Friday Night Lights

by Mike Lee

June 4, 2005 - Milford, CT - The Northern Raiders certainly put their stamp on the 2005 AMNRL campaign with a convincing win in week one over reigning Champion Glen Mills Bulls, but they were sent crashing back down to earth Friday Night by a Wildcats outfit that was ready to re-establish its territory. The controversial split in 2004 saw the then champion Wildcats severed into two clubs, but there was no doubt as to where the strength in the AMNRL lies, when the two teams clashed at the Raiders new field turf stadium Friday night.

The Cats struck first from an Andrew Webster goose-step off the left foot from 15 out. Webster then carried two defenders to the two-meter line, where he stretched out and stamped the line with the game ball. (Roeske©-Wildcats 6-0) The Raiders broke the visitors’ relentless pressure 15 minutes in, when Brock Thompson re-gathered his own chip-chase off 5th tackle from 50 meters plus, to score in the corner. (Thompson© 6-6) The Wildcats suffered a scare early on, as Damien O’Malveney went down with a knee injury that appeared to be season ending. “Pervey” will be evaluated by Wildcats’ team doctor and USA Tomahawks Orthopedic Surgeon Andrew Levy on Wednesday, according to team officials.

The score-line felt like it was deadlocked for ages, when Mark Brandon broke through the Raiders defense from 10 meters out to nudge the Cats in front (Roeske©-Wildcats 12-6), but the match was for the taking as the half-time whistle blew.

Early on, Murray Roeske was put deftly into a gap at the Raiders’ 45 meter line. Roeske broke two tackles, outpaced Ben Kelly to the corner and converted himself to extend the lead. (Roeske©-Wildcats 18-6). As the battle resumed, Danny Bull strolled in untouched from over the halfway-line, as he does every week. (Roeske©-Wildcats 24-6) The Wildcats kept on coming and were in for another, but debutant winger Curtis Cunz stepped on the dead-ball line after crossing over out wide. Cunz had a cracker in debut and left many to wonder just how far he can go in this game….

So the score remained, until the Raiders began to crawl back into it, with a spectacular individual effort by former St. George Dragon Danny Sutton, to draw the Raiders to within two converted tries. (Thompson©-Wildcats 24-12) Roeske then wisely slotted a penalty right in front to put the Wildcats up 3 scores 26-12, with 20 to go.

Col Manners bowled over under the opposition posts to give the Raiders one last chance, but Wildcats’ Mark Brandon crossed for his second with 5 minutes left and the die was cast. (Thompson, Roeske©-Wildcats 32-18) Jako Ah-hoy drew the Raiders to within 8 just before full-time, as they battled valiantly into the night, but were only able to muster one point on the ladder, with the Wildcats taking 5.

Andrew Webster was the Players’ player that night, he was clearly the glue that kept the Wildcats stuck into it, shocking several Raider ball-carriers with his patented iron shoulder. Mark Brandon, though, appeared to be the fans’ favorite and he was crowned MVP at the pitch, by field announcer Duncan Forsyth a/k/a Grandpa Raider. Also playing well for the Cats were Kevin Black, Gareth Gibbs and Rene Abdalah. Brock Thompson and the tireless trio of Ben Kelly, Joel Venables and Blair Wards led the Raiders go-forward.

The Lincoln Conference stands as follows after 2 weeks of play: Wildcats-10, Raiders-6, Knights-5, Bulls-3. Round 3 sees inter-conference play with the Wildcats hosting the Slayers @ Jack Casagrande Stadium, the Knights hosting the Sharks at the “Castle”, and the Raiders hosting the Mantarays.

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