 7-0.

The Bearcats then quickly scored after a deep ball downfield had been caught by their tall receiver. Dan Ramsdale intercepted the XP and returned it for 2 points and his first score of the year to make it 9-6. The Wolves then scored again thanks to a debut rushing TD by rookie George McCarthy in his first tournament. However, with time becoming a factor the Bearcats scored to bring it to 17-12 but the Wolves were able to run out the clock thanks to a first down conversion by Dan Ramsdale off a clever reverse play.

PLAY OF THE GAME - Dan Ramsdale's conversion return gave the momentum back to the Wolves after the Bearcats had just scored a touchdown

PLAYER OF NOTE - Lewis Edis scored a great touchdown run only to have it called back for a flag guarding penalty but he ran well all day and has improved immensely every tournament.

GAME 3 - COVENTRY COUGARS - LOST 13-6

This was the game that got away. The Wolves had the chance to turn the nightmare start into a 2-1 turnaround but let the game slip in sad circumstances. The Wolves had done such a great job to pick themselves up and win game 2 after being so dejected in the opening loss and now were turning it on with great football.

The Cougars opening posession resulted in -1 yard giving the Wolves 1st down on their own 5 yard line. The Cougars then immediately intercepted the football to take posession on the Wolves 18 yard line. Callum Dean, playing safety for the first time in his career then intercepted the football to take the ball back and save what looked to be a bad situation.

Charlie Clymo then threw a beautiful pass to Dan Ramsdale who gained huge yards after the catch to put the Wolves ahead with his first touchdown of the tournament. The extra point was dropped in the back of the endzone though keeping the score at 6-0. With the Cougars now having their last posession of the game all the Wolves needed was a stop. They had the Cougars at 4th and 25 but inexplicably gave up a huge run for a 1st down. They then had the Cougars at 4th and goal on the 6 and gave up the game tying touchdown with hardly any time left. The Cougars receiver then made a phenomenal catch in the corner of the endzone off a tipped pass to give the Cougars a 7-6 lead.
The Wolves now had to score and after a beautiful run by Jamie Ainsworth got a first down off a 20 yard catch by Dan Ramsdale. The Wolves had the opportunity but after a dropped pass and a sack ended up 4th and 30 with the final hail mary pass intercepted and returned for an unfortunate 13-6 defeat. The Wolves had the game by the neck and lost it to fall to 1-2.

PLAY OF THE GAME - Callum Dean's crucial interception to keep the scores level early on.

PLAYER OF NOTE - Dan Ramsdale bossed the game at receiver and came up big again and again.

GAME 4 - CHORLEY BUCANNEERS - LOST 15-7

The Wolves picked themselves up and faced eventual tournament champions Chorley Bucs. After going a touchdown down early, quarterback Charlie Clymo teamed up with Lewis Edis for a fantasic QB option run resulting in Clymo running 55 yards for a magnificent touchdown and his first of the season. However, the Bucs managed to control the game and won 15-7 to move to 4-0 after their 27-25 win over the Blitz beforehand.

PLAY OF THE GAME - Clymo mangificent heads up play, the longest of the day.

GAME 5 - COVENTRY JETS - LOST 13-6

Marlow got off to the worst possible start with Coventry running a trick misdirection play for a touchdown on the first play of the game. They converted the extra point for a 7-0 lead immediately. The Wolves clawed back and Clymo connected with Dan Ramsdale again for a touchdown pass after the Wolves running back committee did a great job getting the first down. However, the extra point pass was dropped wide open at the back of the end zone. This would hurt later on.

Later in the game the Jets fantastic running game controlled the clock, resulting in a 4th and goal situation where the Jets captain caught the deciding touchdown. With time running out after a heroic play by George McCarthy at corner the Wolves ran out of time driving towards the goal to tie the game. Another game that got away and a 1-4 start, which ultimately did not reflect the effort and skill the Wiolves showed.

The next tournament on May 28th will go much better and the Wolves are alive this season.

PLAY OF THE GAME - George McCarthy made 2 heroic back to back pass defenses in the corner of the end zone on 3rd and goal and 4th and goal to give the Wolves the ball back and a chance to win the game late on.

PLAYER OF NOTE - Charlie Clymo, Callum Dean and Jamie Ainsworth recovered well at linebacker after the trick runs were working early on for the Jets to gather the defense and keep the longer balls away from the endzone.