Personal Assurance Knights 27 Chiltern Cheetahs 12
The Knights completed their regular season home schedule with their fourth straight win. With leading running back Adedayo Ashaye sidelined and Keith Theobald suspended it was a chance for Rob Scruby and Glen Grant to step up - they did not disappoint the home crowd notching up 114yds and 60yds respectively.
The Knights received the open kick off and after a good return from Jon Williams they powered down the field on the running of Scruby and Grant. It was Rob Sruby who finished the drive crashing in from 10yds out for the opening score. Duncan Watkinson kicked the extra point and the Knights led 7-0. The Cheetahs then put together a long drive of there own, the Knights Defense however held them on a 4th down play inside the Knights 30yd line and the home team regained possession just before the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw the Knights open up their passing attack as QB Adam Heirons engineered a drive that culminated in Dan Brice catching a 2yd pass for a touchdown. Watkinsons extra point attempt missed to the right and the score stood at 13-0 at halftime. The remainder of the half passed without further points being added by either team - Heirons was intercepted for the first time this year - and then the Knights new signing David "Hands" Williams justified his nickname by picking off a wayward Cheetahs pass just as they seemed set to level the score.
The third quarter exploded into a points battle as both teams scored twice. On the first possession after the break Adam Heirons found WR Jon Williams with a 54yd catch and run for 6 points - Watkinson kicked the extra point and the Knights led 20-0. The Cheetahs hit straight back, literally, as they took the Knights kick off and returned it 88yds for a touchdown, the extra point failed and the home team led 20-6.
Undaunted the Knights came back with powerful running from Grant and then the Heirons - Williams connection paid off again this time from 11yds out - Watkinson again slotted the extra point home and the Knights led 27-6. The Cheetahs however replied strongly again and a 12yd run saw them complete the final drive of the quarter to bring the score to 27-12 , the PAT was again no good.
The Knights offense was still moving the ball in the 4th quarter but was not able to convert their gains into further points. The Cheetahs were generally contained by the home defence - "Spike" Hennessey leading the way with 10 tackles, Mark Hall added an interception and Martin Bartholomew sacked the visiting QB for a significant loss just before the end of the game. The Cheetahs never gave up however and, but for penalties, they came close to scoring on two occasions late in the game.