Shropshire Revolution 7 : 26 Manchester Titans

Coming off the back of two wins on the road, the Titans came into their first home game of the season on a high.  For the rookie Shropshire club this was their first ever competitive game in the BAFL, the club only being formed last year.  Playing at their new Broughton Park home, the Titans were supported by a crowd in excess of 250, as many people supporting both Manchester and Shropshire, came out to enjoy the sunshine.

Shropshire won the toss and chose to receive the ball, they didn’t get far though, as the Titans defense fresh from a shut out last week were not in a giving mood.  On the first drive Titans safety Stuart Hay intercepted a pass and returned it for 15 yards, on the second Shropshire drive lineman Scott Partington recovered a fumble to twice give the Titans strong field position. 

The first half though was not one for either teams offense to remember.  The Titans struggled to get their passing game going and were only able to make short yardage on the ground.  Likewise Shropshire, despite running a number of good screen passes found the Titans defense rolling out well, and they were unable to move the chains.  In the second quarter Titans linebacker Mike Smith got a sack for a big loss, but there was little else to talk about with the game scoreless at the half.

The Titans received the ball to start the second half and instantly broke the deadlock.  Starting at their own twenty yard line, following a touchback, they made some small yardage gain until a double personal foul moved the Titans thirty yards to inside Shropshire territory.  Veteran Nick Russell then broke clear and ran for twenty nine yards allowing running back Baron D’Anyangwe to go in from two yards out.  Shropshire tried to come back but the Titans defense was standing strong, linebacker Chris Harwood forced a fumble which the Revolution were able to recover.

At the end of the third the Titans doubled their advantage, after a Shropshire punt Baron D’Anyangwe made a twenty seven yard return, followed by Nathan Hazel who moved the ball a further twenty four yards to get the Titans into the red zone.  Baron D’Anyangwe again finished the job from two yards out. The Titans running game was now in full swing and they added two more touchdowns in the final quarter, firstly debutant Nathan Hazel ran in from nine yards and then Baron D’Anyangwe capped a fantastic day by completing his hat-trick with a twenty five yard dash.  The Titans made a two point conversion with a catch by Nick Russell.

Shropshire would not lie down and with the clock ticking a strong drive down field, led by some gutsy running got them inside the Titans ten yard line, where running back Dave Reid would not be denied from five yards out to end a nine quarter shutout streak for the Titans defense.  Shropshire kicked the extra point to make the final score Manchester Titans 26 – 7 Shropshire Revolution.

Man of the moment was undoubtedly Titans running back Baron D’Anyangwe, who led the Titans offense, which managed 309 yards running, with figures of 18 carries, 157 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Credit also goes to Dave Herd and Nathan Hazel who contributed with some strong blocking and key yardage at important times.