The Hallam Warriors will head into the Christmas break in merry moods after beating the UCLan Rams 14-7 in their own back yard.
The win takes Hallam to 4-0 for the season – the only undefeated outfit in the Division 1 North – and top the table in the Yorkshire/Lancashire division.
The win takes Hallam to 4-0 for the season – the only undefeated outfit in the Division 1 North – and top the table in the Yorkshire/Lancashire division.
On a wet day in Preston, it was Hallam who struck first in this ‘War of the Roses’ match up. Quarterback Ewan Chisholm found Dutch Stephenson out wide for his second receiving touchdown of the season on a 15-yard completion. Luka Fadrique converted the extra point attempt, just as the rain subsided for a brief spell.
The Rams made the most of the relatively dry spell early in the second quarter, with a deep passing score. The kick was good, and the scores were tied at the half 7-7.
The Rams made the most of the relatively dry spell early in the second quarter, with a deep passing score. The kick was good, and the scores were tied at the half 7-7.
The rain soon returned with a vengeance and pound the rock football soon became the order of the day. However, for Hallam this was made all the more difficult after an injury to Chisholm, who had so far led the game in rushing yards. Receiver Fadrique took Chisholm’s place under center but the visitors could not find their rhythm as the second half began.
The hosts lay claim to the top ranked offence in the division, but the Warriors defence continued to do what they have done all season long. Wave after wave of Rams’ attacks were rebutted by the Warriors, with a particularly dominating performance from defensive end Ben Hopkinson.
The visitors had a chance to take the lead early in the fourth quarter, with a strong drive up the field culminating in a field goal attempt. But Fadrique’s effort narrowly missed to the left, and the deadlock continued.
The hosts lay claim to the top ranked offence in the division, but the Warriors defence continued to do what they have done all season long. Wave after wave of Rams’ attacks were rebutted by the Warriors, with a particularly dominating performance from defensive end Ben Hopkinson.
The visitors had a chance to take the lead early in the fourth quarter, with a strong drive up the field culminating in a field goal attempt. But Fadrique’s effort narrowly missed to the left, and the deadlock continued.
Hallam went for a change of personnel as the game continued, with Stephenson taking up his old mantle at quarterback. The Warriors battled their way down to the Rams’ 2-yard line before Stephenson ran a quarterback sneak up the middle, and with the aid of the offensive line bundled his way across the goal line. But a late flag for a false start on the offence scrubbed the score off the board and marched the offence backwards.
But the added yardage gave Hallam the room to operate, and Stephenson fired the ball over the middle for Alex Cooper to give the Warriors the lead. It was Cooper’s second touchdown in as many games since his conversion to the offensive side of the ball. There was no mistake in the kick this time from Fadrique, and with little over 4 minutes left on the clock Hallam led the game 14-7.
But the added yardage gave Hallam the room to operate, and Stephenson fired the ball over the middle for Alex Cooper to give the Warriors the lead. It was Cooper’s second touchdown in as many games since his conversion to the offensive side of the ball. There was no mistake in the kick this time from Fadrique, and with little over 4 minutes left on the clock Hallam led the game 14-7.
There was still long enough for the Rams’ offence to score and get something out of the game, but a great sack from rookie linebacker Barron Abrahams brought an end to what would turn out to be the final drive of the game for UCLan.
Hallam’s offence wore down the game clock through some strong running from Grant Bragg, who shouldered much of the run game responsibility following Chisholm’s exit from the game. Stephenson kneed out the game, and the Warriors sealed their second consecutive undefeated Christmas record.
They will of course be hoping that this year they will be able to improve on that record and seal top seeding come the playoffs.
Hallam’s offence wore down the game clock through some strong running from Grant Bragg, who shouldered much of the run game responsibility following Chisholm’s exit from the game. Stephenson kneed out the game, and the Warriors sealed their second consecutive undefeated Christmas record.
They will of course be hoping that this year they will be able to improve on that record and seal top seeding come the playoffs.
Head coach Tom Kharchi after the game praised his team’s spirit and work ethic after the game: “The offence played well. It wasn’t pretty by any means, but they played very well. Special mention to those guys who stepped up when called upon to fill in - Luka, Dutch both deserve credit.
“Defence did what they do and came up with the plays as we needed them – shout out to Barron for his huge sack right at the death”.
Hallam now have a few weeks over the Christmas break to recover and rehab some of the injuries that the side has sustained in the first half of the season before work begins again on the second half – and a trip across the city to the University of Sheffield Sabres in the SteelBowl round 2.
“Defence did what they do and came up with the plays as we needed them – shout out to Barron for his huge sack right at the death”.
Hallam now have a few weeks over the Christmas break to recover and rehab some of the injuries that the side has sustained in the first half of the season before work begins again on the second half – and a trip across the city to the University of Sheffield Sabres in the SteelBowl round 2.