CHARITY BOWL 2006

DERBY BRAVES (UK) 16-20 DUBLIN CITY MARSHALS

Venue: Morton Stadium, Dublin.

New IAFL team, the Dublin City Marshals got off to a superb start with a 20-16 win over Derby Braves in the Charity Bowl challenge game at Morton Stadium in Santry. The proceeds of the match were given to the Temple Street Childrens Hospital and a large crowd braved the wet weather and paid to watch the Marshals play their first ever game. The visiting team, the Derby Braves came over from the UK to add an international flavour to the occasion. His Excellency Mr. James Kenny, United States Ambassador to Ireland was the special guest and participated in the coin toss. As well as watching the football, the crowd, which included many younger fans, was entertained by the Marshals Cheerleaders, the Marshals Dancers and some clowns.

The Braves started the game on offense, but were forced to punt due to some good defensive plays by the Marshals defense led by linebacker Jayson Havens. The Marshals offense then began to move the ball through the air with ex-US college quarterback Seth Larson connecting well with his receivers. The Marshals got on the scoreboard first with a 3 yard pass from Larson to receiver Darien Bell. The Braves then pinned the Marshals back on their own goal line after punting and took advantage of the field position by scoring a defensive safety to make the score 6-2 at the end of the first quarter. The Marshals defense then intercepted the Braves at mid field and Larson guided the team back into scoring range before throwing another touchdown pass to Bell, this time from 4 yards out, to make the score 12-2. The Braves offense moved the ball on their next possession and scored when their quarterback tossed a 15 yard touchdown pass to make the score 12-10 in favour of the Marshals at halftime.

However, in spite of driving rain making conditions very difficult, Seth Larson had extended the Marshals lead when he threw a 60 yard pass to receiver Jess Palmer to give the Marshals a first and goal at the Braves 5 yard line. A 5 yard pass to receiver Darien Bell, his third touchdown pass from Palmer along with a two point conversion extended the Marshals lead to 20-10. However, the Braves began to come back at the Marshals and scored mid way through the 4th quarter with a 1 yard run by their fullback after putting together a solid drive. The Braves then forced the Marshals to punt with just over two minutes left in the game, but the Marshals pass defence, which included cornerback Dave Fitzpatrick, held strong to give the Marshals a 20-16 win.

The Marshals Head Coach, ex-USFL star Greg Anderson was very pleased with his sides performance. The Marshals team, made up mainly of rookies, will play their first IAFL league game against fellow newcomers, the Dublin City University Saints on April 7th.