Kent Exiles win the "Battle of the Bridge"

By Martin Jefkins

The Kent Exiles kicked off their 2013 campaign with a scrappy 20-12 victory over old foes the Essex Spartans, and in doing so won the inaugural 'Battle for the Bridge' trophy.

The Exiles started fast, when on their second possession Alex Clifford caught 30 yard pass from Zac Ritchie down to the Spartans 20 yard line, and then a great 'toe tap' catch in the endzone saw Clifford score the first touchdown and give the Exiles a 6-0 lead.

Then after the Exiles defense forced a quick end to the Spartans next series, the Exiles scored once again. Ryan Critcher sprinted for a first down, before Ritchie found Colin Chislett on the sideline for a 44 yard touchdown. Ben Abbott kicked the point after, and the Exiles led early 13-0.

The next two quarters were a defensive affair, with the Exiles dominating. Interceptions from Ryan Wilson and Rob Welling, and sacks from Welling, Jon Dwyer, Lewis Whitcombe and Jack Lewis all ending Spartans drives.

At the start of the final period the Exiles pounded the ball with running back Abbott finding holes behind good play from the offensive line, after three successive first downs, Abbott took the ball in from 14 yards out, and then converted his own touchdown to give the Exiles a 20-0 lead.

Abbot on the run c/o/ Kieron Hyams

Tebowing, Tebowing, Gone - Jets cut Tim Tebow

At 12:53 UK time, the inevitable happened - New York Jets cut Tim Tebow.

After arriving in the Big Apple last summer in a flurry of media activity and late-round draft picks, the Tebow bandwagon was finally - perhaps irreparably - derailed in an early morning meeting between the Florida native, his head coach Rex Ryan and new general manager John Idzik.

In reality, the writing had been on the wall for Tebow long before today’s decision. Tebow had permission to seek a trade in the early part of the off-season, but his unwillingness to switch positions scuppered the slim chance the Jets had of recouping some kind of compensation in the form of a draft pick.

With Geno Smith drafted by the Green Gang this weekend, Tebow should probably have had his bags pretty much packed and his plane tickets booked ready for a quick getaway back to the family home in Florida.

What next for Tebow? For all the criticism of his skills as a quarterback, the man trains ridiculously hard - see the ESPN documentary “Everything In Between” for a look at his preparations prior to being drafted back in 2010 - and that gives him at least an outside shot of staying at the top of the game.

But the heady days of “Tebow Time” and the memories of play-off wins seem a long, long time ago. Arguably the greatest college quarterback of all time, Timothy Richard Tebow may have a long time to reflect on his next move.

West Coast Trojans vs Birmingham Bulls

Less than a week until launch of free weekly flag football scheme

From next Saturday,4 May, 18-25 year olds in Bristol will have their chance to try a new sport with the launch of the Bristol Barracuda American football club’s ‘Get into American Football’ scheme.

The 90 minute sessions will take place at the Bristol University Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health on Tyndall Avenue, and will see the Cuda offering eight free weekly taster sessions for young men and women to learn and play the non-contact flag version of the sport. The sessions will culminate in participants competing in a tournament to crown the first Bristol Cuda Flag champions.

The club have partnered with Wesport, Sportivate and UBU Active to open its doors to those aged 18-25 to come and try the fast paced and non-contact version of American football for free.  Both men and women can play, and no experience or special equipment is required to take part. Coaches will be on hand to guide new players through learning the basic skills, allowing them to start playing games almost straight away.

The scheme is an expansion of the Barracuda community outreach programme which has seen players and coaches from the club teaching the game to school children throughout Bristol. The Bristol Barracuda have been involved with the local community since 2009, with players regularly heading to schools to teach flag football and raise awareness of the sport.  The club recently took part in their fifth annual Bristol Festival of School Sports in collaboration with RELAYS and the University of Bristol, which sees 1,300 children from 20 different secondary schools trying out new sports over three days each spring.

Irish Football Weekend Preview

Good news and bad news in the Irish leagues this week. Heads have been put together at the Irish American Football Association to reschedule the majority of the games that were called off due to adverse weather conditions earlier in the season, and they’ve done so without the need of extending the season.

Photo by Ash O'Flanagan - (ashoflanagan.tumblr.com)