Needing a win to qualify for the playoffs, the Chichester Sharks did it in emphatic style beating the Coventry Jets 50-7 in their final regular season game.
With Woodham Warriors (White) already qualified, four teams – Basingstoke, South Wales, London and Chichester – were fighting for the final two playoff places. After the Sharks’ last two shockingly poor home games, it was essential that they came out and made a statement. And that they did.
From the outset the Sharks controlled the game, playing aggressively on both sides of the ball. From the first through to the last score (8 TDs), the Sharks were dominant.
If we had such an award, the player of the game would have to go to Justin Handley, who managed to score 4 TDs in 4 different ways – 1 catch, 1 pass, 1 run and 1 interception return. The pick and run were both length of the field plays too (not bad for an old fella).
Justin didn’t have all the fun to himself as Simon Merton (3 TDs) and Mike Thompson (2 TDs) also joined the scoring party.
The Sharks defense played outstanding; snuffing out drive after drive and collecting 3 picks in the process. It could have been a shutout, but a miscommunication on the Sharks Offense led to a turnover and a 7 yard field for the Jets to drive for their only score.
The result put the Sharks into the playoffs and eliminated the Basingstoke Zombie Horde. The final spot is now between South Wales Warriors and the London Rebels. The Warriors currently occupy the final spot, but it will go to the London Rebels if they win 1 of their final 2 games (vs Leicester Eagles, Coventry Jets).
The finals are next Sunday in Worcester.