WORCESTERSHIRE Black Knights claimed their first ever National League Division Two South West Conference victory with a closely fought 27-22 win over Torbay Trojans at Kings Norton Rugby Club.
Having lost 8-6 to the Devon side on the opening day of the British American Football Association season, Black Knights were eager to respond.
A nervous start to the game saw both teams forced to punt which led to a scoreless first quarter, but some heavy running in the second quarter by running back Cam Edkins saw Worcestershire move the ball 60 yards up the pitch, before a four-yard run by full-back Sam Bennett led to the game’s first touchdown.
A successful extra point conversion put the score at 7-0, but Torbay quickly replied with a good mixture of pass and run plays which led to them scoring and converting the two-point attempt to edge an 8-7 lead.
Following a missed field goal attempt, Black Knights regained the advantage when tight end James Lawrence put in a blistering 90-yard run to the end zone.
But again the visitors rallied and cancelled out Worcestershire’s lead with a 50-yard pass completion, before converting another two-point conversion to hold a slender 16-14 advantage at half time.
Starting the second half the way they finished the first, Torbay scored their third touchdown of the afternoon following a ten-yard run into the end zone, but an unsuccessful two-point attempt left the Black Knights 22-14 down.
The next score came in the fourth quarter when, following a successful fake punt attempt which saw the Black Knights move the chains deep downfield, Bennett punched the ball in for a touchdown.
Another failed two-point conversion left the hosts trailing 22-20, before Torbay tried to secure the win with a fourth down play, but were stopped on their own ten yard line by linebacker James Bacon.
A few short plays later and in good field position, Edkins ran in for the game-winning touchdown.
Worcestershire Black Knights host Cornish Sharks at Kings Norton Rugby Club on Sunday (2pm).