Tsunami get season back on track in home opener
The Brighton Tsunami entertained the Canterbury Chargers on Sunday looking to record their first win of the 2011-2012 campaign that started off so unfortunately with the morale-sucking double overtime loss to UEA last weekend.
Conversely the Chargers travelled to the Falmer campus riding high on the back of a 32-0 thumping of the Anglia Ruskin Phantoms. Whilst ARU, in their first year back in the league following a short hiatus, do not provide the stiffest of opposition, shutting out any opposing offence whilst simultaneously putting up 32 points was an impressive enough performance to have the Tsunami wary of their visiting foes.
The game began in a fashion that was eerily reminiscent of last week’s gut wrenching loss for the Tsunami with their offensive unit driving easily down the field before stalling in the red zone once again and failing to convert a short field goal. Regrettably on the opening play of the drive rookie running back Courtney Morgan fell awkwardly and was forced to leave the game with injured. Scans would later show that he had suffered a fractured ankle and will likely be sidelined for the remainder of the season. The injury comes as a devastating blow to the Tsunami rushing attack as Morgan had shown great potential with his fast cutting, physical running style in the preseason.
After initially proving susceptible to Canterbury’s option-led rushing attack the Tsunami defence adjusted accordingly and stood firm against the potent Chargers offence leaving the score tied at 0-0 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter after yet another punishing, clock chewing drive the Tsunami offence finally struck as James Howard sped into the end zone from 2 yards out. The kicking game continued to struggle and the extra point was narrowly skewed wide leaving the score at 6-0 to the Tsunami.
The Chargers offence began to look increasingly to their deep pass game as the half progressed, testing the Tsunami secondary repeatedly. Canterbury quarter back Josh Adamson displayed impressive arm strength slinging the ball down the sideline in search of a talented receiver core lead by #84 but the Chargers passing volley found little success against the Tsunami defensive backs and the game reached it’s half way point with the score still 6-0 to Brighton.
Brimming with confidence following their score in the first half the Brighton Tsunami offence took to the field to open the 3rd quarter of play starting from their own 1 yard line following a booming kick off from Canterbury which took a favourable bounce for the visiting team. The Tsunami unit, lead by outstanding, powerful play by centre Luc Higham and guard George Burdon, bludgeoned their way down the field before James Howard once again demonstrated his dazzling speed, leaving would be tacklers flailing behind him as he scampered in to the end zone on a 40 yard touchdown run. Quarterback Jake Beale connected with wide receiver Simeon Marriot-Dixon for the successful 2 point conversion with a zipped, accurate laser of a pass as Marriot-Dixon left his marker for dead with his precise, expeditious route running.
With the score standing at 14-0 to the home side, Canterbury abandoned all semblance of a balanced offence and took to the skies hoping to snag a quick score and vault themselves back into the game. The Chargers managed exactly that on their next drive as another lofted, probing pass down the sideline from Adamson finally connected with his receiver for a huge gain marching Canterbury down to the Tsunami 2 yard line. Adamson then quickly exploited a physical mismatch between his receiver and the covering corner, lofting the ball up where only his lengthy target could catch it for the score. The extra point attempt was blocked as defensive tackle Bradley McManus bullied his way through the line and swatted down the attempted kick leaving the score at 14-6 to Brighton.
Tsunami’s next drive was delayed substantially by what looked to be a significant injury to a Canterbury player who was transported to hospital, thankfully the injury was not nearly as catastrophic as first thought and the injured player was released the next day without incident. The drive resumed after the delay from Canterbury’s 45 yard line and the Tsunami offence continued to roll forward, mauling their way inside the red zone before Howard zipped in for his third touchdown of the day from 14 yards out. Kicker Stewart Kidd finally found his mark and successfully converted the extra point to notch Tsunami’s first kicked points of the year making the score 21-6.
In an effort to subdue Canterbury’s high flying offensive barrage the Tsunami defence made some personnel adjustments to negate the Charger’s height advantage. This immediately paid dividends as the Canterbury quarterback continued to attempt to force the ball to his star receiver (#85) and was picked off by Stewart Probert. After Tsunami’s offensive unit stuttered the defence found themselves back on the field and eventually conceded a touchdown to the tricky Adamson who scrambled in from 20 yards. The following 2 point conversion was unsuccessful as rookie corner Ben Sussex broke up the attempted pass leaving the score 21-12 to Tsunami.
Despite failing on their onside kick attempt the Chargers found themselves with the ball in their hands again with great field position after a bungled punt attempt by the Tsunami. The Chargers opted to move their standout receiver away from the right side where he had enjoyed no success against Probert over to the left side to match up against perennial shutdown corner Richard Cooling. This proved to be a fatal mistake as Cooling expertly cut underneath a pass intended for the Charger’s star man in the end zone and kneeled down with the interception icing the game.
The win sees Tsunami improve to 1-1 for the year exorcising the demons of last week’s loss. The offensive unit starred even without starting running back David Ndede who sat out with an ankle injury. Veteran James Howard stepped up capably running rampant over the Chargers despairing defence who had no answer for his blazing speed, and Scott Welsh contributed similarly, eluding defenders to rip off some big plays at important junctures in the game. The success of the running effort owes much to the stalwart play of the offensive line who look to be gelling together into one of the most fearsome units in the South Eastern Conference having impressed greatly in both games this year in a bruising, punishing manner. The defensive unit lived up to their established high standards forcing 5 turnovers on the day and pacifying an offensive Canterbury front who appeared multifaceted and dangerous.
Canterbury enjoy a bye this weekend and will look to use the time to prepare for a visit to the Herefordshire Hurricanes the following weekend. The Hurricanes have swept aside all competition with ease this year scoring 110 points in just 2 games and conceding only 15.
The Tsunami face their 3rd opponent in 3 weeks this Sunday with the vaunted Kent Falcons as their opponents. The Falcons are favourites to progress to the playoffs from the SEC (alongside the seemingly unstoppable Hertfordshire Hurricanes) and solidified their lofty ranking with a 41-7 destruction of the LSBU Spartans back in week 1. The last time Kent faced the Tsunami the game ended in a 6-0 victory for Kent in a defensive affair that was separated by one long touchdown play and defined by big hits and turnovers aplenty. Brighton will be looking to build on their impressive performances thus far and upset the favoured Falcons as they welcome Kent to the Falmer STP field where the Tsunami are as yet undefeated this year.
