Delorean at the Ruby Lounge
It is a long hill
More cheap fairy lights from Tesco
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Saturday, 4 December 2010
Thursday, 2 December 2010
December 2nd
I go out into town, after my singing lesson. I had a lift to the station, from a brother who drove a 4x4. I missed the train, it pulled away as I walked up the station ramp. I went to the pub over the road, and I had a beer and read some more of a book. I caught the next train, the station was empty apart from a man taking photos of a deserted snowy station. A girl sat on the bench to my left and smoked and I was warmed by the fumes, it was lovely.
In town I took a wrong turn and wandered down back streets but I found my way in the end. The support act had finished and I went to the bar, I had a Becks but it was horrible but the barmaid was nice. I switched to Guinness and that was better and then the band, Jenny and Johnny, came on stage. The stage is low so I could not see, not that I was there to look. The show ends and there is no encore, that seems a bit rude but never mind. I take another wrong turn somehow as I head back to the station. I have a burger from Burger King with some coffee and I eat it on the train.
The train stops at a station and some people heckle me from the platform, this has not happened in a while. A snowball flies through the closing doors and thumps into the window in front of me. I get off the train and walk home through the estate, for some reason I run up the steep hill. I go to bed.
In town I took a wrong turn and wandered down back streets but I found my way in the end. The support act had finished and I went to the bar, I had a Becks but it was horrible but the barmaid was nice. I switched to Guinness and that was better and then the band, Jenny and Johnny, came on stage. The stage is low so I could not see, not that I was there to look. The show ends and there is no encore, that seems a bit rude but never mind. I take another wrong turn somehow as I head back to the station. I have a burger from Burger King with some coffee and I eat it on the train.
The train stops at a station and some people heckle me from the platform, this has not happened in a while. A snowball flies through the closing doors and thumps into the window in front of me. I get off the train and walk home through the estate, for some reason I run up the steep hill. I go to bed.
Friday, 28 May 2010
2010 1st Game Report
Game report done for team website.
The Manchester Titans began their season with a 26-20 win over local rivals the Lancashire Wolverines.
The Titans received the ball to start the 2010 season and following a long kick return from T#11, T#88 found the end zone from 4 yards out and then converted the point-after attempt himself to make the score 7-0 to the Titans.
Lancashire replied immediately, scoring on a 32 yard pass due to a blown coverage, the point-after attempt was successful and tied the scores at 7-7.
The Titans started the following drive on their own 26-yard line and drove the length of the pitch with T#88 capping the drive with a 1-yard touchdown rush. The majority of the yardage on the drive came from a 22-yard run from T#88 to start the drive and a 26-yard pass down the middle of the field from T#12 to T#80. The point-after attempt was wide of the uprights, putting the Titans back in front 13-7.
The Titans defense then forced the Wolverines to punt, this marked the start of a scrappy period of play from both offenses, with Manchester throwing two interceptions with a lost Wolverines fumble, caused by T#49 and recovered by T#63, occurring on the intermediate possession. After the second Titans turnover, the Manchester defense held the Wolverines for no gain, forcing a field goal attempt from the home teams 24-yard line, the attempt sailing wide to the left.
The Titans regained possession on their own twenty-four yard line to start the second quarter and proceeded to drive into the Wolverines half. Following a false-start penalty, the Titans found themselves facing 3rd and 17, this was converted into a first down after a pass from T#12 to T#11 from 25 yards. T#11 then received the ball on the first down and lost a fumble on an attempted sweep.
The Titans defense again held firm, forcing a 3 and out from the Wolverines and handing the Titans offense a fresh possession from their own 21-yard line. The Lancashire defense then held firm and benefited from another turnover by the Manchester quarterback, T#12, on 3rd and 14.
Lancashire then drove from their own 40-yard line to the Titans 11-yard line and faced 4th and 2, failing to convert the opportunity. The Titans then drove 80 yards to score with T#12 connecting with T#8 for a 32-yard touchdown. The point-after attempt was good making the score 20-7 to the home team. The Wolverines received the following kick off and managed to fit in one play before the second quarter expired.
The Wolverines received the ball to start the second half and, following a sustained drive, scored on a 15-yard scramble by their quarterback taking the score to 20-13 to the home team, due to a failed point-after attempt.
The Titans replied immediately, driving 65 yards with T#12 connecting with T#80 three times for 47 yards and receiving the 1-yard touchdown to finish the drive. A missed point-after attempt left the score at 26-13 to the home team.
The visiting side drove to the Manchester 13-yard line where a holding penalty killed the offenses progress and left the Wolverines facing a 4th and 12 situation which they failed to convert.
After receiving possession at their own 21-yard line, the Titans drove with T#12 finding T#80 twice more for 26 yard . On the first play of the 4th quarter, T#12 found himself the victim of an unfortunate rebound, the ball bouncing of T#11's body and into the hands of a Wolverines player, resulting in his 4th interception of the day.
The Wolverines made good use of the turnover by driving for a touchdown, scored on a 3-yard pass play. The point-after attempt was initially missed, however following a replay of the down due to Titans penalty, the point was successfully converted taking the score to 26-20 to the Titans.
With 9 minutes left to play, the Titans gave the ball to T#42 to close out the game. Following a holding penalty on a sweep, Manchester faced 3rd and 14. When the pass fell incomplete the Titans found themselves punting for the first time in the game. A 30 yard punt resulted in the Wolverines being pinned at their own 21-yard line.
Facing 3rd and 7, the Wolverines connected on a 50-yard pass taking them to the Titans 16-yard line and needing a score to win. Lancashire opted to run on first down and the play was stopped for no gain. A tackle behind the line of scrimmage for a 4-yard loss by T#63 left the Wolverines facing 3rd and 13. The 3rd down pass attempt was tipped by T#7, leaving the visitors facing 4th and long. On the 4th down attempt to Wolverines looked to pass, but having no options open down-field the quarterback checked down and the play was stopped for a 1-yard gain. T#5 was injured during the play and, after being attended to by the medics, hobbled off the pitch to applause from the stands following a good defensive performance.
The Titans offense gained possession of the football at their own 19-yard line with just over 3 minutes to play. T#42 again received the ball and rushed for 36 yards, with T#88 receiving 1 carry and adding 3 yards to his total, and importantly 2 1st downs which allowed Manchester to run the clock out and end the game, winning 26-20.
The Manchester Titans began their season with a 26-20 win over local rivals the Lancashire Wolverines.
The Titans received the ball to start the 2010 season and following a long kick return from T#11, T#88 found the end zone from 4 yards out and then converted the point-after attempt himself to make the score 7-0 to the Titans.
Lancashire replied immediately, scoring on a 32 yard pass due to a blown coverage, the point-after attempt was successful and tied the scores at 7-7.
The Titans started the following drive on their own 26-yard line and drove the length of the pitch with T#88 capping the drive with a 1-yard touchdown rush. The majority of the yardage on the drive came from a 22-yard run from T#88 to start the drive and a 26-yard pass down the middle of the field from T#12 to T#80. The point-after attempt was wide of the uprights, putting the Titans back in front 13-7.
The Titans defense then forced the Wolverines to punt, this marked the start of a scrappy period of play from both offenses, with Manchester throwing two interceptions with a lost Wolverines fumble, caused by T#49 and recovered by T#63, occurring on the intermediate possession. After the second Titans turnover, the Manchester defense held the Wolverines for no gain, forcing a field goal attempt from the home teams 24-yard line, the attempt sailing wide to the left.
The Titans regained possession on their own twenty-four yard line to start the second quarter and proceeded to drive into the Wolverines half. Following a false-start penalty, the Titans found themselves facing 3rd and 17, this was converted into a first down after a pass from T#12 to T#11 from 25 yards. T#11 then received the ball on the first down and lost a fumble on an attempted sweep.
The Titans defense again held firm, forcing a 3 and out from the Wolverines and handing the Titans offense a fresh possession from their own 21-yard line. The Lancashire defense then held firm and benefited from another turnover by the Manchester quarterback, T#12, on 3rd and 14.
Lancashire then drove from their own 40-yard line to the Titans 11-yard line and faced 4th and 2, failing to convert the opportunity. The Titans then drove 80 yards to score with T#12 connecting with T#8 for a 32-yard touchdown. The point-after attempt was good making the score 20-7 to the home team. The Wolverines received the following kick off and managed to fit in one play before the second quarter expired.
The Wolverines received the ball to start the second half and, following a sustained drive, scored on a 15-yard scramble by their quarterback taking the score to 20-13 to the home team, due to a failed point-after attempt.
The Titans replied immediately, driving 65 yards with T#12 connecting with T#80 three times for 47 yards and receiving the 1-yard touchdown to finish the drive. A missed point-after attempt left the score at 26-13 to the home team.
The visiting side drove to the Manchester 13-yard line where a holding penalty killed the offenses progress and left the Wolverines facing a 4th and 12 situation which they failed to convert.
After receiving possession at their own 21-yard line, the Titans drove with T#12 finding T#80 twice more for 26 yard . On the first play of the 4th quarter, T#12 found himself the victim of an unfortunate rebound, the ball bouncing of T#11's body and into the hands of a Wolverines player, resulting in his 4th interception of the day.
The Wolverines made good use of the turnover by driving for a touchdown, scored on a 3-yard pass play. The point-after attempt was initially missed, however following a replay of the down due to Titans penalty, the point was successfully converted taking the score to 26-20 to the Titans.
With 9 minutes left to play, the Titans gave the ball to T#42 to close out the game. Following a holding penalty on a sweep, Manchester faced 3rd and 14. When the pass fell incomplete the Titans found themselves punting for the first time in the game. A 30 yard punt resulted in the Wolverines being pinned at their own 21-yard line.
Facing 3rd and 7, the Wolverines connected on a 50-yard pass taking them to the Titans 16-yard line and needing a score to win. Lancashire opted to run on first down and the play was stopped for no gain. A tackle behind the line of scrimmage for a 4-yard loss by T#63 left the Wolverines facing 3rd and 13. The 3rd down pass attempt was tipped by T#7, leaving the visitors facing 4th and long. On the 4th down attempt to Wolverines looked to pass, but having no options open down-field the quarterback checked down and the play was stopped for a 1-yard gain. T#5 was injured during the play and, after being attended to by the medics, hobbled off the pitch to applause from the stands following a good defensive performance.
The Titans offense gained possession of the football at their own 19-yard line with just over 3 minutes to play. T#42 again received the ball and rushed for 36 yards, with T#88 receiving 1 carry and adding 3 yards to his total, and importantly 2 1st downs which allowed Manchester to run the clock out and end the game, winning 26-20.
Saturday, 5 September 2009
Playoff Round 1
The skies above are grey and a strong breeze drags new, greyer clouds into view. I am unable to kit-up for the game tomorrow so I have come to the ground the evening before the game to help mark out the pitch, it's not much but at it feels like I am contributing in a small way. The turnout is high, better than previous weeks and the four regulars frequently make remarks about how too many cooks are spoiling the broth, next time they can watch the broth themselves. We untangle the two-hundred yard long lengths of blue nylon rope and first mark out the sidelines, then we mark the lines that run the width of the pitch every five yards. We snake the rope across the pitch and anchor it off the pitch with stakes, the tight-end has assumed control of the paint-roller and trundles around all the lines. Two of the senior defensive players have turned up, they stand under shelter talking with the managers that are present.
After the horizontal lines are in place along the length of the pitch, we mark the one-yard hashes on the sideline using a tape measure and white aerosol turf paint, the numbers on the tape measure disappear every three-feet due to errant paint from previous uses. Once the ninety yards of hashes over both sides of the pitch are completed, two ropes are placed vertically down the length of the pitch, ten-feet from the outside of each rugby goal post. Two-foot long hashes are placed every yard. The final marks on the pitch are the extra-point mark which is three-yards from the goal-line, it is about two-yards long.
With the finishing touches in place, I begin to wrestle with one of the impractically long lengths of rope and attempt to coil it into some sort of ordered chaos. I give it my best and produce two bulky balls of rope, I place them into the bag - when they are pulled out next April they will have inexplicably tangled themselves into a knotted blue nightmare. We pack up and I head home, I stop at McDonalds and get twenty chicken nuggets and a double cheeseburger - I share the nuggets with my brother and eat the cheeseburger myself. I warm a pizza from Asda later in the evening, I feel full.
I remember listening to my radio alarm-clock, someone from the world of television has died. I don't recall fumbling for my alarm clock and stopping the irritating buzzing. When I wake up I reckon that it is around eleven o'clock due to the angle of the sun shining through the window above my bed. I had intentions of heading out to the garage and moving some weight around but it is too late for that now. I head downstairs, I fry an egg and warm some baked-beans, I add these to a bowl containing a cold sausage, a cold rasher of bacon; two warm rounds of toast complete the meal. I eat these whilst watching some baseball. I get dressed, gather my things and head to the ground. There is a van blocking the drive, it belongs to Transco and the driver is checking out a gas-leak at the house next door. He moves the van without me having to ask and I thank him.
I am halfway to the ground when I realise that I have left my mobile phone at home, it is too late to turn back. At the ground the opposition are doing stretches and our players are running through drills, I get a cup of tea with two sugars from the burger van parked beside the pitch and talk to two offensive-linemen. One is not playing due to a shoulder injury and the other is on-call from work so he may have to depart at any moment. The injured player stays to watch the game from the sidelines, myself and the lineman on-standby head to the stands. We are mugged for three-pounds on the way in, it is for charity and we are given game programmes and a raffle ticket in return - white nine. We settle ourselves on the top row of steps just to the left of the forty-five yard line.
The captains of each side walk out to the middle and the referee flips the coin. We chose to receive the kick and they chose to have the wind at their backs in the second and fourth quarters, hopefully this won't make a difference. The game begins with a long, grinding drive by our offense that results in a field goal. Their defense does a good job of shutting down our running game, all season we have moved the ball with ease - today our ground game will be tested. Their immediate response ends in a three-and-out after a penalty for intentional grounding.
The stand is full of supporters today, players from rival teams in our division line the grass verge that runs parallel to the pitch, opposite the club house. The murmuring and constant chat in the stands makes a change to the usually stagnant atmosphere. The cheers for big plays and the chants of 'defense' in an attempt to unnerve the visiting team ring out across the pitch. Camera flashes from the grass verge occasionally dazzle the paying spectators. I find my heart speeding up and myself getting involved in the game. I feel the elation of each yard gained and the devastation of each yard conceded, more so than any game that I have stood on the sideline for. Would I have felt this excitement if I was kitted up and on the sideline? As the fifth-string receiver I wouldn't have expected any play time unless the game turned into an absolute rout, maybe I would have got some special-team plays. I find it hard to follow the game from the sideline and the view from the stand makes following the game easier, I read somewhere on the internet that if you watch the defense you can see where the ball is going to go - with a competent quarterback it proves true most of the time.
Our second drive consists of some more stuffed runs and two fifteen yard strikes through the air taking us to their twenty yard line. A ten yard sack on third down leads to us attempting a field goal which is blocked. The loose ball goes out of bounds around the opposing teams thirty yard line. The visiting side switch from under-center snaps into a shotgun system, this confuses our defense - especially when they spread receivers out wide and run the ball. The absence of two of our starters in the secondary doesn't help the defense but we thought our squad had good depth. The visiting teams running backs are huge and slip past the first tackle all game long, this leads to us crowding the box and leaving the secondary exposed, whether the defense chooses to stop the pass or run, the offense eventually calls the right play and gets themselves a fresh set of downs. They march sixty yards down the pitch in seven plays and score the first touchdown of the match, they miss the extra point.
The third drive that our offense attempts again sees the running game stopped, two first down runs are stuffed and our aerial attack does all of the work. An open receiver drops a fly route and the next pass attempt is picked off. The defense steps up and forces a three-and-out, the visitors punt is returned forty-five yards and a play-action pass is completed from the three yard line for a touchdown, the extra point is missed. We take the lead for the first time in the day. The visiting team drive seventy yards for a touchdown in eight plays and retake the lead, they will not surrender the lead again. Our next drive has only two plays before the referee holds the ball above his head to signal the end of the half.
I pack my things into my bag and head down to the burger van. The queue is long but that is expected, several short showers of rain fall. I get a cheeseburger and head back up to the stands. After I have finished eating the second half begins, we are to kickoff.
The kickoff is caught at the oppositions five yard line and the returner manages to find a seam and navigates his way to our endzone, he celebrates before he notices the yellow flag on the floor at the home teams twenty-four yard line. A block in the back has been spotted and the visiting offense will get the ball ten yards back from the spot of the foul. One play later after a well executed play-action pass sees the six points that were struck from the scoreboard seconds before reinstated, they go for two points and fail. The score is eighteen-to-nine. The resulting kickoff goes out the back of our endzone for a touchback, a run play is again called on first down and once more it is stuffed. The two following pass plays are both incomplete and a punt follows, another block in the back penalty is called against the visiting team.
Despite the penalty they drive sixty yards down the field and score, a twenty yard run and a twenty yard pass to a receiver running a post pattern do the majority of the damage. The extra point is made and their lead is extended to sixteen. The kickoff is caught on our goal line and ran out to our twenty-three yard line, three extra yards compared to a touchback - each yard comes in handy. We abandon the fruitless first down running and the quarterback attempt to check down to a back flaring out into the flat, the back is enjoying running the route so much he doesn't look for the ball - it sails past his ear hole and is nearly intercepted. Second down sees another pass - this time an incompleted hook, the cornerback is all over the receiver before the ball reaches him and a flag is thrown for defensive pass interference - fifteen free yards. A botched screen pass to the veteran wide receiver results in a three yard loss. The next play is a fifty-five yard touchdown on a fly route, a perfect throw that dropped just over the cornerback's shoulder, the wishbone personnel are sent in and the two point attempt fails. Cheers erupt from the stands saying 'it isn't over yet' and other sayings, we are now trailing by ten points, just two scores.
On the opponents third down they throw a post route from a four wide receiver shotgun set, the last ditch tackle by our safety draws a face-mask penalty and moves the offense down to our fifteen yard line. A three-yard run and a stuffed screen play follow. The next play is a pass and the quarterback tries to throw to a dig route running two yards inside our endzone, the pass is picked off by one of our veteran safeties who falls to the ground. The crowd get fired up again, the momentum is shifting our way.
The ball is moved out to the twenty-yard line, a run is called on first down - we gain one yard. A slant is thrown to our stand-out receiver of the day, it is third-and-four. The quarterback rolls out to the right and throws a deep comeback route, the pass falls short and it incomplete. We are forced to punt from our own twenty-six, it is still the third quarter and not yet time for the final roll of the dice.
The punt ends up at their twenty-five yard line, the first play is run and a fumble is forced, they somehow manage to recover the ball. Second down sees a sweep play to the right, they gain five yards, yellow clumps litter the floor - a block in the back is called, their third infraction of the day. Second and fifteen, the quarterback rolls out, no receivers are open and he keeps the ball for a five yard gain, more yellow bundles litter the floor and it is a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct against the offense, a ten yard penalty. Third and twenty, a shotgun pass play turns into a draw and the running-back tears down the centre of the pitch for a forty-five yard gain. Momentum is slipping away from us again. The third quarter ends. They run to the left for five yards, then they pass twenty-five yards to the endzone, they make the two point conversion. They are up seventeen points and the defense look beaten as then walk off the pitch. Shouts erupt from our sideline that it isn't over yet, a defensive huddle is urgently called.
We abandon the run completely and begin to alternate between trips and spread formation. We march down the pitch to their eleven yard line, no receivers are open and the quarterback is flushed from the pocket, a defensive lineman catches his arm and the ball falls to the floor, they recover the loose ball. The defense step up and a three-and-out follows, the punt is left alone and is touched down at our twenty seven yard line. A two yard screen play is called and then a corner route goes incomplete. A running back goes into motion on third down and another fumble is caused as the quarterback is hit, this time we recover the ball - we opt to punt. The snap is wild and wide, the punter recovers the ball but is surrounded by defensive players - there is no room to punt. He tucks the ball away and attempts to run down the pitch, he makes it as far as our twenty yard line. The opposing offense slowly grind to the one yard line, they call a play action run that has even the referees looking at the running back as the quarterback saunters into the endzone untouched, the extra point is missed but the final nail is already in our coffin. Our season is all but over baring a miracle.
On the next possession we send in the second-string quarterback, the frequent knockdowns have got to the starter and he is pulled from the game. We run two plays and then the final whistle is blown. We are knocked out of the playoffs in the first round.
After the horizontal lines are in place along the length of the pitch, we mark the one-yard hashes on the sideline using a tape measure and white aerosol turf paint, the numbers on the tape measure disappear every three-feet due to errant paint from previous uses. Once the ninety yards of hashes over both sides of the pitch are completed, two ropes are placed vertically down the length of the pitch, ten-feet from the outside of each rugby goal post. Two-foot long hashes are placed every yard. The final marks on the pitch are the extra-point mark which is three-yards from the goal-line, it is about two-yards long.
With the finishing touches in place, I begin to wrestle with one of the impractically long lengths of rope and attempt to coil it into some sort of ordered chaos. I give it my best and produce two bulky balls of rope, I place them into the bag - when they are pulled out next April they will have inexplicably tangled themselves into a knotted blue nightmare. We pack up and I head home, I stop at McDonalds and get twenty chicken nuggets and a double cheeseburger - I share the nuggets with my brother and eat the cheeseburger myself. I warm a pizza from Asda later in the evening, I feel full.
I remember listening to my radio alarm-clock, someone from the world of television has died. I don't recall fumbling for my alarm clock and stopping the irritating buzzing. When I wake up I reckon that it is around eleven o'clock due to the angle of the sun shining through the window above my bed. I had intentions of heading out to the garage and moving some weight around but it is too late for that now. I head downstairs, I fry an egg and warm some baked-beans, I add these to a bowl containing a cold sausage, a cold rasher of bacon; two warm rounds of toast complete the meal. I eat these whilst watching some baseball. I get dressed, gather my things and head to the ground. There is a van blocking the drive, it belongs to Transco and the driver is checking out a gas-leak at the house next door. He moves the van without me having to ask and I thank him.
I am halfway to the ground when I realise that I have left my mobile phone at home, it is too late to turn back. At the ground the opposition are doing stretches and our players are running through drills, I get a cup of tea with two sugars from the burger van parked beside the pitch and talk to two offensive-linemen. One is not playing due to a shoulder injury and the other is on-call from work so he may have to depart at any moment. The injured player stays to watch the game from the sidelines, myself and the lineman on-standby head to the stands. We are mugged for three-pounds on the way in, it is for charity and we are given game programmes and a raffle ticket in return - white nine. We settle ourselves on the top row of steps just to the left of the forty-five yard line.
The captains of each side walk out to the middle and the referee flips the coin. We chose to receive the kick and they chose to have the wind at their backs in the second and fourth quarters, hopefully this won't make a difference. The game begins with a long, grinding drive by our offense that results in a field goal. Their defense does a good job of shutting down our running game, all season we have moved the ball with ease - today our ground game will be tested. Their immediate response ends in a three-and-out after a penalty for intentional grounding.
The stand is full of supporters today, players from rival teams in our division line the grass verge that runs parallel to the pitch, opposite the club house. The murmuring and constant chat in the stands makes a change to the usually stagnant atmosphere. The cheers for big plays and the chants of 'defense' in an attempt to unnerve the visiting team ring out across the pitch. Camera flashes from the grass verge occasionally dazzle the paying spectators. I find my heart speeding up and myself getting involved in the game. I feel the elation of each yard gained and the devastation of each yard conceded, more so than any game that I have stood on the sideline for. Would I have felt this excitement if I was kitted up and on the sideline? As the fifth-string receiver I wouldn't have expected any play time unless the game turned into an absolute rout, maybe I would have got some special-team plays. I find it hard to follow the game from the sideline and the view from the stand makes following the game easier, I read somewhere on the internet that if you watch the defense you can see where the ball is going to go - with a competent quarterback it proves true most of the time.
Our second drive consists of some more stuffed runs and two fifteen yard strikes through the air taking us to their twenty yard line. A ten yard sack on third down leads to us attempting a field goal which is blocked. The loose ball goes out of bounds around the opposing teams thirty yard line. The visiting side switch from under-center snaps into a shotgun system, this confuses our defense - especially when they spread receivers out wide and run the ball. The absence of two of our starters in the secondary doesn't help the defense but we thought our squad had good depth. The visiting teams running backs are huge and slip past the first tackle all game long, this leads to us crowding the box and leaving the secondary exposed, whether the defense chooses to stop the pass or run, the offense eventually calls the right play and gets themselves a fresh set of downs. They march sixty yards down the pitch in seven plays and score the first touchdown of the match, they miss the extra point.
The third drive that our offense attempts again sees the running game stopped, two first down runs are stuffed and our aerial attack does all of the work. An open receiver drops a fly route and the next pass attempt is picked off. The defense steps up and forces a three-and-out, the visitors punt is returned forty-five yards and a play-action pass is completed from the three yard line for a touchdown, the extra point is missed. We take the lead for the first time in the day. The visiting team drive seventy yards for a touchdown in eight plays and retake the lead, they will not surrender the lead again. Our next drive has only two plays before the referee holds the ball above his head to signal the end of the half.
I pack my things into my bag and head down to the burger van. The queue is long but that is expected, several short showers of rain fall. I get a cheeseburger and head back up to the stands. After I have finished eating the second half begins, we are to kickoff.
The kickoff is caught at the oppositions five yard line and the returner manages to find a seam and navigates his way to our endzone, he celebrates before he notices the yellow flag on the floor at the home teams twenty-four yard line. A block in the back has been spotted and the visiting offense will get the ball ten yards back from the spot of the foul. One play later after a well executed play-action pass sees the six points that were struck from the scoreboard seconds before reinstated, they go for two points and fail. The score is eighteen-to-nine. The resulting kickoff goes out the back of our endzone for a touchback, a run play is again called on first down and once more it is stuffed. The two following pass plays are both incomplete and a punt follows, another block in the back penalty is called against the visiting team.
Despite the penalty they drive sixty yards down the field and score, a twenty yard run and a twenty yard pass to a receiver running a post pattern do the majority of the damage. The extra point is made and their lead is extended to sixteen. The kickoff is caught on our goal line and ran out to our twenty-three yard line, three extra yards compared to a touchback - each yard comes in handy. We abandon the fruitless first down running and the quarterback attempt to check down to a back flaring out into the flat, the back is enjoying running the route so much he doesn't look for the ball - it sails past his ear hole and is nearly intercepted. Second down sees another pass - this time an incompleted hook, the cornerback is all over the receiver before the ball reaches him and a flag is thrown for defensive pass interference - fifteen free yards. A botched screen pass to the veteran wide receiver results in a three yard loss. The next play is a fifty-five yard touchdown on a fly route, a perfect throw that dropped just over the cornerback's shoulder, the wishbone personnel are sent in and the two point attempt fails. Cheers erupt from the stands saying 'it isn't over yet' and other sayings, we are now trailing by ten points, just two scores.
On the opponents third down they throw a post route from a four wide receiver shotgun set, the last ditch tackle by our safety draws a face-mask penalty and moves the offense down to our fifteen yard line. A three-yard run and a stuffed screen play follow. The next play is a pass and the quarterback tries to throw to a dig route running two yards inside our endzone, the pass is picked off by one of our veteran safeties who falls to the ground. The crowd get fired up again, the momentum is shifting our way.
The ball is moved out to the twenty-yard line, a run is called on first down - we gain one yard. A slant is thrown to our stand-out receiver of the day, it is third-and-four. The quarterback rolls out to the right and throws a deep comeback route, the pass falls short and it incomplete. We are forced to punt from our own twenty-six, it is still the third quarter and not yet time for the final roll of the dice.
The punt ends up at their twenty-five yard line, the first play is run and a fumble is forced, they somehow manage to recover the ball. Second down sees a sweep play to the right, they gain five yards, yellow clumps litter the floor - a block in the back is called, their third infraction of the day. Second and fifteen, the quarterback rolls out, no receivers are open and he keeps the ball for a five yard gain, more yellow bundles litter the floor and it is a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct against the offense, a ten yard penalty. Third and twenty, a shotgun pass play turns into a draw and the running-back tears down the centre of the pitch for a forty-five yard gain. Momentum is slipping away from us again. The third quarter ends. They run to the left for five yards, then they pass twenty-five yards to the endzone, they make the two point conversion. They are up seventeen points and the defense look beaten as then walk off the pitch. Shouts erupt from our sideline that it isn't over yet, a defensive huddle is urgently called.
We abandon the run completely and begin to alternate between trips and spread formation. We march down the pitch to their eleven yard line, no receivers are open and the quarterback is flushed from the pocket, a defensive lineman catches his arm and the ball falls to the floor, they recover the loose ball. The defense step up and a three-and-out follows, the punt is left alone and is touched down at our twenty seven yard line. A two yard screen play is called and then a corner route goes incomplete. A running back goes into motion on third down and another fumble is caused as the quarterback is hit, this time we recover the ball - we opt to punt. The snap is wild and wide, the punter recovers the ball but is surrounded by defensive players - there is no room to punt. He tucks the ball away and attempts to run down the pitch, he makes it as far as our twenty yard line. The opposing offense slowly grind to the one yard line, they call a play action run that has even the referees looking at the running back as the quarterback saunters into the endzone untouched, the extra point is missed but the final nail is already in our coffin. Our season is all but over baring a miracle.
On the next possession we send in the second-string quarterback, the frequent knockdowns have got to the starter and he is pulled from the game. We run two plays and then the final whistle is blown. We are knocked out of the playoffs in the first round.
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Game 10
I roll to my right and scramble around with my left hand, eventually I manage to locate the source of the irritating buzzing. I manipulate the switch and the noise stops, I roll back to my left and fall back asleep. I wake up an hour later and head downstairs; I get a bowl of muesli and a cup of tea, I watch some soccer highlights on the television. I head out to the garage and spend around an hour moving around circular lumps of metal, I finish up with five minutes of light jogging. The pain and stiffness at the top of my left calf seems reduced but it is still noticeable. There is no magical cure, only time and effort. I return to the house and take a shower. I cook some sausages and then include them in an omelette, it is not as tasty as I hoped. I make another cup of tea and proceed to watch the first twenty minutes of Manchester United against Birmingham City, it is uneventful. I leave the house.
I get to the ground quicker than I expected, the car park is reasonably full. I park next to the opposing teams minibus, the players are already back in the changing rooms after the warm-up. I see no-one to talk to and head up to the stand. I sit down to the left of the forty-five yard line on the first row of steps, the railing at the front obscures enough of my view to be annoying but I have already planted myself and decide not to move. To my left is an injured tight-end - he has damaged his knee in a significant fashion and is out for a long time, we exchange small talk and he says he was worried that he would have to do stats if I didn't turn up. I get out a selection of pens and my notebook, the players emerge from the building and begin to mull around on the blue tarpaulin that is intended to protect the turf along the sideline.
The card-check gets underway and is overseen by a member of the opposing teams management dressed in a Roman centurion costume; dressing up for away games has become their gimmick and they have upset a couple of the Scottish teams with their antics, it appears to be a bit of good natured fun to me. We must have more than forty players kitted up for the game, the away team have less than twenty-five - it will be a long day for them. The game starts and I begin to take down my notes, I get confused at the start and use the wrong notation but I regain my composure and everything goes smoothly. Their offense seems mostly impotent apart from a few ten-yard completions, our offense seems capable of moving the ball at will - we fail to convert on some fourth-down attempts but manage to build up a respectable score, the game is no longer a competition mid-way through the second quarter.
At around the ten minute mark of the second quarter I hear my name being called from the sideline, there is a member of the staff with a similar sounding name so I often mistakenly think they are asking for me - this time however, they are. I am being called to replace the child who is currently the ball-boy on the near side of the pitch, I hold up my notebook and tap it but this does not dissuade the calls. I reluctantly pack up my bag and head down to the pitch. I take the ball from the child and relieve him of his duty. I was a ball-boy at the previous years Britbowl, the girl who looked after the chain crew at that event is the line judge today. I start to follow the play up and down the sideline, most of the passing plays head to the opposite side of the field so I have a quiet afternoon. After each successful score I move behind the goal-posts in order to retrieve the ball following the point-after attempt.
The score ends up around fifty-three to two. Their only points came after a botched snap on a point-after attempt led to an intercepted pass in the ensuing scramble, that was then ran back for a score. The team has gone undefeated in the regular season and we finish at the top of the entire second division, we have home-field advantage locked up the playoffs. After the line-up and handshakes on the halfway line, the team huddle at around the twenty-five yard line. There is alot of cheering, including ten hoorays - one for each of the games we have won. The general-manager makes his way to the huddle with two bottles of what I would hope are cheap champagne and sprays them over the team. The players take a knee whilst the head-coach gives a speech. The players are then sent to gather in the equipment, there is a spring in everyones step that is usually absent. I check I have all my things and walk across the field towards my car, I say congratulations to some of the players as I pass. I head home.
I get to the ground quicker than I expected, the car park is reasonably full. I park next to the opposing teams minibus, the players are already back in the changing rooms after the warm-up. I see no-one to talk to and head up to the stand. I sit down to the left of the forty-five yard line on the first row of steps, the railing at the front obscures enough of my view to be annoying but I have already planted myself and decide not to move. To my left is an injured tight-end - he has damaged his knee in a significant fashion and is out for a long time, we exchange small talk and he says he was worried that he would have to do stats if I didn't turn up. I get out a selection of pens and my notebook, the players emerge from the building and begin to mull around on the blue tarpaulin that is intended to protect the turf along the sideline.
The card-check gets underway and is overseen by a member of the opposing teams management dressed in a Roman centurion costume; dressing up for away games has become their gimmick and they have upset a couple of the Scottish teams with their antics, it appears to be a bit of good natured fun to me. We must have more than forty players kitted up for the game, the away team have less than twenty-five - it will be a long day for them. The game starts and I begin to take down my notes, I get confused at the start and use the wrong notation but I regain my composure and everything goes smoothly. Their offense seems mostly impotent apart from a few ten-yard completions, our offense seems capable of moving the ball at will - we fail to convert on some fourth-down attempts but manage to build up a respectable score, the game is no longer a competition mid-way through the second quarter.
At around the ten minute mark of the second quarter I hear my name being called from the sideline, there is a member of the staff with a similar sounding name so I often mistakenly think they are asking for me - this time however, they are. I am being called to replace the child who is currently the ball-boy on the near side of the pitch, I hold up my notebook and tap it but this does not dissuade the calls. I reluctantly pack up my bag and head down to the pitch. I take the ball from the child and relieve him of his duty. I was a ball-boy at the previous years Britbowl, the girl who looked after the chain crew at that event is the line judge today. I start to follow the play up and down the sideline, most of the passing plays head to the opposite side of the field so I have a quiet afternoon. After each successful score I move behind the goal-posts in order to retrieve the ball following the point-after attempt.
The score ends up around fifty-three to two. Their only points came after a botched snap on a point-after attempt led to an intercepted pass in the ensuing scramble, that was then ran back for a score. The team has gone undefeated in the regular season and we finish at the top of the entire second division, we have home-field advantage locked up the playoffs. After the line-up and handshakes on the halfway line, the team huddle at around the twenty-five yard line. There is alot of cheering, including ten hoorays - one for each of the games we have won. The general-manager makes his way to the huddle with two bottles of what I would hope are cheap champagne and sprays them over the team. The players take a knee whilst the head-coach gives a speech. The players are then sent to gather in the equipment, there is a spring in everyones step that is usually absent. I check I have all my things and walk across the field towards my car, I say congratulations to some of the players as I pass. I head home.
Saturday, 15 August 2009
Game 9
After the last melodramatic post, I am feeling more positive about things. There is still excess fluid sloshing around inside my left knee, but the range of motion is improved and I am not feeling as much soreness. I restarted my efforts in the gym, consisting mostly of body weight exercises and using an elliptical machine for cardio in hopes of minimising impact. I have researched a new weight-lifting regime that I am going to adopt after a week or so of returning to activity. I am deciding on focusing on next season instead of moping around, missing the business end of the current one. Next year I will be in better shape and much better condition to minimise my chances of injury - that is my logic anyway.
I head to the ground on Sunday morning to meet-up with the active teammates before we depart for the oppositions ground - a forty minute bomb down the motorway. There were doubts about whether we would have enough cars to carry everyone but in the end the number of cars nearly outnumbered the amount of players needing transport. I drive to the ground alone; I could have had an extra two hours in bed, or at least have watched the final moments of the cricket and witnessed the last moments of another classic England collapse. I have no GPS unit to guide me, just have some instructions that I copied down from Google Maps, they get me there though. To hell with portable technology.
The car park is full when I arrive, I circle around once and end up parking next to the pitch side railing; there appears to be a Rugby match taking place at the same time. I walk awkwardly amongst groups of players and attempt to involve myself in the conversations, I mostly fail. The head coach tells the players to get changed and they head towards the dressing room. I head inside and make my way to the physios room, it is nice to get out of the sun. I sit down on the bench running along the right-hand side of the room and declare my position at the end of the line, I let the active players get seen before me. When the various taping and massaging tasks are completed I ask the physio to look at my knee. I lie on the left-hand side bench and assume various positions as my knee is manipulated in many different ways, nothing particularly hurts until I am told to resist the physio pushing my knee towards the ceiling, I attempt to and the familiar sharp, shooting pain radiates from my knee - I inform her of the pain. She asks me to stand up and perform some walking lunges and then some squats, she observes me from the front and then from the side. I am then asked to do a one-legged squat and the physio then informs me that I have alot of movement in my knee and ankle, her prescription is to stop being a pussy and squat more - this should strengthen the joint and stop me feeling pain from impact related activities. I had been leaning towards this myself anyway, but it is nice to hear from a qualified source.
After being diagnosed, I head out to the field. A fellow cripple has been looking for me, he was worried that I had gone to McDonalds by myself and not taken him; I find him and assure him that it wasn't true, I tell him we could go now but he declines, stating that he has just had a Mars bar. Before the game starts I head over to the sheltered stand to watch the game, I get out my notebook to take down stats and I sit next to the camera guy. Some rugby fans seem to have wandered into the wrong stand and mock the players for the entire first half, I dislike them. I am unsure of what data I actually need to collect as the stats person but by the end of the first drive I have a system that I am happy with. Collecting the stats and writing them down after each play, I am not sure if I watch or follow the game as well as I have the past few weeks - it is a different experience.
Game-wise, the performance from the offence is scrappy at best. Passes are overthrown and many of the ones that are on target get dropped, the running game is not operating at its best either. This is not a terrible concern as we still eek out a twenty-three to zero game, thanks mostly to a good performance from the defense shutting out the opposition and securing good field position for the offense throughout the entire game. Next week is the final game of the regular season, facing the team we opened the season against. I am unlikely to be fit but I am now trying to focus on the long-run. Trying, at least.
I head to the ground on Sunday morning to meet-up with the active teammates before we depart for the oppositions ground - a forty minute bomb down the motorway. There were doubts about whether we would have enough cars to carry everyone but in the end the number of cars nearly outnumbered the amount of players needing transport. I drive to the ground alone; I could have had an extra two hours in bed, or at least have watched the final moments of the cricket and witnessed the last moments of another classic England collapse. I have no GPS unit to guide me, just have some instructions that I copied down from Google Maps, they get me there though. To hell with portable technology.
The car park is full when I arrive, I circle around once and end up parking next to the pitch side railing; there appears to be a Rugby match taking place at the same time. I walk awkwardly amongst groups of players and attempt to involve myself in the conversations, I mostly fail. The head coach tells the players to get changed and they head towards the dressing room. I head inside and make my way to the physios room, it is nice to get out of the sun. I sit down on the bench running along the right-hand side of the room and declare my position at the end of the line, I let the active players get seen before me. When the various taping and massaging tasks are completed I ask the physio to look at my knee. I lie on the left-hand side bench and assume various positions as my knee is manipulated in many different ways, nothing particularly hurts until I am told to resist the physio pushing my knee towards the ceiling, I attempt to and the familiar sharp, shooting pain radiates from my knee - I inform her of the pain. She asks me to stand up and perform some walking lunges and then some squats, she observes me from the front and then from the side. I am then asked to do a one-legged squat and the physio then informs me that I have alot of movement in my knee and ankle, her prescription is to stop being a pussy and squat more - this should strengthen the joint and stop me feeling pain from impact related activities. I had been leaning towards this myself anyway, but it is nice to hear from a qualified source.
After being diagnosed, I head out to the field. A fellow cripple has been looking for me, he was worried that I had gone to McDonalds by myself and not taken him; I find him and assure him that it wasn't true, I tell him we could go now but he declines, stating that he has just had a Mars bar. Before the game starts I head over to the sheltered stand to watch the game, I get out my notebook to take down stats and I sit next to the camera guy. Some rugby fans seem to have wandered into the wrong stand and mock the players for the entire first half, I dislike them. I am unsure of what data I actually need to collect as the stats person but by the end of the first drive I have a system that I am happy with. Collecting the stats and writing them down after each play, I am not sure if I watch or follow the game as well as I have the past few weeks - it is a different experience.
Game-wise, the performance from the offence is scrappy at best. Passes are overthrown and many of the ones that are on target get dropped, the running game is not operating at its best either. This is not a terrible concern as we still eek out a twenty-three to zero game, thanks mostly to a good performance from the defense shutting out the opposition and securing good field position for the offense throughout the entire game. Next week is the final game of the regular season, facing the team we opened the season against. I am unlikely to be fit but I am now trying to focus on the long-run. Trying, at least.
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