The unbeaten Rams travelled South for their third away game of the season to take on the fancied Staffordshire Surge, also unbeaten, in what was to be a hard fought game played in driving rain.

The first quarter started with the Rams receiving the ball and a superb 34 yard return by Rik Lowthion got the visitors back over the half way line. Good running by Jay Alexander and Justin Lester moved the ball further up field and a pass from Simon Dewdney to Lowthion had Yorkshire on the Surge’s 7 yard line. The drive finished with Dewdney tossing the ball out to Paul Goodward who went in untouched from three yards for the score. Goodward also went in for the two pointer putting the Rams up 8-0 after four minutes. On the kick off, Staffordshire started a drive of their own but solid defence by Yorkshire, Stuart Jones being awarded the defensive MVP for a standout game, forced the home team to punt. On Yorkshire’s first play Hytham Hamad broke through and went 73 yards for a TD but unfortunately it was disallowed and called back on a penalty. The quarter finished with the Surge putting the Rams on their own three yard line following a good punt.

Yorkshire started the second period finding it hard to get away from the danger zone and had to punt themselves. Staffordshire took over the ball and put points on the board with a 28 yard pass from Austin Bradshaw who found Jack Garnsey open on the right to go in for the six. Another good kick off return by Lowthion once again got Yorkshire into Staffordshire territory but the home defence held firm and forced another punt. More defensive work by the Rams kept the Surge from advancing and again took over the ball. Powerful running by Alexander drove his team upfield to set up Rams’ second score midway through the quarter. From the two yard marker, Alexander was handed the ball for him go in for the TD. He also went in for the two points putting the score at 16-6. Alexander finished the day on 104 yards, his third consecutive 100 yard game. Approaching the two minute warning the Surge started applying some pressure and began moving the ball, running back Andy Calvert receiving the Surge MVP, but an interception by Ram’s Peter Haythorne was returned 17 yards to take the heat off.

After the break, and as could be expected, both defences started to dig their heels in and coupled with the, at times, torrential rain neither side could make any significant headway. The final period was much of the same. Yorkshire put together some fine plays, with offensive MVP Simon Dwyer keeping the Ram’s line together to give Alexander, Lester and Goodward time to make their runs. Staffordshire’s Richard Large tried to pull something from the bag within the final two minutes of the game with some good passing but Yorkshire’s defensive backs were up to the job with Jones breaking down many of the plays. The Rams took over with just a few seconds left, when Staffordshire failed to keep the ball on fourth down deep in the Yorkshire half, and they took the knee to finish the game and earn themselves a deserved win to remain unbeaten and go to the top of the Northern Conference