Knights’ charge into Playoffs

Game Report:  6.3.11

Edinburgh Napier Knights 36 Teeside Demons 7

(at the Jack Kane Centre, Edinburgh) 

Photographs courtesy of Napier student Rory Brown-Kerr.

The Edinburgh Napier Knights completed a remarkable turnaround season with a comfortable win over the Teeside Demons clinching a playoff spot in the national BUAFL Challenge Trophy. In what was a must win game, the Knights opened the scoring with a 28 yard pass from Euan Rennie to Neale Lees in the 1st quarter.

The score of the day came in the 2nd period as Napier Running Back Jamie Welsh broke free on an 85yard Touchdown run.. A converted extra point by Rennie gave the Knights a 14-0 lead.

Rennie broke another long Touchdown run of 42 yards as he was flushed from the pocket by the Demons gigantic defensive front which put the Knights 21-0 ahead at the half.

A slow start to the 2nd half was marked by a remarkable 4 Touchdown scores from Napier being called back by the officials and it wasn’t until the 4th quarter that Napier got themselves legitimately back on the score sheet. Rookie RB Jamie Welsh added his second TD of the day this time from 47yards putting Napier 28-0 in front and earning himself MVP honours for the game.

A final 1yard dive from Rennie and 2PAT run by Welsh gave the Knights a 36-0 lead before Teeside got onto the score sheet with a 40 yard reception from Chris Lingard to Tim Bolland in the dying seconds of the game.

The 36-7 win means the Edinburgh Napier Knights finish the season with 5 wins 2 loses and 1 tie (5-2-1). They now meet the Nottingham-Trent Renegades on Sunday the 13th March at the Jack Kane Centre Edinburgh with a 1pm kickoff.

Head Coach Pete Laird was keen not to dwell too much on his team mistakes. ‘We are aware that this wasn’t our most polished display of the season, but today’s victory is all about the achievements and hard work of the teams players, staff and coaches over a long season.’

‘The squad of lads on this year’s team have been a pleasure to coach and I would like to thank them all for their efforts thus far and hope that we can now put together a playoff run.’

Coach Laird also paid respect to injured Middle Linebacker Ross Young. ‘Ross is a great player, captain and leader on this team, and I know I speak for the whole team in wishing him the best in his recovery.’