PORTSMOUTH Dreadnoughts head coach Luke Head-Rapson is looking to the play-offs as his side got their fourth win of the season.
The Hook Lane outfit are yet to lose a game of the SFC South division two this year after beating Swindon Storm 23-2 on Sunday.
It is the first time the Dreadnoughts have conceded any points, in a game Head-Rapson described as ‘dirty’.
He said: ‘The game was scrappier and more of a fight than other games we’ve had all season.
‘We went out there and did what we had to do. We won an ugly game which is better than winning a game 64-0 because you have come up against it and overcome it.
‘We overcame our struggles, took control of the game and never really relinquished it.’
The Dreadnoughts started the game in Swindon strong and scored their first touchdown in the first quarter.
Quarterback Stu Rees threw the ball to wide receiver Rich Bloomer who dodged two tackles to score.
Kicker George Evans converted the extra point to give the Dreadnoughts a 7-0 lead.
Late in the quarter, Evans kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it 10-0.
Evans extended the visitors’ lead to 13-0 after scoring his second field goal of the game from the 25-yard line.
After the break, Swindon held firm and it was up to Evans to put the Dreadnoughts further ahead.
He got onto the scoresheet again with a 25-yard field goal.
Minutes later, Rees got sacked by the Swindon defence for a safety giving the home side two points and marking the first time the Dreadnoughts have conceded all season.
In the fourth quarter, Rees threw a 15-yard pass to wide receiver Jake Smith who caught the ball in the endzone.
Evans converted the extra point and the game finished 23-2.
Head-Rapson added: ‘There was a lot of pressure among the defence as to who was going to concede the first points although they still haven’t conceded any.
‘But we are still going to hammer it for the remainder of the season and concede as fewer points as possible to get in the best positions we can for the play-offs.’
And after securing their latest victory, Head-Rapson is now confident his team will reach the play-offs and said their position going into them is key.
‘It isn’t if we make them but where we are going to place in the play-offs,’ he said.
‘We have to carry on as we have in our remaining games including the next one against Bournemouth.
‘They will be bringing much of the same they did when we played them in the opening game of the season. They play hard football and I expect it to be a tough game.
‘They will use a power running game to get the ball moving.
‘They will want to avenge the first game of the season when they did not play up to their full ability.
‘But we have another level we can take it to as well.’
The Portsmouth Dreadnoughts face the Bournemouth Bobcats on June 24 at Hook Lane, in Havant. (2.30pm ko).
Photo Credit: Red.Co Ratio
