Hallam Warriors 26 - 24 Sheffield Sabres (17/11/19)

With alumni present, the rain fell on a miserable day at Norton Playing Grounds for the Sabres’ home opener against their arch rivals, the Hallam Warriors. The weather conditions meant that the run game was going to be crucial for both teams’ chances, and the Sabres boasted a talented backfield with a running back contingent of Joe Dorr, Raivo Koot and Hallam-convert Tom Shipton accompanying QB Mark Price.

After Hallam received the opening kick-off, the Sabres defence immediately showed what they were made of, with 3 consecutive tackles for loss forcing Hallam’s punter into an early cameo. QB Price was the focal point of the first offensive drive for the Sabres, with an intelligent 11-yard scramble as Hallam sent heavy pressure on the first play, and then a 21-yard gain on a QB draw. The first passing play for the Sabres was completed to rookie WR Ethan Pegg, but a big hit knocked the ball loose, and was recovered by the Warriors for the first turnover of the game.

After another brisk 3-and-out forced by the Sabres D, the offence got an immediate chance at redeeming the turnover on the first drive after a very encouraging start. The Hallam punt was downed at the 5-yard line, and their defence duly capitalised, recovering a fumbled hand-off, not helped by the wet footballs, in the end zone for the first score of the game.

Early in the second quarter, the Hallam offense finally made their mark on the game after a slow start, with an end around run going 66 yards to the house, making the score 12-0 to the Warriors after a pair of failed two-point attempts. The rest of the first half panned out as a drab affair, with both teams trading 3-and-outs and strong drives on the defensive side of the ball. A 39-yard run by Mark Price had put the Sabres in the red zone, but an offensive penalty and an incomplete pass on fourth down put a stop to their hopes of putting a score on the board before the end of the first half.

On the first play after the break, RB Raivo Koot appeared to have been tackled in the backfield, but upon no whistle being heard, and with a bit of a push from LT Matt Graham, Koot broke free for a 43-yard gain. This set up the Sabres on the 6-yard line, and Mark Price ran the ball into the end zone at the first time of asking. The two-point conversion was almost a carbon copy, Price converting with his legs to make the score 12-8 to the Warriors.

Another spell of 3-and-outs followed, before Hallam converted a 40-yard pass down the seam to regain their two-score lead. Not long after they extended that lead, with another deep pass down the seam for a 59-yard touchdown. After a successful two-point conversion, the score was 26-8 to the Warriors as the fourth quarter approached.

The fourth-quarter nearly produced a miraculous comeback for the Sabres. They drove down the field, Mark Price pounding the rock down Hallam’s throat before scoring on a 20-yard run. On Hallam’s subsequent offensive drive, their QB threw an interception to LB Joe Batchelor whilst under immense pressure from DE’s George Condon and Henry Burton. The Sabres scored again immediately as Hallam were shell-shocked, Price this time scoring from 41 yards out. A successful two-point conversion by WR Tom Lovatt put the Sabres within 2, needing a field goal to win the game. The odds of an unlikely Sabres victory (given the score at the end of the third quarter) slashed as LB Josh Clements recovered a fumbled hand-off in Hallam’s backfield to bring the offence back on to the field for one final drive, just outside of field goal range.

The offence drove agonisingly close to K Mark Price’s range, but eventually fell short due to an offensive penalty, failing to convert on fourth down.

Hallam came out to kneel the game out, but there was almost, almost a final twist in the tale. The snap was fumbled by the Hallam QB, and both Clements and LB Alex Garcia both got hands to the ball, but the QB ultimately recovered it ending the game 26-24 to the Warriors.

A devastating way to lose the game for the Sabres, but the improvement on both sides of the ball was plain to see. A bye week follows, giving the team an extra week of preparation to face the also winless UCLan Rams, who are coming off defeats against Hallam and the Leeds Gryphons.