August 21, 2009
In a game which many felt could have been a State of Origin Match, the New York Knights pulled off a stunning defeat of cross state rivals, the New Haven Warriors by a score of 20-16. Playing before a large crowd at the New York Knights home field - The Castle, the Knights showed why they deserved to be in the Grand Finals after pulling off a stunning come from behind victory against last year's Grand Finalists.
From the opening kick off, both teams ran the ball and tackled like there was no tomorrow. It was a humid evening in New York and the ball was slippery causing the Knights to cough up the ball several times during the first half. After a see-saw battle for several minutes things started to look bad for the Knights after the Warriors scored two trys, breaking through the Knights defense line because of one-off miss tackles.
The Knights had several opportunities to score in the first half but due to forced and un-forced handling errors in the Warriors red zone, the Knights were left playing defense most of the first half. "I started to think of the first half of the Jacksonville game where we were in position to score several times but we kept dropping the ball" said Knights Head Coach Guill Cieutat.
However after Jacksonville the team has learned how to dig down deep from within to find the motivation to win. Lead by the league leading try scorer Luke Hume, the Knights found themselves on the scoreboard once again with a beautiful scampering run by Hume. Building on that momentum, the Knights proceeded to play better as a team later scored their second try with a strong run by prop Xavier Lozinguez. At the halftime whistle the score was now 10 to 10.
With the second half kickoff the Knights came out of the sheds with a mission to win. Despite a second half try by the Warriors, the Knights outclassed their opponents with another great try by Luke Hume and a text book cross kick which was caught and touched down by winger John Meoli to close the door on the Warriors.
"I am very pleased with the moti vation and heart that the entire team showed all the game." said Cieutat. "They could have very easily quit and gave up, but it was made clear to the world tonight that the Knights are not quitters!"
The Knights will make their second Grand Final appearance next weekend at 7pm at the Castle. The last time the Knights held the championship cup was in 2002 when they defeated the Glenn Mills Bulls. While several veteran Knights players who played on that 2002 Grand Finalist team were in attendance last night(Hayden James, Matt Astill,Paul Nichols,Club CEO Robert Balachandran, Dean Walker, Shane Denley, and Christian Rahui) only Ben Sadgrove and Captain Gareth Baxendale are the two remaining players who are still suiting for the Knights. "I am really excited to have a chance to bring the Championship Cup back home to New York!" said Baxendale. Agreeing with Baxendale, Sadgrove added "It was a great experience back then to win but I think it feel even better the second time around!"
The Knights will face the winner of today's game between Jacksonville and Boston at the Grand Finals next week Saturday starting at 7pm in New York.
Trys (Luke Hume 2, Xavier Lonzinguez, John Meoli)
Conversions
(Nable 2)
