Sunday 3rd September Domino’s Oxford Saints progressed to the Division 2 Semi-Finals with a hard-fought 20-0 win over Essex Spartans in Oxford on Sunday. In a game controlled by both teams’ defenses, it was the Saints excellent special teams play that gave them the edge needed to get past a determined Spartans team. Following an explosive opening 55 yard kick-off return the Saints offence started very shakily, with a succession of penalties on their opening drive, and punted to Essex. The Saints D then set the tone for the rest of the game as they stopped the Spartan’s rushing game, containing running backs Colin Dash and Matt Campbell-Carr well. Saints gambled on a fourth down play, and a typically acrobatic catch from WR Eric Watts gave Saints a first-and-goal on the Essex 1-yard line, from where RB Brian Myers punched over the line for the opening touchdown. The PAT pass was no good, and Saints led 6-0. The Saints special teams now began to show their worth, with a well-covered kick-off from K Adam Newman pinning Essex deep in their own half. The Saints D forced a three-and-out, and LB Tim O’Mahony found himself the unlikely returner on a short punt. It was now the turn of the Spartans defense to show their mettle, with a gang tackle on Watts resulting in a stripped ball, recovered by Essex. Excellent pass rushes from LB Marco Pinder and DE Lee Hutton contributed to another three-and out, although Saints failed to move the ball against the solid Essex defense. CB Jermaine Thomas intercepted a pass from the Spartans’ QB, but again a string of penalties against Oxford saw them going for it on 4th down, only to fail to convert and turn the ball over to Essex on downs. Again RBs Dash and Campbell-Carr were moving the ball well on the ground, but the Saints D held firm again, and Saints got the ball back. QB Wayne Mayers found speedy WR Duncan Robertson in the endzone for a 23-yard touchdown pass, and RB Tony Porter crossed the line for the two-point conversion. Saints led 14-0 at the half. The second half started with Saints forcing another three-and-out from Essex, but Robertson’s blistering length-of-the-field touchdown punt return was called back for a block in the back. The second half was dominated by both team’s defenses, with sacks from LB Porter and DE Goddess and an interception from S Iain Noakes being the highlights for Oxford. It was the Saints special teams that swung the balance in Oxford’s favour, with excellent kicking from Newman, quality returns from Robertson and great coverage by Hutton and Rob Williams consistently giving Saints the territorial advantage. Saints finally took advantage of this good field position when RB Simon Dale sliced to the outside for a 16-yard touchdown run. The PAT kick was just wide, and Saints now had a 20-0 lead, which they would hold until the end of the match. Oxford now face an away trip to Kent next Sunday 11th September for their Semi-Final match against an unbeaten Exiles team.