After an excellent 3-0 gameday at home, Gameweek 4 was an opportunity for the Blackhawks to complete a sweep of both their nearest divisional challengers.
The team travelled to Sheffield for ties against both the Leeds Samurai and the Sheffield Giants Blue, with a matchup against the Calderdale Locomotives thrown in for good measure. Another unbeaten tournament would open up some daylight between Newcastle and the chasing pack.
</div>However, a slip-up or two might make the last few gamedays a little nervous, particularly with cross-conference matchups coming up next. Would the Hawks get the job done?
Here’s how it panned out:
Touchdowns – Ross Conley 2 / Josh Gargan 1
Interceptions – Phil Watson 1
The Hawks fielded a make-shift defence for the day, with four potential starters absent (two of them with Swifty-mania). But the division leaders started confidently, with two stops. The offense scored on their opening drive, with only a drop on fourth down preventing a second consecutive score. The Giants used this as impetus to find some rhythm and levelled the game up on the next drive. The score was poised at 7-7 entering the half.
Both defenses traded stops coming out of halftime, before the Blackhawks retook the lead via a goal-line score to Josh Gargan. The Giants returned fire but were unable to convert their XP to leave the game at 14-13. The Blackhawks scored again just inside the 2-minute warning via a trick play, with Jack Marshall throwing to Ross Conley to increase the lead to 20-13. The Giants were unable to respond, and the game was effectively iced with an interception by Phil Watson that was returned to just short of halfway.
Touchdowns – Ross Conley 6 / Josh Gargan 1 / Jack Marshall 1 / Taylor Walton 1
Interceptions – Taylor Walton 3
Safeties – Taylor Walton 1
The Blackhawks opened the game with a quick stop on defense and then a quick score on offense, which set the tone for the game against a struggling but improving Calderdale side. The half ended with a safety by Taylor Walton to leave the score at 42-6, after six touchdowns thrown by Lee Fraser to Josh Gargan, Jack Marshall and Ross Conley (x4).
After one final touchdown by Lee to Ross in the opening drive of the second half, Jack Marshall moved under centre to add BAFA experience to his portfolio. Two scores followed; a deep bomb to Taylor and then yet another score to Ross Conley to take his tally to six for the game and eight for the day. A comfortable 63-12 victory was the result.
Touchdowns – Martin Jolley / Ross Conley 1 / James Newton 1 / Jack Marshall 1 / Taylor Walton 1
Interceptions – Taylor Walton 1 / Phil Watson 1
The Blackhawks handily dispatched Leeds 33-13 in Newcastle, but the Samurai had a chance for quick revenge in Sheffield. That didn’t happen.
The first half went in a very similar fashion to the last game, with the Blackhawks defense resolute and the offense purring. Touchdowns by Martin Jolley, James Newton, Ross Conley and a rushing touchdown by Jack Marshall gave the Blackhawks a 27-0 lead at half-time.
The second half saw the offensive momentum slow as changes were made, including under centre. However, the defence managed to hold firm to record a shut-out against a longstanding rival. The only score of the half was a touchdown to Taylor Walton thrown by Jack Marshall, resulting in a final score of 33-0.
Offensive MVP on the day was Ross Conley for his nine Touchdowns, which moved him to the top of the national leaderboard. On defense, Mark Essam’s 13 PBU day moves him to 38 on the season already – an absolutely outstanding effort.
NEXT UP:
Your Newcastle Blackhawks are in cross-conference action on Saturday June 22, with games against the Nottingham Honey Badgers and the high-flying Waveney Wolves. They now sit at 11-1, two games clear of their nearest challengers in Div 1 North B.