In what turned out to be a very hot day in Manchester, our U17 South team hosted our U17 North team, Chester and Chorley for the first U17 tournament of 2018.
Manchester Titans 20 – 6 Chester Romans
The U17 2018 season kicked off with the Titans defence first to take the field against the Romans. With 3 rookies lining up on defence, Chester quickly run the ball 30 yards deep into Titans territory. On the third play of the game Chester score with a 10 yard pass. Blitz pressure from Tim Young forces an incomplete point after.
Manchester’s offence led by GB selected QB Otto Bruchard took a battering on there first drive, gaining only 2 yards before fumbling the ball.
Big tackles from veterans Tim Young and Fraser Green, quickly give the Blues the ball back.
A perfect spiral pass takes the score to 6 – 6.
Defensive captain Tim Young again stamps his mark with a big tackle in the end zone taking the halftime score to 8 – 6.
Tight End David Ani takes a short hand off and runs the ball 25 yards. On second down David again catches the ball for another long run taking the ball deep into the Romans half.
The Titans offence continue connecting and it’s not long before the score reaches
14 – 6.
Photo courtesy of Matthew Wynne
First year Cornerback Matt Tomlinson introduces himself to the Romans offence with a booming hit. The very next play Chester make the mistake of running Matt’s way again and this is welcomed with another crunching tackle.
The Manchester offence isn’t yet satisfied and following runs by Alex Lakinson and Charlie Escott the game ends with a win for the Titans and a score of 20 – 6.
Manchester Titans 0 – 43 Chorley Buccaneers
In the second game the Titans defence line up against the tournament favourite Buccaneers, who on there first play run the ball all the way to the Manchester 10 yard line and a first and goal.
A 9 yard run takes to ball to the 1 yard line, but following with an incomplete pass and a goal line tackle by big hitting Fraser Green the ball turns over to Manchester.
Photo courtesy of Matthew Wynne
After gaining a first down from a long pass the blues quickly turn over the ball and Chorley take the lead with a touchdown and a 2 point after.
Another Titans turnover and the Big Blue defence take the field once again.
This is the story for the rest of the game, with no way of stopping the Chorley offence the score quickly reaches 0 – 37. QB pressure from Dan Calder and Abdel Umar just isn’t enough and the Buccaneers closed the scoring with a final touchdown.
Manchester Titans (South) 35 – 6 Manchester Titans (North)
Manchester start the final game on offence and after a very short 2 yard run, a fingertip drop in the end zone and a near interception by the North, it looks like another hard day at the office.
Step forward the South’s running game…..First a 15 yard sideline run from David Ani followed by a 10 run from fellow rookie Aiden Silgram and the ball is soon of the opposing 10 yard line.
Photo courtesy of Matthew Wynne
A zig zagging run from Charlie Escott take the South to a 6 – 0 lead.
The North teams never die spirit hands them a scoring touchdown on there very first play, an incomplete point after brings the score to 6 – 6.
After a failed pass attempt on first down, the football gods shine down on the South team’s offence and on 2nd down a massive 40 yard pass from end zone to end zone and a successful point after move the score to 13 – 6.
Titans ‘Big Blue Wreckin Crew’ give the North nowhere to go, other than backwards….all the way back to there 3 yard line. On 3rd down Captain Cornerback Tim Young tackles the QB in the end zone for his second safety of the day.
As the second half begins and with 3 starters out to injury the North offence again struggle to move the ball, turning it over to the South.
A short pass to Charlie Escott and a 10 yard run on 2nd down by Aiden Silgram and the score reaches 27 – 6.
Fatigue from the low numbers shows on the faces of the Titans North as the south score a final touchdown and successful 2 pointer to take the score to 35 – 6.