Nighthawks v Mustangs Sunday May 31st 2009
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The Doncaster Mustangs and Merseyside Nighthawks clashed at Birkenhead Park, with the Nighthawks looking to turn their first home game of the season into their first victory.
The match started cagily. As the offences looked to get in to gear, the defences of both sides forced punts. In such a tight match, turnovers are key and this game proved to be no exception as rookie end Karl Smither recovered a fumble to give the Nighthawks excellent field position at the Mustang 23 yard line. Running back Ben Kamara signalled his intent by picking up 9 yards on a sweep and, two plays later, he swept in from 9 yards out to give the Hawks a 6-0 lead.
The two point attempt was unsuccessful and on the ensuing drive the Mustangs looked to get back into the game through the powerful running of RB Joey Fabrizio. Despite a 13 yard gain from Fabrizio, Merseyside held firm and forced a punt to end the first quarter.
The second quarter proved as close as the first. Both defences were proving tough nuts to crack, each team trading punts, but it was Doncaster who were next to find the end zone. Stopping Merseyside on fourth down gave them the ball on the Nighthawks 39. Two scrambles from the appropriately named QB Graham Lightfoot drove them down the field and Lightfoot found WR Paul Oates for the touchdown. The kick was no good and the teams were level at 6 all.
The Nighthawks needed to respond and, though it seemed unlikely after QB Tim Parr was sacked for a 6 yard loss on 2nd and 8, he promptly found wideout Andy Dyson for 16, before finding Dyson on third down again, the wideout fending off three would-be tacklers on his way to the end zone for a 40 yard score. Ben Kamara tacked on the deuce and the Nighthawks were up 14-6.
The Mustangs returned the ensuing kickoff to their own 30, but two unsportsmanlike conduct on the Nighthawks saw them start their next drive from the Mersey 30. Lightfoot took full advantage, finding Paul Weston for a 17 yard score, and Doncaster swept in to tie the game at 14.
After this scoring flurry, normal service was resumed in the third quarter, each offence looking to build but each defence standing firm. RB Ben Kamara kept coming though and, midway through the quarter, raced away for a 46 yard score.
 Now 26-14 up, the Nighthawks scented blood when MLB Craig Pennington and DE Simon McHardy teamed up for a sack and, on the very next play, McHardy blew through the line to block the punt.. However, LB Chris Wimbourne picked off Parr and returned the pick all the way. The successful PAT reduced the arrears to 26-21 as the teams entered the fourth quarter.
The Mustangs managed to maintain their momentum going into the final period, forcing the turnover on downs before Fabrizio gave them the lead, bulling his way in from 5 yards out. The PAT hit the post, giving Doncaster a slender advantage at 26-27.
On their next drive, Doncaster stretched their lead further, RB Jeremiah Jordan sweeping in for 6, Lightfoot adding 2 on the keeper to put Doncaster up 26-35.
The Nighthawks continue their quest for their first win of the season against the West Coast Trojans next Sunday (7th June). Kickoff 2:30pm at Birkenhead Park
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