Adult Flag Gameday 1 - Manchester Titans

The 2022 Adult Mixed Flag season kicked off with the Titans Bee team travelling to Chorley to face off against the Buccaneers.

The Titans got off to a strong start, with QB Steve Gatenby connecting with Center Ethan Gregory for the game's first touchdown. Chorley quickly answered with a touchdown of their own, drawing the game at 6-6.

Manchester added two more touchdowns through Gregory and Warwick Heffer, as well as a two-point conversion, to make the score 22-6. The Bucs, though, responded with two quick touchdowns of their own to make the halftime score 22-18. Chorley kept scoring, thanks in part to three Titans Offense turnovers, to take a 30-22 lead.

The Titans offence, on the other hand, settled down and marched down for a George Platt touchdown, which was skilfully converted by Offensive Captain Ben Nuttall to tie the game. With two minutes remaining, Gatenby threw his fifth touchdown throw to Heffer, who caught it again, and Gregory collected the game-winning extra point.

With only 6 seconds remaining and a one-point deficit, Chorley elected to go for the two-point conversion for the win. The Titans defence held steady throughout the game, not allowing a single extra point, and won 37-36, holding on in the dying moments.

Ralph Pedley led the defence in tackles, while veteran Reece Donlan had a sack and youngster Tom Evans had two sacks in his first game. As Defensive Captain and Team Manager Will Gleed won his first game in command, Jon Homer contributed two vital pass break-ups.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Premier League team travelled to Wigan to play the Sheffield Vipers and the Warrington Revolution. The Vipers stormed off to an early 13-0 lead, similar to last season's opener against the Crows, when the Titans were behind 20-6 before rallying to win. Manchester's defence held Sheffield scoreless for the remainder of the game, while QB Alan Mead fired five touchdown passes to George Slade, Pedro Berto (2), Jay Pitchford, and Joe Kewley-Joy, who was making his Titans debut. Pitchford (2), Berto, Slade, and Richard McEwen all scored touchdowns, and Slade, James Wilson, and Dev Samba all had interceptions on defence.

In the second game of the day, an under-strength Warrington club couldn't hold off a dominant Titans outfit, who cruised to a 42-0 victory. Mead threw three touchdown passes, Slade added two more, and Kewley-Joy scored a sixth. Pitchford (2), Slade, Berto, McEwen, and Marc Balduin all scored touchdowns, with Pitchford adding two extra extras. Slade had two extra points and a two-point conversion, as well as another interception on defence. Berto and Daniel Lixandru each had sacks, while Samba had his second interception of the season. Wilson was the most successful tackler, followed by Lixandru and Tom Brook.

On May 21st, the Prem squad will go to Warrington to face the Leeds Samurai, Wigan Bandits, and Manchester Crows, while the Bees will travel to Wirral to face the West Lancashire Serpents, Salford Scorpions, and Chorley once more.

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