The Rising Sun sponsored UWE Bullets took on the Bath Spa Bulldogs in what would turn out to be their last game of 2011. The Bath Spa Bulldogs are in their second year in the league after the Bath Killer Bees split into two teams to match their University and the league structure. The travelling Bulldogs were also struggling with injuries and some squad issues which meant that only 24 players came to Filton WISE to take on the conference leading UWE Bullets.

UWE kicked the game off and the Bath Spa Offense went to work on their 30 yard line. They came out trying to pass and Bullet Rookie and Filton Pride graduate Idrissa Fornah started the day as he went on by pressuring the QB on every drop and picking up the first of his three sacks on the Bulldog QB. Facing a 4th and 8 on their own 32 yard line the Bath Spa coaches decided to go for it and not punt. They managed to complete a 7 yard pass but Bullet veteran Zoheb Ismail made a great open field tackle to stop the first down.

This put the Bullet Offense on a short field to start the game. This was an invitation that the Offense was more than willing to take. In only 2 plays the Bullets were on the scoreboard with a wonderfully thrown ball from Rookie QB JJ Davies to Team Captain Dayne Robinson from 27 yards out for 6.

The game went from bad to worse for Bath Spa on the following kick off when Rookie Team Captain Cam Parker forced a fumble which was recovered by UWE veteran Daniel Shodipo on the Bath Spa 16 yard line. The UWE Bullet Offense went straight back to the endzone scoring on just 1 play with another great touchdown strike from Davies to Robinson over the middle for their second score. Tom Miles converted the PAT to give the home side a very fast 13-0 lead.

The following drive the Bulldogs decided to test the ground game against the highly focused Bullet Defense. They did not have any success only gaining 5 yards on three attempts. This time the Bath Spa coaching staff decided to punt the ball away. However the Bullets Special Team was ready to get on the scoreboard themselves. Team Captain Tom Whyld blocked the punt, nearly recovering the ball in the endzone in the process. The ball bounced out the back of the endzone for a safety making the scoreline 15-0.

The UWE Bullets Special Teams were not finished scoring for the day. On the following kick return Dayne Robinson showed his amazing ability to make lunging tacklers miss with a mesmerizing kick return for 73 yards for his third touchdown of the game. During the return ten of the Bath Spa defenders had a shot at him, but no-one was able to bring him down. The PAT was missed and the UWE Bullets were 21-0 up.

The first quarter ended with another 3 and out from the Bath Spa Bulldogs and a 8 yard sack from OLB Daniel Shodipo on their own 1 yard line. This time the Bulldogs were able to put up a 30 yard punt with no return. So the second quarter started and again the Bullets Offense took the short field and went to work. It took the Bullets Offense three plays to find the endzone, this time on the ground with a 28 yard run from first year RB Craig McLeod to the 2 yard line, and finished by a 2 yard touchdown run from team veteran Sam Atakorah. The PAT failed after a poor snap making the score 29-0.

The Bulldogs Offense was struggling to protect their QB on passing plays and the next drive was very short, with a first down run not crossing the line of scrimmage, and on second down they tried to pass, but again Rookie sensation Idrissa Fornah sacked the QB and also forced a fumble which Anthony Fursman recovered on the Bath Spa 1 yard line. The Bullets Offense scored in 1 play for a 1 yard run from Rookie FB Dave Jegede-Brimson. Tom Miles slotted over the PAT to make the scoreline 36-0.

The Bullets Special Teams were again on top form on the next kick off causing another fumble from a swarming team tackle and then hit from linebackers Matt Putner and South Wales Warriors bowl winner John Bateman. Even on a short field the Bullets tried to go deep one more time, however, the Bath Spa DB was in perfect position and picked off Rookie QB JJ Davies in the corner of the endzone. The Bulldogs had one more chance before the end of the half to try and get a first down however the UWE Bullets Defense was still dominating the line of scrimmage stopping 3 run attempts for -9 yards. The half ended and the home side had a 36-0 lead.

The second half started the way the same way as the first half went. A 3 play drive ended with Rookie James Schofield scoring on a 62 yard run. Tom Miles kicked the PAT to make the score 43-0. The following kick off was chipped into a big space and after a good UWE bounce Rookie Cam Parker recovered the ball. However this drive the Bath Spa Defense stepped up and stopped the Bullet Offense from getting a first down. The Bath Spa Offense re-took the field only to continue to struggle. They had two incomplete passes and a short run to have fourth and five. They decided to go for it and completed a screen pass, however second year Bullet DB Ashley Alakija forced the fumble which was recovered by Bath Spa but not for a first down. The Bath Spa Defense continued to hold the Bullets Offense in check for a second 3 and out in a row. This time the Bullet went for a 22 yard field goal which was missed wide left. Unfortunately, the Bath Spa Offense could not take the chance and a fumbled snap was recovered by veteran Mark Hibberd.

This time however the Bullet Offense only took 1 play to find the endzone with a very well blocked sweep to Rookie RB Jack Austin from 28 yards out. The PAT was missed and the score was 49-0. The very next offensive play for the Bulldogs Rookie safety Josh Staples collected his first career interception and returned it 12 yards. The Bullet Offense could not move the ball going 3 and out including a fumbled hand off, and an intentional grounding from back up Rookie QB Chris Green. This is how the 3rd quarter would end.

The 4th quarter carried on with the Bullets Defense dominating the game, holding the Bath Spa Offense to another four and out and turning the ball over on their own 3 yard line. The Bullets Offense tried to run in the first down however a well timed blitz from the Bath Spa Bulldogs caused a fumbled hand off. The ball rolled to the 1 yard line where 2nd year tackle Rob Chase dove on the ball and rolled into the endzone. The ref correctly downed him on the 1 and his dream of scoring was over. The next play Rookie RB Ryan Morton took the 1 yard carry for six more points. Tom Miles made the PAT to make the score 56-0.The next Bath Spa drive, had three tackles for a loss, with two sacks – one from Idrissa Fornah and the other from veteran Ben Cooper – giving the ball back to UWE on the 15 yard line. Back up Rookie QB hit team captain Dayne Robinson for his 4th score of the day. Tom Miles hit the PAT to make the score 63-0.

The Bath Spa Offense finally got a drive going against the UWE Bullets back up gaining three first downs on a 54 yard drive. However with only 3 yards to go for a touchdown, veteran Ben Cooper made a great form tackle with his head on the football causing a heart breaking fumble for the Bulldogs which was recovered by James Oddy. The UWE Offense took the field on their own 3 yard line. After an 8 yard run, the Bullets had a blown play which ended with back up QB Chris Green running into his own endzone and throwing the ball away. By rule that was intentional grounding in the endzone which gave the Bath Spa a well earned two points making the score 63-2.

The game was not quite over with the Idrissa Fornah forcing another fumble, recovered by Rookie DE Jamie Bustin. The Offense ran the ball in for the final score of the day by Rookie Ryan Morton from 6 yards out, making the final score 69-2.

The UWE Bullets finally managed to put all three phases of the game together for a great team victory. The Bullets sit on the top of the SWAC unbeaten at 4&0. The only other team that are unbeaten in the conference are the Cardiff Cobras who the Bullets play on the final game of the regular season. The Bullets now look forward to healing up, getting a little stronger, faster, and seeing what 2012 WILL bring.

The UWE Bullets would like to thank Jeff Stanford and Paul Jenkins for their amazing photos of the game which are used on this match report.

Game MVP’s

Overall – Dayne Robinson

Defense – Idrissa Fornah

Offense – David Jegede-Brimson

Special Teams – Tom Miles

Hon Mens – Zoheb Ismail, Josh Staples, Ben Stanford, and Joe Baker.