Lincolnshire Bombers 54 - 28 Humber Warhawks
The Bombers dropped their first 50 burger of the season as they took down local rivals the Humber Warhawks 54-28 on the road.
A fine first half from the offence meant the game was all but won by half time, and the Bombers now move to 2-2 for the season.
After a turnover on downs on the Bombers first offensive possession, the defence came up big, Ben Harris getting to the quarterback deep inside Humber territory. A poor punt meant great field position for the Bombers, which was capitalised upon with a quick touchdown. Quarterback Mike Sison ran the option route to set up Ross Wheatley who took it in.
A fine first half from the offence meant the game was all but won by half time, and the Bombers now move to 2-2 for the season.
After a turnover on downs on the Bombers first offensive possession, the defence came up big, Ben Harris getting to the quarterback deep inside Humber territory. A poor punt meant great field position for the Bombers, which was capitalised upon with a quick touchdown. Quarterback Mike Sison ran the option route to set up Ross Wheatley who took it in.
The home side replied almost instantaneously with a score of their own, as they took a short pass all the way to the end zone. Their failed 2-point conversion attempt, however, meant the Bombers led 7-6.
Offensive coordinator Nich Bagnall brought the tricks out after that, starting with a touchdown pass from running back Ross Wheatley to wide receiver Russell Moore to open a 14-6 lead.
Two quick pass breakups from safety Matt Hale helped the offense get back on the field, and the Bombers got their third touchdown as Sison found fellow quarterback Lewis Colver in room on the left touchline to march into the end zone. The extra point was missed, but the Bombers already had a commanding 20-6 lead.
The defence didn’t spend too much time on the field in the first half, and another failed Warhawks drive got the offence back out there. A huge catch and run from Russell Moore set up his second score of the day - also Sison's second touchdown pass to put the Bombers further in control 27-6.
With the offence and defence firing, the special teams got in on the act with Adam Simeoni recovering the ensuing kick-off, and the offence obliged once again as Colver, back in at quarterback, found receiver Kieran Edmondson over the top, who raced away from his corner to put the Bombers up 33-6.
A big sack by linebacker Joe Pinkstone and a poor Warhawks punt then meant more good field position for the offence, and Moore continued his incredible first half picking up two first downs, the second thanks to a diving catch near the sideline.
The hosts’ defence finally stepped up with an interception on the 1-yard line, only for the Bombers’ defence to force a safety on the very next play. The Bombers were then picked off again, and the Warhawks capitalised with a touchdown, cutting the lead to 35-14.
Sison then capped off his first half with another great drive, moving the chains on the run before finding Edmondson for a touchdown. Edmondson and Moore both had two touchdown receptions before the half as the Bombers aerial assault put the Warhawks to the sword.
Defensive veteran Simon Piggott nearly added another score before half, as he took an interception back within touching distance of the end zone. But the Bombers’ offence couldn’t punch it in with only six seconds left on the clock as a long first half ended with the score an impressively one-sided 41-14 affair.
The second half started with errors from both sides, Joe Pinkstone recovered a Warhawks fumble before the Bombers fumbled on their next possession. The home side took advantage of some good field position, finding the end zone with tough running up the middle. A successful 2-point conversion cut the Bombers lead to 41-22.
After a couple of poor possessions from both teams, Graham Owens ignited the second half with the Bombers’ second interception of the day. More offensive creativity led to another score as Matt Hale escaped to the outside to run one in for a touchdown and to put the Bombers in touching distance of the 50-point mark.
The Warhawks replied once more with their own big touchdown run, a weakness the defence will want to rectify as the season goes on, but the Bombers lead remained a comfortable 20 points as time wore down in the fourth quarter.
As the game drew to a close, Morgan Page dragged the Bombers over the 50-point mark for the first time in memory, showing blistering speed from tight end to tack on another receiving touchdown. The extra point was missed, and the game finally closed out at 54-28.
Offensive coordinator Bagnall had a field day in the first half, and big plays from Sison, Colver, Moore, Edmondson and Wheatley racked up the points. Hale, Pinkstone, Piggott and Owens had big days on defence, although they’ll be disappointed to give up four scores to Humber.
The Bombers moved to 2-2 for the season, and will take a lot of confidence into the visit to Shropshire in three weeks' time.
Report by Ben Goodwin
