JURASSIC COAST RAPTORS 7

SWINDON STORM 23

DESPITE showing glimpses of the ability in their ranks, the Jurassic Coast Raptors fell to defeat against Swindon Storm.

This was a chance for the team’s improvement to be measured against an opponent that they had already faced.

The last time they both met was in Swindon at the beginning of the season and Swindon bulldozed the Raptors to an easy 41-0 victory.

With a depleted squad and also being light on coaches, the Storm looked to be there for the taking for the Dorset side.

But the hosts were caught cold as Swindon took full advantage to run almost 50 yards on their first play to almost score a touchdown, stopped only by a penalty.

With a first and goal on the 10-yard line, the Storm went on to score quickly and both offence and defence for the Raptors struggled throughout the first quarter.

The Storm scored again from a long run, but as the game wore on the Raptors’ defence began to stiffen and the visitors found it increasingly hard to move the ball.

The Raptors’ offence was kept in check by the Storm throughout the game and struggled to move the ball effectively.

Rob Owen scored the Raptors’ only touchdown when Sean Tapping recovered his own forced fumble and passed in back to Owen for him to run 60 yards untouched into the end zone.

The game’s most valuable player awards went to Sean Tapping for outstanding play on defence and Greg Beavis, for playing the whole game on the offensive and defensive line, a real Ironman effort.

The Raptors’ next home game is on Sunday, July 24 against Bristol Apache (2.30pm)