American Football BAFA Division One Central

By Twm Owen

Solent Thrashers 15, South Wales Warriors 8

A touchdown in the final seconds saw the South Wales Warriors fall to an agonising defeat in Southampton.

The winless Warriors had taken a second quarter lead but under the scorching south coast sunshine they wilted as their lead melted away.

Wide receiver Lawrence Tuckett had put the Warriors up in the second quarter when he hauled in a touchdown pass. The Warriors added the two point conversion to take an eight point lead.

But that evaporated by halftime in the Sunday lunchtime kick-off when the Thrashers scored from a screen pass just before the break. The hosts also added the two point conversion.

In the second half both teams laboured in the sweltering heat on the artificial turf for little reward. But in the game’s closing stages the Thrashers advanced towards the Warriors goal line from where they scored with a short pass to take the lead with under 15 seconds remaining. The Thrashers kicked the extra point.

The Warriors must now win all three of their remaining fixtures, starting in the final away game at Oxford Saints on Sunday, to match the Thrashers’ current record of three wins.

After facing the Saints the Warriors will welcome unbeaten division leaders the Sussex Thunder to Llanharan, before closing their season at home to the Thrashers.