by Sam Banner
After a mid-season break of a few weeks the Steelers faced the Lancashire Wolverines, a playoff team in 2018, and the day certainly didn’t lack excitement. With a uniform clash that saw the Steelers don the colours of the University of Birmingham Lions, and a bus crash meaning the team had to carpool to the game, everything seemed stacked against Sandwell.
However, this didn’t dampen spirits as the team pulled together to take the win in the Northern drizzle. The game started with a bang as DB Rob Jones forced a fumble on the first play of the game, recovered by DT Adam Bates. After a short drive RB Raph Chisholm punched in the first touchdown of the day with a punishing outside run. The defence forced a 3 and out for Lancashire on their next drive and WR Louis Haines ran in a pass from QB Tristan Varney for a 66-yard touchdown.
Lancashire did respond, however, with one of their running backs slipping through numerous tackles to take the score to 13-6 early in the first quarter. On the ensuing kick off WR Louis Haines added another 82-yard touchdown return to his total, followed by a 2-point conversion. An action packed first quarter came to a close with a tipped pass landing in LB Oheeul Chaudry’s hands, followed by another touchdown run from RB Raph Chisholm, and a pick from DB Sam Busher leaving the score at 29-6 to the visitors.
The Steelers offence stalled in the second quarter, but DB Peter Roden stepped up with a pick 6, inspiring RB Raph Chisholm and WR Louis Haines to collect their third scores of the day respectively. Roden wasn’t done though as he finished the half with another interception and the score stood at 49-6 at half time.
Scoring was limited by the running clock in the second half but WR Gav Lawrence booted in the first successful field goal of the season and rookie RB Tom Czerepaninec ran in for the final touchdown of the day. The defence still found time to punish the Wolverines through an interception from DB Gareth Thomas, a sack from DT Sam Rafferty and another forced fumble from DB Rob Jones.
AROUND THE NFC1 SOUTH
26/05 Nottingham Caesars 52-0 Doncaster Mustangs
02/06 Shropshire Revolution 6-20 Nottingham Caesars
02/06 Lancashire Wolverines 6-59 Sandwell Steelers
| POS | TEAM | W | L | T | PF | PA | PCT |
| 1 | Sandwell Steelers | 6 | 0 | 0 | 308 | 24 | 1.000 |
| 2 | Nottingham Caesars | 4 | 2 | 0 | 138 | 90 | 0.667 |
| 3 | Shropshire Revolution | 3 | 2 | 0 | 79 | 87 | 0.600 |
| 4 | Lancashire Wolverines | 2 | 3 | 0 | 111 | 123 | 0.400 |
| 5 | Chester Romans | 1 | 4 | 0 | 60 | 138 | 0.200 |
| 6 | Doncaster Mustangs | 0 | 5 | 0 | 20 | 254 | 0.000 |
KALEIDOSCOPE PLUS GROUP WATCH
In yet another expensive day for the Legion of Swag the Kaleidoscope+ Group will be receiving £180 to continue their brilliant work dealing with issues surrounding mental health and well-being. This brings their season total to a whopping £450 so far!
THANK YOU
A special thank you needs to be extended to UoB Lions Head Coach Greg Freeman who made it possible for the game to go ahead by loaning Sandwell the Lions’ uniforms for the day.
NEXT GAME
The Steelers have another couple of weeks out of action before making the short trip to Nottingham to face the Caesars on 23 June.
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