The Craigavon Cowboys set out to avenge the 33 – 12 drubbing they received at the hands of the Belfast Trojans in week 7 of the 2011 IAFL season in their week 13 rematch at Brownlow Sports Campus on Sunday 5th June.
The constant rain made ball handling difficult for both teams but the Trojans benefited from the conditions first with #25 ,Aaron Mc Alinden fumling on the kick off return and put the Trojans in the driving seat straight away with their power running game. Three plays later the ball was in the Cowboys endzone , the extra point was good and the Trojans were 7 – 0.
The fighting spirit in the Cowboys squad did not allow this to effect their game. Slashing runs from recent recruit, #18 Gary Carr opened up the passing game of Quarterback, #2 Chris Bondi who completed a 35 yard touchdown pass to # 90, Peter Loughran though the attempted 2 point conversion was unsuccessfull.
The Cowboys Defense also found form and Belfast struggled to move the ball, with strong tackling from # 88 , Thomas Sheridan, # 59, James Loughran and #87, Lee Huston who scooped up a fumble that gave the Cowboys the ball deep in Trojans territory. Three plays later # 40 Bobby Murray carried into the endzone from 5 yards out and a pass on a 2 point conversion from Bondi to Loughran gave the Cowboys a halftime lead of 14 – 7.
The second half opened very favourably for the Cowboys when # 90, Peter Loughran batted down a lateral in the backfield which bounced back into his hands and he was off on a 60 yard touchdown run though again the attempted 2 point conversion was no good and the score was 20 – 7 for the Cowboys who looked like running away with the game.
However, not to be outdone, the Trojans hit back with two quick scores from #7, Dave Colvin and #45 Stuart Leckey and with both point after attempts successful the score was 21 – 20 to the Trojans with five minutes of the fouth quarter left.
Following a penalty against the Trojans, the Cowboys Offense took control of the ball on their 40 yard line and began marching the ball down the field, thanks to sound blocking from # 63 , Manny Bell, # 79 Paul Braniff and # 56 Joe Balmer on the Offensive line, Michigan born, Carr carried the ball to the Trojans 20 yard line but a number of penalties and fumbles due to the pouring rain brought up a fourth down and 20 on the Trojans 35 yard line. The Trojans dropped back into deep zone coverage and were not surprised when Bondi passed deep to get a first down which was caught by Loughran who had been pulled back by a Belfast Defensive Back. The resultant pass interference penalty brought up an automatic first down and two plays later Carr broke into the endzone for the go ahead score and repeated for the 2 point conversion for the Cowboys to go 28 – 21 up.
Although there were only 40 seconds left on the clock, the Trojans drove the ball down field to the Cowboys 30 yard line but a potentially game winning pass was picked off by Carr who was named as Cowboys,Most Valuable Player.
This win puts the Cowboys on a won 3 , lost 3 record in the strongest division in the IAFL. With just two regular season games left, a win in either game will give the Cowboys a wild card slot and the possibility of a rematch against the Trojans.
” We have two tough games ahead and we must win one of these to make the play offs for the first time in many years.The team is really starting to gel at the minute and the players are believing that we can make the play offs. We were the best team in the IAFL before and we will be again” said Head Coach Greg Loughran.
The Cowboys are away to the Carrickfergus Knights on Sunday 12th June and at home to the West Dublin Rhinos in Lurgan Park on Sunday 26th June, Kick off 2pm.
