OXFORD SAINTS 41 JURASSIC COAST RAPTORS 0

JURASSIC Coast Raptors battled bravely in their toughest challenge yet away to Oxford Saints but finished second best to their more experienced opponents on the day.

The Saints are in the league that the Raptors intend to enter next year and have had a fantastic season, finishing with an impressive 6-2 record and qualifying for the play-offs.

The sun shone as the game started and Oxford bossed the early stages, scoring a touchdown to take the lead.

This might have caused a few heads to drop among the Raptors but the visitors continued to fight on bravely.

Although the Saints went on to score several more touchdowns and win the game comfortably, the result doesn’t reflect how well the Dorset side played.

Oxford showed their class with some very neat and tidy offensive plays, while their defence was also watertight.

But not once did the Raptors look like an associate team and Oxford kept their big players on the pitch to compete right to the end.

Sean Tapping, Raptors defensive back and captain, said: “The whole team just wanted to compete 11 on 11 until we couldn’t give any more. I’m proud to say that’s exactly what the team did.

“The team made mistakes but made them at speed which is all the coaches asked us to do.

“A few missed tackles is where we were really punished but that is somewhere we can improve.

“The whole defence played with a good intensity and energy throughout the game.

“We came with a game plan and executed it to the best of our ability.”

Full-back Paddy Donnelly added that he was pleased with the team’s ability to run the ball inside, a feeling echoed by quarterback Tom Davis, who stated that “the offensive line did themselves proud”.

Head coach Billy Heinrich said: “We knew this game would be tough but felt it would be an opportunity for the players to see the standard that will be expected of them for us to compete in the league next year, and on that front the game was a complete success.

“I genuinely feel that more is learnt in defeat than victory and the team did the coaches proud showing determination and great willpower to stand up to a team larger in numbers and stature with 20 years’ experience.”

The Raptors have one game left in their season on September 27 when they travel to Maidstone in a return match with the Pumas.