TROJANS’ LATE LATE – EVEN LATER SHOW DOWNS CHAMPIONS!

February 14, 2022

TILE HILL TROJANS 1 76-72 ARDEN GRIFFINS

IN A GAME WHICH HAD MORE TALKING POINTS THAN A CONVERSATIONALIST’S CONVENTION TROJANS 1 DEFEATED CHAMPIONS ARDEN GRIFFINS BY FOUR TO GAIN REVENGE FOR THEIR ONE-POINT LOSS EARLIER IN THE SEASON.

THAT VICTORY FOR THE HOME SIDE AT HEREWARD COLLEGE WAS DEFINITELY NOT ON THE CARDS JUST AFTER HALF-TIME FOR THEY TRAILED BY 21 POINTS AT 36-57 TO THE DEPLETED BUT HIGHLY-CHARGED GRIFFINS, FIELDING JUST SIX PLAYERS FROM THEIR DECIMATED INJURY-HIT SQUAD, WITH HIGH-SCORING LUKE HATFIELD BEING A LONG-TERM ABSENTEE, BUT THEY STUNNED THEIR ARCH-RIVALS BY LANDING A PLETHORA OF TRIPLES – 13 IN ALL IN THE GAME.

THEN, IN AN ALMIGHTY DEFENSIVE SHUT-OUT TROJANS BOUNCED BACK. THE GAP GREW  SMALLER UNTIL, WITH TWO MINUTES LEFT, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE OPENING MINUTE, THE HOME SIDE TOOK THE LEAD.

TIRED BODIES ABOUNDED THE COLLEGE SPORTS HALL AS THE FRANTIC PACE CONTINUED, BUT THE REDS WERE ON THE UP AS RICHARD ONIONS STIFLED THE EFFERVESCENT PAUL ROBERTS IN A FINALE WHICH LEFT EVERYONE THOROUGHLY DRAINED AND SAW THE MARGIN COME DOWN, AND DOWN AND DOWN.

A 22-7 SCORELINE IN THE FINAL QUARTER DID IT FOR TROJANS, AND ALTHOUGH, BARING MIRACLES AND A HUGE GRIFFINS COLLAPSE IN THE RUN-IN THEY CANNOT WIN THE TITLE, FOR THE FORMER CHAMPIONS, PRIDE WAS RESTORED AS THEY SNATCHED THE GAME IN THOSE DYING MINUTES.

SCOTT OWEN  WAS IMPRESSIVELY DOMINANT INSIDE AND OUT LANDING 30 POINTS, COUNTERED BY ROBERTS’ 20 AND GERRY SANGHERA’S 19, BUT, WHAT A MATCH, WORTHY OF A TABLE TOPPING FIXTURE.