Tag: BAFANL

Preview: Eagles @ Solent Thrashers

21 Aug
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , , , , , , ,

The Eagles travel to the south coast this Sunday to take on the Solent Thrashers in the SFC 1 semi-final at Test Park (2.30pm kick off).

Sunday’s game will be the third meeting of the two sides in the club’s short history. Last season Solent knocked the Eagles out of the play-offs at the quarter final stage, and earlier this season a record-breaking field goal was the difference as the Thrashers edged a close one 17-14.

Since that defeat the Eagles have won three on the bounce; 35-15 against Cambridgeshire Cats, 23-18 vs Birmingham Bulls and 38-27 two weeks ago at the Hertfordshire Cheetahs.

The Thrashers meanwhile lost to Colchester before bouncing back with a thrilling 33-33 tie with the Farnham Knights, and a 51-0 demolition of East Kent Mavericks to finish the season the #2 ranked team in SFC 1 with a record of 7 wins, 2 defeats and 1 tie.

They have one of the meanest defences in Division One, with only the Edinburgh Wolves (89) conceding less points than the Thrashers’ 135 during the regular season.

Our hosts also have the fourth best offence in Division One. Their total of 335 points scored was bettered by the Merseyside Nighthawks (462), Farnham Knights (405) and Edinburgh Wolves (398).

In team news, offensive lineman Danny Cousins remains doubtful due to a knee injury sustained in the victory over the Cheetahs but the Eagles welcome back a number of defensive players who missed the game, including Andy Larwill and Darren Gregory. Gareth Pullen is also expected to be fit to play.

If you are travelling to Southampton for the game, the address you will need for your Sat Nav is:

Test Park Sports Ground
Lower Brownhill Road
Southampton
SO16 9BP
Telephone: 023 8078 7177

Alternatively you can get directions by entering the relevant information in the map below.

Admission is free, and there are bar and catering facilities available.

If you are unable to make it to the South Coast we will be providing live, play-by-play coverage via our Twitter channel from 2.30pm.

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Visitor Information: Solent Thrashers (A)

20 Aug
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , ,

If you are travelling to Southampton for Sunday’s SFC 1 Semi-Final game against the Solent Thrashers, the address you will need for your Sat Nav is:

Test Park Sports Ground
Lower Brownhill Road
Southampton
SO16 9BP
Telephone: 023 8078 7177

Alternatively you can get directions by entering the relevant information in the map below.

Admission for the game is free, and there are bar and catering facilities available.

If you are unable to make it to the South Coast for the game we will be providing live, play-by-play coverage via our Twitter channel from 2.30pm.

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Eagles to meet the Thrashers in semi-final

11 Aug
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , , , , ,

Following the decision by the Colchester Gladiators to withdraw from the post-season the Eagles have been confirmed as the third seed in the SFC 1 play-offs, and will travel to the South Coast to face the Solent Thrashers in the semi-final on Sunday 23rd August.

Despite their 38-27 defeat to the Eagles at the weekend the Hertfordshire Cheetahs move up to the fourth seed, and will face the #1 ranked Farnham Knights in the other semi-final.

Sunday’s victory over the Cheetahs takes the Eagles into the post-season for the second successive season high on confidence following three wins in a row against divisional opponents.

It will be third time the Eagles and Thrashers have met in the club’s short history. Last season Solent knocked the Eagles out of the play-offs at the quarter final stage, and earlier this season a record-breaking field goal was the difference between the two sides as the Thrashers edged passed 17-14.

SFC 1 Play-Off Semi-Finals:

Farnham Knights v Hertfordshire Cheetahs
Solent Thrashers v Ouse Valley Eagles

The winner of each game will face off in the SFC 1 Final on Sunday 13th September, kicking off at 4pm at Leicester Road Stadium, Hinckley, Leicester, with a place in the SFC Premier Division up for grabs.

Late comeback stuns the Cheetahs

18 Apr
Michael Dilley All News, Reports, Senior Football , , ,

Ouse Valley Eagles 14 Hertfordshire Cheetahs 12

The Eagles moved to a 2-0 with a hard fought, come from behind victory over local rivals the Hertfordshire Cheetahs in a blustery game at Bedford International Athletics Stadium on Sunday.

Trailing 12-0 going into the fourth quarter, Quarterback Justin LaRoda connected with Chris Cowley to start the comeback, and ran in a second himself from four yards out to cap a remarkable turnaround.

The Eagles won the toss and deferred, so the Cheetahs received the ball and started on their own 20-yard line thanks to a touch back.

After a couple of strong runs through the middle which resulted in a first down the Cheetahs’ drive stalled and they were forced to punt, and the Eagles started on their own 25-yard line.

The Eagles offense drove the ball well all the way down to the Cheetahs one-yard line, but fumbled the ball on first and goal to turn the ball over.

Both sides traded possessions for the rest of the first half without ever really troubling the opposition red zone, and it was no surprise to see the teams go in level at the interval.

Half time score: Eagles 0 Cheetahs 0.

The Eagles started the second half on their 20 following another touch back, but turned the ball over after going for it on fourth and short on the 29.

A defensive penalty backed the Eagles up further, and the Cheetahs ran the ball in from 10 yards to finally open the scoring, although the extra-point attempt was no good.

On the Eagles’ next possession the ball was picked off on third down to give the Cheetahs the ball on the forty-yard line, and following some strong running they were soon back in the red zone.

A 14-yard pass later and the Cheetahs had doubled their advantage but were unsuccessful with the two-point attempt, which would come back to haunt the men from Hertfordshire.

The teams again traded possessions for the rest of the third quarter, but the start of the fourth brought the Eagles to life.

Starting with the ball on their own 23, LaRoda completed four quick passes to bring the Eagles down deep in opposition territory. He connected with Cowley on a slant to reduce the deficit, and once the PAT was successfully converted the lead was cut to five.

A couple of exchanges of possession later the Eagles began again on their own 45. LaRoda and the offense drove down inside the Cheetahs five-yard line, and when LaRoad ran the ball home the Eagles lead for the first time with a little over two minutes left on the clock.

On what would turn out to be the Cheetahs’ final drive Andy Larwill sacked the Herts QB on second and seven, and when Chris Parr intercepted the ball on fourth and four with a minute to play the offense just had to kneel out the clock to seal a vital divisional win.

Final score: Eagles 14 Cheetahs 12.

Our next game is on Sunday 26th April, away to the Birmingham Bulls.

Thank you to our friends at 2G Creative for the photo.

PREVIEW: Cheetahs @ Eagles

09 Apr
OVEagles All News, Senior Football , , , ,

The Eagles’ first home game of the 2015 season takes place this Sunday (12th April) in another, tough-looking divisional game against the rebranded Hertfordshire Cheetahs.

The Cheetahs beat the Eagles 19-0 in our inaugural game on the opening day of last season at Hertfordshire University on the way to posting a perfect 10-0 regular season record, and after losing out in the play-offs to a strong Edinburgh Wolves side head into the new campaign on the back of what appears to have been a very successful off-season.

They have added additional players and coaches to an already large squad, and recently celebrated the honour of having Offensive Lineman Stuart Butcher selected to represent Great Britain Students against Finland, in which the Lions ran out 40-0 victors.

The Eagles edged past the Cambridgeshire Cats in the opening game of the season last weekend, and will be looking to come back with a better performance in front of a home crowd this week.

Linebacker Byron Chowles misses the game following breaking his ankle during the victory against the Cats, but Head Coach Will White has no other new injury concerns.

Will we see the Cheetahs start 2015 the same they did 2014, or will see the Eagles emerge as an early season force in the division? Join us at Bedford International Athletics Stadium on Sunday from midday to find out!

Admission for Sunday’s game is £2 each for adults for which you receive a free programme, or free for under-18s.

In this week’s programme we have a word with Chairman Neale McMaster, Head Coach Will White shares his thoughts and we also hear from Gameday Manager Paul Smyth.

We also have interviews with QB Enrique Alonso and rookie CB Mark Lusted, the latest on the Youth Team and a Spectator’s Guide.

150412 - Eagles v Cheetahs Promo

Eagles edge the Cats in season opener

06 Apr
Michael Dilley All News, Reports, Senior Football , , ,

Cambridgeshire Cats 0 Ouse Valley Eagles 7

The Eagles edged out divisional rivals the Cambridgeshire Cats in a tense and nervy affair at Coldhams Common yesterday afternoon.

A single touchdown pass from Enrique Alonso to former Cats player Nate Ashby late in the fourth quarter was the difference between the two sides, as both offenses struggled to pick up any meaningful momentum.

The Eagles won the toss and opted to receive the ball, which Chris Parr returned to the Eagles 44-yard line.

Following a two-yard run, five-yard penalty for a false start, a strong seven-yard run from Zak Henry and an incomplete pass, the Eagles went for it on fourth down but another incomplete pass resulted in a turnover on downs.

The Cats’ first possession resulted in a three-and-out following a sack from Defensive Tackle Andy Larwill. The punt was returned to the Eagles 47-yard line, and that set the tone for the rest of the first half, as both sides took it in turns trading possessions at around halfway.

Half time score: Cats 0 Eagles 0.

It was much the sae story throughout the third quarter. The Cats came closest to breaking the deadlock with a field goal that fell short of the mark, and as the game entered the fourth quarter the game still hung in the balance.

Eagles Linebacker Byron Chowles was taken to hospital treatment for a nasty-looking ankle injury which was later revealed to be a break in three places that requires surgery, and keep him out of action for the rest of the 2015 campaign.

As the game restarted the teams again took in turn exchanging possessions, but after a monstrous sack by rookie Brad Beveridge and a fumble recovered by the defense the Eagles took over deep in Cats territory.

Alonso connected with Ashby from 18-yards out to finally break the deadlock, and following a successful extra point the Eagles lead 7-0 with a little over three minutes to play.

The Cats were unable to move the ball on their final possession, and once the Eagles took over at around halfway with 55 seconds to play, saw out the clock to clinch a hard fought victory.

Final score: Cats 0 Eagles 7.

Attention now turns to the first home game of the season, next Sunday (12th April) against Hertfordshire Cheetahs.

Kick off is midday at Bedford International Athletics Stadium on Barkers Lane (MK41 8SB), with admission £2 each for adults or free for under-18s.

Special Delivery

04 Apr
Michael Dilley All News , , ,

Eagles players and officials took a break from preparing for the new season by delivering Easter Eggs to children and Bedford and Milton Keynes Hospitals this week.

We chatted to staff, parents and children on the Riverbank Ward in Bedford on Wednesday (1st April) and The Children’s Ward, Children’s A&E and the Neonatal Unit in Milton Keynes on Good Friday (3rd April) whilst handing out the eggs, which had been donated by the club.

Speaking afterwards, Club Chairman Neale McMaster said:

We are very happy to continue the traditional of donating Easter Eggs to our local hospitals again this year.

It’s never nice for children to need to spend time in hospital at any time of year let alone during a holiday, but it’s pleasing to hear that the club’s visit had given them a bit of a boost.

The Eagles kick off the 2015 season tomorrow on Easter Sunday (5th April) away to divisional rivals the Cambridgeshire Cats. Kick-off at Coldhams Common is 2.30pm.

The first home game of the season at Bedford International Athletics Stadium on Barkers Lane, Bedford takes place a week later on Sunday 12th April against Hertfordshire Cheetahs, kicking off at 12pm.