Wildcats First Ever Unbeaten Regular Season

By Mike Lee

Pier 40 – NYC – The Connecticut Wildcats capped an historic unbeaten season (9-0-1) with a strong performance versus the New York Knights to retain the 2006 Deserter’s Cup. With the win, the Wildcats joined the Glenn Mills Bulls as the only teams to complete a full regular season without a loss and guaranteed themselves home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. In 2006, the Bulls and Wildcats sit atop their respective conferences, hoping for yet another Grand Final Clash. The Knights having had a great year in their own right, finished up at 8-1-1 (The Wildcats and Knights tied 28-28 in their first meeting).

The Wildcats roared out in front as Danny Bull and ATA Izrabahki added 2 very quick scores under the posts with chaos reining the Knights defensive line (Hollingsworth (c) Wildcats 12-0). But the Knights regrouped, recouped every bit of the momentum and leveled the field with 2 quick scores of their own from Jeremy Kosbob and Col Manners at the 10 minute mark of the 1 st half. (Wildcats 12 – Knights 12). Finally, the deadlock was broken as ATA put Will Brazier into a gap and he offloaded to Dave Lloyd who was through to Jamie Rose penetrating deeper into Knights territory. Rose threaded Rich Portale bursting through a heap of branches in the left center and he carried USA Tomahawk Roger Tuamoaluah to the corner for 4 points (Halftime; Wildcats 16-12)

In the second half, the Knights fired up and put down two of their own to the Wildcats one (Dwayne Eade), the best was Jeremy Kosbob scoring his second down the left sideline to take the lead (Knights 22-20). The tide turned once more as the Wildcats’ Nathan Hollingsworth chipped thru from 10 out and MVP Dave Lloyd deftly fell on the well-weighted trickler to put the Wildcats back on top (Wildcats 26-20). They would not look back. After receiving the ensuing kick-off, the Wildcats piggy-backed a set off a Knights’ handling error from the wing. Smashing the goal-line time and again, Rich Portale was allowed to spring to his feet unharrassed, for a quick play-the-ball on the Knights’ line, which hooker Dave Lloyd promptly touched down to seal the win. (Final Score: Wildcats 32-20) Best on the day for the Knights was Jeremy Kosbob, Adam Nables and Roger Tuamoaluah. The Wildcats were led by Will Brazier up front, the back row of Danny Bull, Jamie Rose and Ben Kelly, Hollingsworth and Brent Griffiths.

The Wildcats can look forward to the return of four starters when they host the DC Slayers this Saturday in Connecticut: five-eight Damien O’Malveney, John McGeachy, Steve Annunziata and Curtis Cunz. The Knights, depleted by injury, are forced to host the angry New Haven Warriors at the Castle this Friday night. The Warriors, who made the playoffs as debutants in 2006, are an early underdog versus a Knights outfit that appears overconfident; having beaten the Warriors home and away this year. Adding fuel to the fire, Knights’ CEO Robert Balachandran was overheard by an anonymous Warriors’ player (who was among the Wildcats as Balachandran addressed the victors post-match), “We will see you (Wildcats) in two weeks time.” Warriors’ players and staff are said to be infuriated – this is a must see match-up for round one.

With the final week of regular season play finished, the AMNRL playoff ladder breaks down as follows:

Week 1 - August 5

• Bulls (1) - Bye
  Slayers (7) @ Wildcats (2)
  Warriors (6) @ Knights (3)
  Axemen (5) @ Sharks (4)

Back to RL News