Sheffield Sabres 9 - 35 Hallam Warriors

The Sabres travelled to Bawtry to face the Hallam Warriors in the second of their three matchups this season. The Sabres began this semester with a bye week, whilst the Warriors were coming into this game off the back of a 36-12 defeat to the high-flying Leeds Gryphons.

The game began as a cagey affair, neither team managing to gain any significant yards on their first few drives. However, it didn’t take long for the Warriors to break the first big run of the day, scoring on an outside run from their own side of the field. The Sabres almost responded immediately, a deep ball from QB Sam Worrall to rookie WR Akym Davis just evading his outstretched hands.

It seemed that after their slow start the Warriors were now in their stride, scoring for a second consecutive offensive drive. Their QB connected on a deep ball, just as DL Henry Burton and Matt Graham got to him in the backfield.

On their ensuing offensive drive, the Sabres drove all the way to the Hallam 5-yard line, after a long catch and run by WR Joe Batchelor. After having two runs stuffed, the Sabres turned to the pass to try and get into the endzone. Miscommunication on the offensive line meant that Worrall was hit as he threw, and his pass was intercepted by a Hallam DB in the endzone, who returned it all the way for a Hallam score.

Despite going another score down, the Sabres had put a long drive together for the first time in the game, and on their next possession marched down the field again, after two long scrambles from Worrall. On their first play inside the 15, Worrall connected with Akym Davis and the Sabres had seemingly taken the 0 off the scoreboard. However, the TD was called back for holding and the Sabres were pushed back. They couldn’t get back into the endzone, and missed on a fourth down conversion to give the ball back to the Warriors.

The Sabres were not on defence for long however, the Warriors fumbling the ball before they had a chance to get a first down, giving the Sabres getting another chance to score before the break. However, it was the Warriors that had the final say in the first half, a fumble by QB Sam Worrall as he ran for a first down, and then another long touchdown run by the Warriors meant that they went into the half 28-0 up.

The second half began much like the first, neither team managing to get any momentum going. Midway into the third quarter, the Hallam Warriors almost added to their lead, almost connecting on two deep passes over the middle. The Warriors’ subsequent punt put the Sabres deep in their own territory, and QB Sam Worrall took two sacks as they tried to air the ball downfield. Rashalen Rajh punted from the back of his own endzone, giving the Warriors excellent field position as the game ticked over into the fourth quarter.

The Warriors capitalised on the field position to extend their lead to 35-0. The fourth quarter saw the game wind down with a running clock, as Hallam seemingly took their foot off the gas due to their lead. The Sabres finally put some points on the board, with a poor snap going over the Warriors QB’s head and bounced out of the back of the endzone for a safety. Not long after, the Sabres finally got the ball into the endzone late in the fourth on a deep pass to rookie WR Tom Lovatt.

The game ended 35-9 to the Warriors, meaning the Sabres fall to 1-6, but will be safe from relegation whatever happens if the UCLan Rams fail to beat the 7-0 Leeds Gryphons. The Sabres can put safety in their own hands with victory in their season closer against the LJMU Fury.