Rams take the sting out of Scorpions Tails

(above Rams president Karl Haigh and Head coach Neil Morrison with CNW Umpire Andrew Markham and guinness world records Englands youngest Mayor Bassett Laws Ian Campbell photo from 2011 Brit Cup in Worksop.) 

Well it has definitely been the best season in the AFL CNW Division since footy began in the north. With our great game growing so rapidly it proves why everyone is so excited about Aussie Rules.

It couldn't have been tighter in the ladder all season and it has all comes down to the last game of the season to decide who makes it to the Grand Final.

Nottingham Scorpions (2010 AFL CNW Runners up) have been top of the table all season and have proven what experience brings to a side, they have been together now for 8 years and have a wealth of experience playing in the London leagues before they came into the CNW Division. They had not lost a game in 7 rounds straight even beating the Mighty Rams at Lockwood Park by 5 goals.

This left Huddersfield, Sheffield and Birmingham fighting it out for the rest of the season to secure second place which left no room to slip up. (First and second go into a Grand Final to find out who is the greatest team in 2011 in the AFL CNW division.) Manchester, Wolverhampton and Hull suffered some shock defeats in previous rounds taking them out of the running.

The 3 teams have been fighting it out for 8 rounds of tough footy, This weekend saw round 9 and the race come down to 2 teams as Birmingham were narrowly defeated by last years champions Manchester Mosquitos In Nottingham as the Mozzies found some last minute form,.

The Mighty Rams also travelled to Nottingham to take on the hosts, table leaders and Brit Cup Champions Nottingham Scorpions, The Scorpions were going into this game with their first loss of the season in the previous round 8 where they were defeated by the Birmingham Bears in a thriller, The Rams were going into this game on 3 straight wins hoping to take down the Scorpions on their own soil.

There was no other option, This was The Rams biggest and toughest game of the season by far, The Rams had to win to stay in contention for the Grand Final as Sheffield were taking on the new boys of the season Wolverhampton (who hadn't won a game all season) at sheffield on the same day. (Sheffield defeated Wolves 132-90)

The Sun was out and the ground was buzzing as everyone knew how this game needed to finish.

The Rams came out firing on all cylinders and did exactly what coach Neil Morrison asked of them, The Scorpions didn't know what hit them and were shell shocked, they couldn't handle what the Rams machine was throwing at them, They piled on the Goals and were solid through the guts, The defence were solid also and by the end of the second quarter (half Time) had only conceded 3 goals, the Rams had scored 11 goals but were paying the price of such a ferocious start as the Sun continued to burn hot and zap the Rams.

This game was definitely a game of two halves, The Rams were spent and the Scorpions were not going to sit back and take what the Rams had dished out, Straight into the Third quarter the Scorpions got a couple of goals consecutively and the Rams were on the back foot. They had to get a grip and with the result of a great play and another special goal from Rams captain Danny Armitage the sting was taken out of the Scorpions tail once again, The Rams played out the third quarter playing a defensive possession tactic while the Scorpions were frustrated and missed the chances they were given.

Going into the Fourth quarter the Rams knew what they had to do! they were in front but had to play the toughest 20 minutes of their lives as they knew the Scorpions were going into bully mode. Nottingham are by far the Biggest team in the division with players on average 6ft 5 with bodies like weapons of mass destruction, They couldn't out play the rams so they were going to literally bully the Rams off the Field, They pushed their big boys up through the guts and into the forward lines but this left them vulnerable through the back.

The Last quarter kicked off and as expected the rams were hit hard, They were battered and bruised but we were smart.

The Scorpions did bully themselves a couple more goals but the rams knew the long ball was always the option that was going to win them the game.

Rams defenders put themselves on the line in the air and the big tackles while the smalls picked up the crumbs, They delivered the long ball perfectly on numerous occasions leaving the forwards to do what they do best.

The Mighty Rams thought hard and held off the Scorpions, They scored a couple more goals sealing the win and giving the table leaders a lesson in football.

This has taken it right down to round 10, the last round and their are no prisoners!

The Show down between Huddersfield Rams and Sheffield Thunder is going to be the game of the season, The Scorpions are into the Grand Final and deservedly as they had such a strong start and middle to the season. Huddersfield are Third and Sheffield are in second place, The Rams are too far ahead on percentage which means there will be a winner this Saturday 23rd and a confirmed Grand Final.

Round 10 is at the home of the Mighty Rams Lockwood Park and will ball up at 3 pm, The Rams would love it if you could get down but totally understand if not.
Hopefully we will make it to the Grand Final and give you another opportunity to come and see us in action, This will take place the following saturday at manton colliery Worksop.