By Mitchell "Carebear" Holt

 Not long prior to this day the Mavericks also  had also tasted the bitter disappointment of defeat. Beaten 2 weeks earlier by The Cardinals. All the hope and effort invested into the new division 1 campaign had proved fruitless. Today however, today would be the day they would turn that around. Today they would ignite a new fire and give a new reason to believe. Today the Mavericks like Christ before them, would rise again covered in glory. 

Though not quite raining the sky was a threatening, iron grey colour. The two teams had spent the morning on opposite sides of the field, eyeing one another up. Trying to assess strengths and weaknesses. At 2.30 the opposing teams captains met on the field and it was decided that the Mavericks would receive first possession of the football.  After the kickoff the Mavericks offence took to the field, eager to prove that they can move the ball against Division 1 opposition. Through the air and on the ground they showed that they have the mettle and determination to do just that. The first drive didn’t result in points but if the Saxons had turned up at Canterbury expecting an easy game, they quickly learned that they would have a fight on their hands. In the hands of Gary Welch they advanced the ball yard by yard, play by play, elaborate spin move by elaborate spin move they began to march up field. A quick slant pass to Rob McDonald netted a few more yards. The plan was working. Drive for Five was looking like it might carry the day. 

I can put it off no longer. I cannot continue to describe the happenings of this first drive without mentioning it. The author, constrained to the sideline with the Hurty Knee (acquired 2 weeks previously as a result of an argument with a fat Cardinal) could only look on, in despair, as he watched his starting spot evaporate before his eyes. In the six years I’ve known Graham Swanson I have only seen an enthusiastic waddle at best, but today I witnessed what can only be described as a fleet scamper. Ball in hand he galloped off tackle to the right. Look of glee on his face as if somebody had told him a truffle was in  the endzone he zoomed up field. He took the offensive philosophy of ‘drive for five’ and tore it up. He ‘Trundled for twenty’ amid excited cheers and shouts of encouragement from the sideline. As my jaw hung open  I had to confess it was poetry in motion. The drive petered out without a score but nobody cared. We had all witnessed something special.  

With the Saxons now in possession of the football the Mavs defence strode out to make their presence felt. And make it felt they did. They gave a preview of how they intended to play the whole game. They were stingy and steadfast. Completely smothering the Saxons. Everything they tried was met with contempt as the Saxon’s drive fizzled before it got started.  

Possession would switch back and forth for the rest of the quarter. Neither offence managing to put any points on the board. The Mavericks offence saw some superb work from the O-line, in particular on some roll out passes and off tackle runs. Tailbacks Gary Welch and Dan Weale fought for some hard yards but ultimately failed to break the goaline. Worthy of note from the first quarter is our noble and heroic team chairman. Glenn Lindley spent the majority of the quarter picking on a small corner back, bruising block followed by punishing pancake, Lindley venomously persecuted this small boy up and down the field. It was a privilege to behold. Jamie Ewen also gave the good news to a receiver on an out route. His Outy quickly became an Inny, and, lesson learned, he didn’t trouble the 22 again. 

The second quarter began with a cracking offensive drive. Advancing the length of the field, good running from the backs behind some superb O-line work got the offence to the 20 yard line. At which point the drive ran out of steam but the Mavericks offence drew first blood of the game as Gary Welch kicked a field goal for 3 points. Now in possession of the ball the Saxons engaged with renewed fury. Desperate to take the wind out of the Mav’s sails. Despite a stalwart performance from the D, including an athletic bat down from corner back Joe Walker the Saxons slowly but steadily drove the length of the field. Drawing on reserves of energy and grit the Mavericks D held firm forcing the Saxons offence to attempt a field goal.  

Which they missed. 

The rest of the quarter would continue much the same way. The Mavs defence were on more than one occasion backed right up in their own redzone but their hearts remained stout. Across the goal line no Saxon foot was set and twixt the goalposts no football was hoofed. In the final minute of the half the Saxons were denied yet again. What followed was an outstanding 50 second drive from the offence, led by Adam Lillis pass after pass was connected. A desperate rollout to the left hooked up with Tim Palmer with a leaping catch. A long bomb to the right was caught by Larry Laryea (Boobie) with an athletic  flying grab. Another cracking catch over the middle hauled in by Greg Mutyambizi. Time was against them however and though the drive looked set to yield a touchdown they were forced to attempt a long field goal which was blocked.

At the half the Mavericks were 3 nil up.

The 3rd quarter was coloured by long, time consuming offensive drives from both teams. No area of the pitch remained virgin as the teams fought up and down the length and breadth of it. The Mavs were on shaky ground for a brief period however. Having forced a punt from the Saxons, one particular Mavs defender, brimming with confidence and enthusiasm attempted to field the short punt whilst festooned with Saxons. It didn’t end well and the Saxons recovered the ball. Twas to no avail however. The Mavs remained resolute and no points were scored.

Not ones to be outdone the Mavs O took to the field and drove the length of the field again. The Saxon defence proved to by most dangerous when cornered and again, having backed them up to their red zone the Mavs offence were forced to kick again. The uprights were split and the Mavericks took another 3 points.

It was on the following defensive outing that Dudley Ross in celebration of his 30th birthday managed to inflict his 30th sack of the day on the hapless Saxons quarterback.

And thus we entered the 4th and final quarter. The final quarter followed distinctly similar patterns to the previous 3. Again the Mavs offence moved the ball. They ‘Drove for Five’ (doesn’t really work quite as well in the past tense) with great vigour and vim, but that 6th yard would prove elusive and they didn’t add to the score. On the opposite side of the ball the defence upped their game even further, Dan Johnson recorded a sack, a real one in this case.  Then as the clock was ticking down,  in a last ditch attempt the Saxons QB heaved the ball skyward. The whole team breathed sigh of relief. Unlike the real Queen of Heaven, this last gasp Hail Mary surely wouldn’t prove to be full of grace, the time would run out and the game would be ours. But what is this?

 Do my eyes deceive me?

They don’t, Hellfire and Thunder! There is a Saxons receiver screaming up the sideline. The pass is pin point. This is no desperate lob. This is a laser guided, game winning bomb. All that work on Defence would prove wasted. The gritty grinding effort from the Offense would amount to nothing. Like King Alfred the Great’s Saxons at the Isle of Athelney, surrounded and outnumbered by Guthrum’s Vikings, Peterborough’s Saxons would snatch ultimate victory from the jaws of defeat!But wait, behold.  What’s this I see before me? There, coming over yonder hill. Could it be? It is! Joe Walker is closing the gap between himself and the receiver. Stride by stride, gaining on him, the ball is still in the air. It’s at least a 150 yard pass. But Joe isn’t going to make it, The ball is zooming in on its target. It’s going to be caught. Then, what can only be described as a horizontal rocket flying punch, the like of which not seen since the days of Street Fighter 2 has Joe flying through the air to deliver a hay maker Rocky Balboa would have been proud of, bats that ball harmlessly to the long grass, along with it any hopes of a Saxon come back. The day is won.

The Mavericks put a well deserved 1 in the win column and retire to the Jolly for brandies and victory cigars supplied by www.holtsofcanterbury.com Licking their chops in anticipation of locking horns once more with the Cardinals, (My knee is tingling at the thought) the team intend to spend the week practicing their Horizontal Rocket Flying Punches. The Cards won’t know what hit em.