In blistering conditions the Mavericks travelled to Reading to face the Reading Renegades on Sunday and gained their second consecutive convincing victory beating Reading 41-0.

 

"Berkshire Renegades crashed to their second consecutive 41-0 defeat, this time at the hands of the visiting East Kent Mavericks, in blustery conditions on Sunday.

The first quarter was an intense tussle. The Mavericks received the opening kickoff, and the mix of strong rushing from Gary Welch and David Jenkinson and a long completion from Adam Lillis to Glenn Lindley saw the vistors move to within seven yards of the Renegades goalline. The Renegades defense were not going to give up a score this early on though, and a fourth down tackle by Shaun Blake and Guy Robbins kept the scoreboard clean.

Berkshire went three and out on their opening drive, before the defense held firm again, this time protecting the goalline from just three yards out as Martin McGuire and Jamie Foster tackled running back James Robson for a loss on fourth down. The Renegades defense struck on the next Mavericks drive as Steve Portwine forced the ball loose on a rush, and Blake pounced to recover the fumble. Despite aggressive running from backs Drew Cameron and Ian Lakin, Berkshire were forced to go three-and-out again as the first quarter drew to a close.

At the start of the second quarter, East Kent put together another controlled drive, making the most of the success they were having on the ground. Jenkinson broke the deadlock on a twenty-yard touchdown rush – the point-after attempt was no good, as a bobbled snap forced Lillis to try to unsuccessfully pass for the score. 0-6 to the visitors.

Berkshire fumbled the ball on their next drive, a lateral pass from Paul Waddington drifting away from the receiver in the wind and the Mavericks’ Tom Arnold gratefully recovered at the Renegades’ 11 yard line. East Kent wasted no time in scoring, Lillis connecting with Lindley for the touchdown on first down. Welch’s point-after kick was good, and the lead had opened up to 0-13.

The Renegades turnover troubles would continue as a third-and-long pass from Waddington was intercepted. East Kent extended their lead on the ensuing drive, as ex- Renegade John Zinkus showed great awareness and footwork to tip-toe catch a 6 yard pass from Lillis at the back of the endzone. Welch’s point-after kick was again good, and it was 0-20.

East Kent would score once more in the dying minutes of the first half, the Lillis-Lindley combination working again from the 9 yard line. The pair repeated their success on the two-point conversion success, and it was 0-28 at the break.

The second half started disastrously for the Renegades, as East Kent jumped on a fumble just inside the Renegades half. The Berkshire defense was still playing strong football though and would keep a clean sheet in the third quarter, with Jamie Foster and Guy Robbins recording sacks of Lillis on the next two East Kent drives, and Duncan Scott’s interception ending their third.

The Mavericks would score twice in the fourth quarter though, firstly through the Lillis-Lindley connection for 17 yard touchdown pass, then with Welch going over from 2 yards out. One of the point-after attempts was good, to round the score off at 0-41 to East Kent."