This past Sunday saw the Manchester Titans take on the Newcastle Vikings in the Premiership North division decider. With a Manchester win, they were crowned Premier North Champions for the third consecutive year.
The game began with the Manchester Titans kicking to the vikings. The vikings opening drive didn’t go as planned ending up in a 3rd and long but a great connection from #12 to #82 gave the Vikings a fresh set of downs. The Vikings didn’t get moving and the drive ended with a punt.
The Titans offence took the ball but went 3 and out leading to another change of possession via punt.
Another stall by the Vikings offence lead to the Titans taking over at the 32 yard line and the Titans began their movement towards the end zone. The drive was capitalised with QB Sam Bloomfield, #21 finding WR Adam Bamber, #0 for the TD. A successful 2pt conversion saw the Titans take the lead 8-0.
The following Vikings drive sees the Vikings punt the ball away but 2 penalties on the Titans gave the ball to Vikings in excellent field position. Unfortunately for the Vikings, a few plays for a loss and a penalty saw them with a 4th and 25 and another punt back to the Titans offence.
The Titans took the field on their own 3 yard line to start the drive. Midway through the drive saw the start of the second quarter. The 97 yard drive was capitalised with a 5 yard touchdown run by RB Ben Smith, #30. The point after was converted by K Alex Lenkowski, #18 and saw the Titans lead 15-0.
The Vikings offence started their drive at the 20 yard line. On 3rd and 9 a long completion saw the Vikings at the 15 yard line and knocking on the door. The drive stalled but, in one of the strangest penalties we’ve seen for hurdling a blocker, the Vikings were given a 1st and goal at the Titans 4 yard line. A pass deflection in the end zone is caught by the Vikings RB for their first score of the day. The 2pt attempt was no good and saw the Titans lead cut to 15-6.
A big return on the kick off and a penalty by the Vikings set the Titans offence in good field position. 2 plays later Sam Bloomfield found a wide open Adam Bamber who waltzed into the end zone. Another converted point after and the Titans lead grew to 22-6.
The Vikings offence came out to start their drive but 3 plays later they were forced to punt. Some good pressure lead to a short punt and the Titans taking over in good field position again.
The Titans drive saw some trickery and a long run from RB Jon Pan Gago, #36 get them to the 1 yard line. The Vikings held strong, pushing the Titans back to the 4 yard line but they just couldn’t keep JPG out of the end zone who rumbled in for another touchdown. Mr Automatic (Alex Lenkowski) added the point after and extended the Titans lead 29-6.
Again, the Vikings offence couldn’t build any momentum and, following a Cade Makin, DE #94 strip sack where the ball went out of bounds, on 4th and a bus ride, punted the ball back to the fiery Titans offence.
The Titans took over in the Vikings half and began marching towards the end zone. Titans quarterback Sam Bloomfield threaded the ball to WR Anousheh Fulford, #7 who ran into the end zone for another 6 points. Alex Lenkowski added the extra point extending the Titans lead to 36-6.
The Vikings offence took over and finally found some fire of their own. A long drive was capitalised off with a passing touchdown from #12 to #82. The 2pt conversion was successful taking the score to 36-14.
The Titans offence came out with just seconds left in the half and saw the clock expire with no further scores.
The second half started with the Vikings kicking the ball to the Titans who were looking to continue their performance from the first half.
The Titans offence drove well down the field but stalled on the Vikings 20 yard line. On fourth and inches the Titans were able to get the Vikings to jump giving the Titans offence another first down. The Vikings defence held strong and Alex Lenkowski added another 3 points to the Titans lead with a 25 yard field goal. 39-14.
This score saw what is known as the “mercy rule” enforced where the clock continues running as the titans had taken a lead of 35 points over the Vikings.
The Vikings offence again struggled on first and second down but on 3rd and 11 the Vikings quarterback found an open receiver for a gain of 30 yards. A huge sack on second down by LB Stuart Robinson, #2 put the Vikings offence in a sticky 3rd and long. 2 incomplete passes followed and the ball was turned over on downs.
The Titans offence again took over and methodically drove down the field. Quarterback Sam Bloomfield found receiver WR George Slade, #87 who tacked on some YAC and found his way in for a 33 yard touchdown reception. Lenny (Lenkowski) with another extra point. 46-14 Titans.
Another 3 and out for the Vikings and they punted the ball back to the Titans seeing this as the final play of the 3rd quarter.
The Titans offence emerged again, this time lead by QB Josh Mills, #4. A change in quarterback didn’t mean a change in performance for the Titans who then drove down the field finalizing in Josh Mills finding Adam Bamber for a 7 yard touchdown pass. The Titans were unable to convert the 2pt conversion. 52-14 Titans.
The Vikings offence had another rough start to the drive but on 3rd down another long completion had the Vikings knocking on the door of the Titans end zone. The Titans defence stood strong and set the Vikings a tough ask on 4th and goal from the 22 yard line but quarterback #12 found #89 for the touchdown. The 2pt attempt was no good. 52-20 Titans.
The Titans offence took over with not much time left in the game. They drove down the field well and, on 3rd down with time expiring, Alex Lenkowski added another 3pts to the score with a 37 yard field goal. 55-20.
The Titans next game sees them face the Edinburgh Wolves at Belle Vue Stadium on the 4th of August.
All photos taken by Malc Burke Photography, in association with Manc Sport
Check out their video of the game here!