Sunday saw the inaugural game for Burnley Tornados junior team. The team have temporarily relocated to Holt House, Colne whilst the Prairie is refurbished but that did not stop the storm-chasers coming to give full support to the players.
The opposition were last year’s Britbowl finalists, Lancashire Wolverine Colts, who have a very good reputation for being a strong well disciplined team. The teams arrived at the venue from 11.00 for a 1pm kick off and all five referees were present in good time. The pitch had been remarked by the Tornado staff due to a mix up with the council, and with the paint still drying the game was ready to commence.
Although only 15miles apart in distance it was expected that the gap between the established colts and the new tornado junior team would be much wider. However over the course of the game this was not evident with the Tornados out classing the experienced colts in the first half. The Tornados started off really well with Josh Bonnick sacking the opposition quarterback and then Flynn Griffith running in the first Touchdown for the team. The Colts equalised but the Tornados fought back and once again the ball was given to Flynn Griffith who ran into the endzone, with Phil Robins successfully converting to make the score 14-6 at the half.
The small Tornado squad, consisting of only 14 fit players for the start of the second half, against a squad size of nearly 30, worked hard but the Colts capitalised on the Tornado mistakes and soon were in the lead at 14-16. The Tornados didn’t give up and Anthony Tither, probably the smallest player on the field, intercepted a Colt pass and ran back into Tornado territory. However once again with the Tornados suffering on penalties the Colts had the ball, only for Andy Hawkes to intercept it and run 60yards into our endzone – the Tornados were back on top at 20-16. Possession continued to swap between the teams and the Colts scored and converted putting them back in the lead at 20-24. The Tornados had 1min 17sec left on the clock to advance the ball the length of the field and despite some good throwing from QB Phil Robins the Tornados just couldn’t get on the end of it and the clock ran out.
Despite the score Head Coach, Paul Brammer said “It was our first official run out at this level yesterday and we took on a team that's been the best in the Northwest at this level for many years. It's my view that the better team did not win yesterday! I'm sure I speak for all the tornados non playing staff when I say that I am filled with immense pride in the spirit the players displayed and there is not a soul who watched the game that will dispute the fact that Tornados football still remains a beauty to behold.”
The teams were then rewarded for their efforts with food kindly donated by Sainsburys in Colne, which everyone was very grateful for.
The opposition were last year’s Britbowl finalists, Lancashire Wolverine Colts, who have a very good reputation for being a strong well disciplined team. The teams arrived at the venue from 11.00 for a 1pm kick off and all five referees were present in good time. The pitch had been remarked by the Tornado staff due to a mix up with the council, and with the paint still drying the game was ready to commence.
Although only 15miles apart in distance it was expected that the gap between the established colts and the new tornado junior team would be much wider. However over the course of the game this was not evident with the Tornados out classing the experienced colts in the first half. The Tornados started off really well with Josh Bonnick sacking the opposition quarterback and then Flynn Griffith running in the first Touchdown for the team. The Colts equalised but the Tornados fought back and once again the ball was given to Flynn Griffith who ran into the endzone, with Phil Robins successfully converting to make the score 14-6 at the half.
The small Tornado squad, consisting of only 14 fit players for the start of the second half, against a squad size of nearly 30, worked hard but the Colts capitalised on the Tornado mistakes and soon were in the lead at 14-16. The Tornados didn’t give up and Anthony Tither, probably the smallest player on the field, intercepted a Colt pass and ran back into Tornado territory. However once again with the Tornados suffering on penalties the Colts had the ball, only for Andy Hawkes to intercept it and run 60yards into our endzone – the Tornados were back on top at 20-16. Possession continued to swap between the teams and the Colts scored and converted putting them back in the lead at 20-24. The Tornados had 1min 17sec left on the clock to advance the ball the length of the field and despite some good throwing from QB Phil Robins the Tornados just couldn’t get on the end of it and the clock ran out.
Despite the score Head Coach, Paul Brammer said “It was our first official run out at this level yesterday and we took on a team that's been the best in the Northwest at this level for many years. It's my view that the better team did not win yesterday! I'm sure I speak for all the tornados non playing staff when I say that I am filled with immense pride in the spirit the players displayed and there is not a soul who watched the game that will dispute the fact that Tornados football still remains a beauty to behold.”
The teams were then rewarded for their efforts with food kindly donated by Sainsburys in Colne, which everyone was very grateful for.