Smash Mouth Football

The conditions at the University of Kent, Canterbury playing fields could not have been less hospitable as the Ipswich Cardinals kicked off their 2010 league season on Sunday.
Driving wind and rain for the entire journey south only intensified as the squads attempted to “warm up” ahead of the first meeting between the Cardinals and the hosts, the East Kent Mavericks.
From the outset, the travellers from Suffolk appeared eager to get the encounter over with as quickly as possible! Safety Niall Simmons was the first Ipswich player to reach the Maverick player returning the opening kickoff and when he did, he smashed him off his feet with a ferocious tackle,
warming the heart of everybody standing shivering on the Cardinal sideline.
Two plays later and Defensive tackle Shaun Rapley slammed the hosts starting running back down and out of the game, visibly shaking the newly promoted hosts.
When the Cardinals offense took over two plays later Quarterback Don Byrd mixed short passes to Tight Ends Matt Donaldson and Mehalic Blair with hand offs to the bulldozing Fullback Paul Borstel. That initial drive ended in a failed field goal attempt, but the stark contrast between East Kents inability to
advance the ball and the focused, motivated desire of the Cardinals saw the foundations laid for an interesting game.
On the next Cardinal drive the first touchdown was scored as Byrd passed 12 yards into the endzone where Blair was open with grateful hands. Rookie Kicker Steven Baines added the extra point attempt out of his brother Adrians hold, making the score 0-7.
Into the second quarter and the Cardinals defense was taking total command. Rapley sacked the Mavericks Quarterback for a big loss before Simmons recovered a fumble, enabling the offense to take over again.
Borstel blasted through bodies for a 20 yard touchdown, behind solid blocking from the big Cardinal Offensive line to increase the score, Baines again adding the extra point, 0-14
Another sack, this time by the Cardinals outstanding Latvian star Sandijs Jansen led to a third Ipswich touchdown as Byrd snuck forward the required foot and a half to cross the goal line. This time the kick attempt by the promising youngster Baines bounced back off the upright but a 20 point lead had been established.
Before the halftime whistle, another Jansen sack, plus another Borstel touchdown run that was negated by a penalty ensured the rain soaked, muddied players, as well as the already freezing coaching staff and supporters left the field confident of victory.
Unfortunately, as conditions went from terrible to just impossible, the second half descended into a dismal affair for both coaches and supporters as the players manfully attempted to execute plays, while gleefully rolling around in the mudbath! It was a time for both sides Defensive players to shine, as handling the pigskin made rushing the ball the only option.
There was no further scoring and the only bright spot for the hosts was the solitary first down they achieved as the Cardinal defense tired. This really was an overwhelming display by the Suffolk side, with the entire team contributing to a marvellous win.
Next up is another away trip, in a fortnight at Cambridge – it is hoped the Cardinal players and fellow travellers will have dried out by then!!!

Coach Girling