NORWICH DEVILS 21 - LINCOLNSHIRE BOMBERS 6
August 15th, 2010 by Pete Wrigley

The Norwich Devils won their fourth game in a row to keep their playoff hopes alive going into their final game of the season next week against the unbeaten London Olympians.

The Devils started the game brightly when they stopped the Bombers' opening drive and, following a short punt, gained the ball on the Lincolnshire 34 yard line. From there it didn't take long to open the scoring with quarterback Heith Johnson scrambling in from 12 yards out from a broken pass play. Kicker Adam Whitbourn added the extra point to give Norwich an early 7 point lead.

On the final play of the first quarter Norwich stopped the Bombers on a 4th down play to get the ball back on their own 41 yard line. A fourth down pass completion by Johnson to Pete Morgan took the Devils down to the Bomber 11, and from there Johnson ran the ball in for a touchdown. Again Whitbourn added the extra point.

A 60 yard punt return by Devils' Ash Mullin, followed by an Andy Custerson run up the middle set up a first and goal just inside the Lincolnshire 5 yard line, but it took until 4th down before Custerson ran the ball in for a 4 yard score. Whitbourn's third successful kick gave the Devils a commanding 21 point lead.

Following a short Devils kick off into a strong wind, Lincolnshire put together their first convincing drive of the day, behind some strong running from Henry Miller. It was capped off by a 2 yard scoring run from Liam Stewart to get the Bombers on the scoreboard. The extra point kick was blocked to leave the Devils 21 - 6 in front at the half.

The Devils had a chance to extend their lead in the third quarter when they drove down to the Bombers 8 yard line, but 2 incomplete passes followed by a quarterback sack meant they had to settle for a 32 yard field goal attempt from Whitbourn which fell short.

In the final quarter a promising Lincolnshire drive was halted by an interception by Norwich corner, Wayne Diggines. Custerson then took over at quarterback for Norwich and drove the team downfield before also throwing an inception, picked up by Alex Robson for the visitors.

The Devils' final regular season game is now a make-or-break with the playoff place on the line. If they avoid defeat against the conference champion London Olympians they win the playoff place, a loss and their season is over. The match is next sunday, 22nd August, at the Hewitt School in Norwich, kick off 2.30pm.