Wolves bare teeth on return to action (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Marlow's American Football club hit the ground running

2:30pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Romsey By Alan Feldberg

MARLOW Wolves bared their teeth for the first time in 2012 as they warmed up for the coming American Football campaign with three wins from four pre-season matches.

Boosted by the tutelage of NFL star Zack Follett at the end of last year, their cadets won 35-0 and 6-0 in their matches while their junior side won 26-13 before losing their other match 12-0.

The club are hoping to build on last year’s success at the BritBowl by qualifying all three of their teams for the showpiece event this time around.

And they look in good shape to do it.

Marty Filipov scored four touchdowns in one match for the cadets, who are bidding to reach the BritBowl for a third year running but have just four players left over from last year’s squad.

The juniors meanwhile, used the matches to blood two new quarter-backs. But both were eclipsed by George McCarthy of Sir William Borlase’s and Dan Ramsdale, who took seven catches for 100 yards.

Pre-season continues against Coventry Cougars at Great Marlow School on February 11, before the season kicks off on April 28.

Meanwhile, Bucks New Uni Buccaneers were beaten in their first match of the new year as Kingston Cougars beat then students 31-20.

It was Cougars’ first match ever, but they absorbed Buccaneers’ pressure before taking the game to their more fancied opponents in the second period.

Buccaneers running backs Danny Wallace and James Olusegan both got into the Kingston end zone and Wallace also added two points.

However, Buccaneers had little joy against the Cougars defence in the second period and a number of fumbles from the offence saw the momentum of the match gradually shift.

Kingston capitalised with a string of touchdowns to turn the game on its head and despite a number of crucial tackles from Chris Geldard Bucks New Uni slipped to a 30-21 loss.

It’s a big blow as they hope to prove their play-off credentials, but they will get another chance to impress when they host Reading on Sunday at Farnham Royal.