Nottingham Outlaws Match Report
Published: April 1, 2010
South Yorkshire has a history with Nottingham. From their blatant theft of the Robin Hood legend (Loxley is in Sheffield) in which only the nasty scum bag sheriff was from that neighbourhood. To the scabs of the 80’s miners dispute who in cahoots with Maggie Thatcher singlehandedly put over 50,000 men out of a job. More recent history shows a loss to the once multi institute Nottingham team only last year on the Hallam record book.
Due to the weather in the past few months this game was played mid week and only three days after a tough encounter against Lancaster. Hallam Also had the small matter of a derby game against Sheffield Sabres a few days later. 3 games in a week would test the depth of Hallams resolve and this was part 2 of this test.
The game started in great weather on a somewhat weatherworn pitch that in places resembled a bog. Nottingham received the opening kickoff and failed to move the ball. They punted and handed the ball to Hallam on their own 18-yard line. The first play of the Hallam reply saw the ball handed to Danny Pyle. He broke free of one tackle and then left the pursuing Nott’s defence for dead, not slowing until he had run 82 yards for the opening score. This was a new Hallam record on his first start for Hallam. It would not be the last. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful and Hallam led 6-0. Nottingham faired no better on their next series throwing a pick on their second play, which was picked off by Luke Richards. Hallam then again went to business. A couple of decent runs by Danny Pyle then saw Richard Griffith take a turn and run in a 48 yard run. This time Griffith took the ball in on the two-point conversion for a 14-0 lead. The next possession again saw Nottingham punt the ball deep into Hallam territory and again Danny Pyle se about reducing the gap. Runs of 24, 12 and 19 set up Hallam but penalties killed the drive as it began to get close to pay dirt. Nottingham faired little better on this series 24, 12 and 19 set up Hallam but penalties killed the drive as it began to get close to pay dirt. Nottingham faired little better on this next series punting again when their efforts dried up. Hallam again came out running and Pyle was the architect of another long drive complimented by a nice 23-yard pass from Mike Wood to Andrew Cheeseman. It was left to David Saul making one of only a few visits onto the field to run in from 7 yards and extend the Hallam lead. Cheesemans extra point saw the advantage stretch to 21-0. Nottingham’s miseries continued two plays later when they threw an interception into the hands of Mathew Marsden. With only a minute left on the clock Hallam were happy to see time out and go in at the half 21-0 up.
As good as the first half had been to Hallam the second would see a degree of sloppiness and some lack of effort at times. Every time Hallam moved the ball, they managed to shoot themselves in the foot. Having put the second and third string on was no excuse and misfires and turnovers ended a number of positive Hallam drives. The Hallam defence were never threatened in any degree and Notts were rarely able to get a first down. Darren Gayle and Mike Whitson were able to bite off decent yards but Hallam had slowed the game to a crawl in an obvious attempt to save energy. However, this was not the game plan just a bye product of some lack of urgency. There is very little to report about the second half and the casual observer may well have thought a scrimmage had broken out, the one highlight being Danny Pyle returning for one play in the second half and taking his tally to 209 yards on the day…another Hallam record. That aside it was a drab affair. However at the final whistle Hallam were still 21-0 winners and finding themselves one game away from a perfect 8-0 regular season.
The most notable stat on the day was Danny Pyle starting his first game and racking up 209 yards on the ground. We doubt it will be his last.
Related posts:
- Manchester Tyrants Match Report
- Hull Sharks Match Report
- Sheffield Sabres Match Report
- Lancaster Bombers Match Report
- Celtics Match Report
Tagged with: Game, Match Report, Season
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