THE YORK Centurions provided what was arguably the best story of the Roses weekend as they secured a dramatic late victory over the Lancaster Bombers with a touchdown in the dying minutes.
The Bombers came into the game as one of just two Lancaster teams undefeated in the history of the tournament, having won 22-6 and 18-6 in 2010 and 2011 respectively, and so started the game on their home turf as favourites.
Having defeated Lancaster earlier in the regular BUAFL season however, York knew that this game was their best opportunity to date to seal their first ever Roses victory, and Tight End James Durham’s late touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion from Quarterback Rob Wickham, brought them this victory in the most sensational manner.
The game was delayed by almost three quarters of an hour as the sides waited for the ambulance to turn up pitch-side and whilst the Bombers did little more than stand and wait on its arrival, York Centurions kept their heads in the game by running drills as a unit.
When the game did eventually get underway it started poorly for the men in red and black too, as their kicker kicked beyond the end zone, forcing a touchback. The Centurions then gained a good 20 yards with their opening play of the game; Halfback Sam Park breaking into Lancaster territory.
The Centurions’ offence could not capitalise on this excellent start however, as they failed to make the required 10 yards with their next set of downs and the possession switched to their opponents.
The Bombers’ blockers worked effectively early on, allowing their Running Backs to exploit the holes in the York defence. They got themselves into an excellent position, with a full set of downs just 15 yards from the York end zone, but the Centurions’ defence stepped up when it mattered most and thwarted the red rose’s touchdown attempts.
Some superb work from Mikey Porter forced a fumble before an errant pass from the Bombers’ Quarterback just evaded their Wide Receiver when he was free to score, meaning York regained the possession.
Just as Lancaster’s had done earlier, York’s blockers gave their Running Backs opportunities to make yardage and another stunning carry from Sam Park took them 20 yards from the end zone. The York Halfback carried from inside his own half deep into Bombers territory and gave the Centurions a chance to take the lead before the end of the first quarter.
Once again though they were thwarted by the Lancaster defence and Quarterback Rob Wickham fell victim to the first sack of the game on the third down which ended the opening period with the scoreboard still unchanged.
York started the second quarter strongly just how they ended the first. Porter forced another fumble before Lancaster’s Quarterback scuffed his clearing kick on the final down, gifting York another touchdown opportunity.
The Centurions offence were playing very narrow, preferring to rush with their Running Backs rather than passing wide to the receivers. Walter and Park were struggling to make yards before Rob Wickham decided to run himself on the third down and got his side to within one yard of the end zone.
The touchdown now looked inevitable and it was Nick Walter who got the score, powering over the end zone to make it 6-0. The Fullback kicked the point-after touchdown himself to give the Centurions a 7-0 lead.
The Bombers came back strongly however and it wasn’t long before they had a touchdown of their own. Their Wide Receiver got free and was picked out perfectly by the Quarterback in the end zone. The successful point-after touchdown meant the scores were level again at 7-7.
The Bombers kicked off again to York and having received the kick, Seb Booth produced what was arguably the carry of the game, gaining his side around forty yards, to put the Centurions back into a commanding position.
Lancaster’s defence one again kept them at bay however, and Nick Walter’s field goal attempt on the fourth down was charged down. The defences remained on top for what remained of the quarter, leaving the game tantalisingly poised at 7-7 at the halfway stage.
The Centurions continued the trend of starting each quarter strongly as a big hit from Booth kept the Bombers deep in their own half from the kick-off.
However, when the Bombers made the switch to wildcat formation, they came back at York and it paid off when they scored through a pass and added the point-after touchdown to make it 14-7, inducing a roar from their sizeable support that resounded around the outside pitches.
However the Centurions were not to be beaten, and in the dying minutes of the final quarter Rob Wickham’s pass picked out James Durham whose touchdown took York to within one point of levelling the scores.
York were then left with the choice of either going for the kick to make it 14-14 or attempt to run in a two-point conversion for the win. Quarterback Wickham risked everything in search of victory and was paid back for his bravery as he crossed the line into the end zone himself to make it 15-14, becoming a Centurions hero in the process.
Lancaster strove to regain their lead but a Seb Booth interception allowed York to close out the remaining seconds to record a memorable victory that will go down in Roses history.
York Sport President Sam Asfahani, playing his last ever game for the club which he set up as a competitive side, said on the win; “I couldn’t be happier with the result. The boys put everything on the line, and the effort paid off. Sam Parke and Ali Ford were superb running the ball, especially considering they are both first years. Meanwhile Rob Wickham has grown into a great Quarterback and two more freshers in Mike Hawkes and Fred Isaac put in great defensive shifts.
“The result is what we have been working for all season. The performances, especially from the rookies, are a great sign for next season.”
