BAFA Division One

WEST COAST TROJANS 8

MANCHESTER TITANS 48

IN a game most people predicted Trojans would lose by up to 80 points, the understrength hosts battled at Meadow Park before finally running out of steam in the fourth period.

The table-topping and top-ranked team had a full roster of more than 45 against the Irvine side, who had just 19 players available.

Titans started by recovering their own onside kick, but the Trojans dug deep and turned the ball over by picking the Quarterback off.

The Titans however added a TD on fourth down to put a score up on the board, then three more in the second quarter, giving a half-time score of 23-0 for the Titans.

Trojans' running game was making some decent yards but the Titans defense was making things tough and on offense it looked like the playbook was thrown out the window and it was just a case of one big passing play after another to try and put points in the board.

The visiting offense was rewarded for their never-say-never attitude and drive the ball 70 yards downfield were Linebacker David Strachan - now playing Running Back - scored on a short yardage Touchdown.

The game finished 48-8 but praise is due to the 19 players playing both ways against a very strong 45+ Titans squad.

Trojans Defensive Co-ordinator Tam Chapman said: "Our goal is to stick together and compete where we can for the remaining games. The lads did well, they are a big squad putting up big numbers but we gave them a game and the score line will surprise a lot of people."

The Trojans are off this weekend and then face the Mustangs down south before finishing the season with three straight back-to-back home games.