Nene Valley Hybrids 6 - 8 Domino’s Oxford Saints Sunday, June 27th 2004 Perfect football weather greeted the Hybrids as the returned home to Burton Park Sunday to play the Domino’s Oxford Saints. A deeply competitive contest ensued which would not be settled until late in the game. The Saints took the ball first using their backfield combination of Joe Ortiz and the evergreen Ez Charles to grind out the yards. However when QB Wayne Mayers went to the air he found trouble in the shape of Hybrids safety Anthony Ivory, who pick off his fifth interception of the year to give Nene Valley the ball on their own 30 yard line. The initial drive of the Northamptonshire outfit was stymied but after forcing an Oxford punt, fullback Paul Bruce burst up the gut. He rumbled 65 yards for the opening score and in doing so broke the Hybrids record for the longest run from scrimmage. Although the extra point was blocked the sign were looking good for a home victory. Oxford next drive saw Joe Ortiz confound the Nene Valley defense with his shifty cut-back running style and several useful gains were made. But, as thoughout the year, the Hybrids defense doesn’t succumb easily and time and again they halted drives before the opposition made it to scoring range. Nene Valley’s offense struggled a little in the second quarter - 3 fumbles, although recovered, meant too often they found themselves in third and long situations. The exceptional Hybrids defense however made sure they still held the lead at the half. The second half started in bizarre and what would turn out to be decisive fashion. The opening kick off saw both Hybrid kickoff returners, despite being in position, fail to gather the ball. It skidded across the turf to the Nene Valley two yard line where a Saints defender dived on the ball. As the ball is live on a kickoff, the Saints offense took to the field. Two plays later, Ortiz burst in to tie the game. Ortiz then completed the scoring by sweeping in the 2-point conversion and the 8-6 lead. With plenty of time left, either team could still take the game. Hybrids fullback Mark Williams was finding space inside now and the offense was starting to click but at vital moments the Saint D always held firm. The third period would end scoreless. The fourth quarter saw Ortiz become more and more a factor, and his running drove the ball down field taking huge amounts of time off the clock. At the 2 yard line however, just when it looked the Saints would seal the game, the Saints offense met the might of the Hybrids defense. Linbackers Jody Williams, Paul Porter and DT Andy Field slammed into the ball carrier and forced the fumble into the endzone, where safety Dave Houge collected it for the touchback and one last chance for the Hybrids. The Hybrids started to move the ball but with just over a minute left, QB Toby Mason’s pass was picked off by Charles Williams who returned the ball into the endzone. Although the touchdown was cancelled out by a holding call after the interception, it did mean that the Saints had the ball and were able to run out the final few seconds on the clock. Head Coach Steve Booth commented after the game "We made only one mistake against Coventry and gave up a touchdown because of it, but we still won. Today we made one mistake, and it cost us the game." The Hybrids next game is against South Wales Warriors on Sunday, 4th July. The game is a home game for the Hybrids, but will be played at Alconbury Air Base as part of their Independance Day celebrations. Kick-off is at 2-30.