Three touchdown passes from quarterback Andy Hollands, in his first BAFL start, helped the visiting Berkshire Renegades defeat the Plymouth Admirals 30-14 on Sunday.
The game started well for the Renegades, as defensive back Ian Hiscock recorded his third interception of the season to end the Admirals’ opening drive. The first quarter was scoreless as both teams’ defenses took control, stifling the offensive series.
Berkshire took the lead early in the second quarter, following an interception by Duncan Scott. From just inside the Admirals’ half, running back Ian Lakin ground the ball to the seven-yard line, before Hollands scored his first BAFL touchdown on a pass to receiver Sam Marshall. James Treherne’s point-after kick pinged off the upright and went over, giving the Renegades a 7-0 lead.
The lead lasted as long as it took Plymouth’s Tim Rogers to return the ensuing kickoff 71 yards untouched for the score. The 2-point conversion attempt was no good, but the Renegades’ seven point lead had quickly been cut to just one.
Marshall looked to have duplicated Rogers’ feat as he scampered back and forth across the field on his way to an 80-yard touchdown kick off return, but a flag signalled a block in the back, and the Renegades were brought back to their own 39-yard line. More solid running from Lakin took the Renegades across the halfway line, before Hollands connected with Phil Giddings, who made a beautiful fingertip catch at full stride and raced in for a 36-yard score. Treherne’s point-after kick was short, but the lead had opened again, 13-6.
Scott recorded his third interception of the season on the next Admirals drive, but Berkshire could do nothing with the ball and had to punt away. Simon Pearce’s punt was pinpoint accurate, bouncing out of bounds at the Admirals’ one-yard line. Berkshire’s defense didn’t let this opportunity pass, and Plymouth’s Kieran Luscombe was brought down in his own endzone for the safety – 15-6. That would be all the scoring for the first half, and Martin McGuire rounded off things nicely for the Renegades, sacking Samuel Newland for a loss of 6 yards to force a punt on the last play before the break.
Berkshire started the second half in fine form. On the back of Lakin’s running, and aided by a 16-yard reception by Pearce, the Renegades moved the ball to the Admirals’ 24-yard line, before Hollands made his third touchdown pass, this time finding Marshall for a 24-yard completion. Treherne’s point-after kick was good, and the lead was stretching, 22-6.
Plymouth were by no means done for the day though, and strong running from Richard Howlett saw them move the ball 49 yards in 6 plays, before Howlett capped off the drive by going over from a yard out. Newland’s two-point conversion pass to Rogers was good, and the game had tightened up again, 22-14.
The evenly matched tussle continued for the remainder of the third quarter, neither team gaining an upper hand. Berkshire scored the final points of the day early in the fourth quarter, as Lakin got his just rewards for an impressive performance at running back, crashing over a Plymouth defender to break the plane on a 15-yard touchdown run. Hollands and Giddings combined for the two-point conversion, and it was 30-14 to the Renegades.
With both teams’ defenses ending the day as they started it, firmly in control, neither endzone was threatened again and Berkshire were able to celebrate their second win of the season.
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