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18th April 2004 Venue: Danny Blanchflower Sports Grounds, Belfast. SCORERS: 1st Quarter: BEL: Gareth
Millar 10yd run (0-6). The Belfast Bulls defeated the Dublin Dragons in a close and entertaining encounter in Belfast. The Bulls started off the first quarter on offense, but were stopped by a Matt Quinn interception of Belfast quarterback Kevin Downs. After failing to get a first down, the Dragons fumbled the snap on the ensuing punt which the Bulls recovered on the Dragons 10 yard line. The Bulls scored on the very next play with a 10 yard run by Gareth Millar. The Bulls moved the ball effectively in the second quarter through running backs Millar and Kris Donaghy and passes from Kevin Downs to Chris McKeown, but the Dragons defense, led by Franck Hupke and Alan Connolly held firm. However, the Bulls defense led by defensive linemen Jeroen Egge and Garry O'Brien and linebacker Erin Wagner shut down the Dragons inside running game. Egge, a former full time professional in NFL Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals who also starred at Duke University in the USA, capitalized on the Bulls defensive dominance by scoring a safety (2pts) after sacking Dragons quarterback Rob Olwill in the Dragons endzone just before halftime. The
Dragons got back into the game in the third quarter. They drove downfield,
gaining a couple of first downs through Dave Wheeler and a reception by wide
receiver Robert Popciobotartepelus. Wheeler brought the Dragons within 2 points
of the Bulls towards the end of the quarter with a 13 yard touchdown run. The
Dragons fumbled the ball at midfield on their next possession and early in the
fourth quarter, Kris Donaghy caught a short pass from Kevin Downs and converted
it into a 35 yard touchdown. The Dragons came back at the Bulls, scoring a
touchdown on their next possession, with a spectacular 58 yard catch and run by
Dave Wheeler. Throughout the remainder of the fourth quarter, the Bulls offense
began to control the game through running backs Millar and Donaghy. After
getting into scoring range with a catch by receiver Rui DaCosta, they sealed
victory late in the quarter with a 1 yard touchdown run by quarterback Kevin
Downs |
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