Victory tastes sweet for red-hot Sandwell Steelers

The Steelers have powered to victory in their opening two NFC 1 South games and managed to shut out the opposition on both occasions – a fact that has hit the coaching staff in the pocket.

A 71-0 win against Coventry Jets was follwowd by a 32-0 triumph against local rivals Birmingham Bulls with the coaches having to fork out for doughnuts as a result.

Chairman Anthony Green explains: “We have a tradition where every time we have a shut-out the coaches have to buy the defence doughnuts, so it’s proving an expensive time for them at the moment.

“You would be surprised how competitive people get over a doughnut!”

And Green is hoping the sweet taste of success will continue when the Steelers host Leicester Falcons on Sunday at Tipton Sports Academy.

“The game with Leicester will be very challenging,” he said. “I think they are going to be one of the most competitive teams in the division. It will be an interesting game.”

Green is also aware that Steelers’ stunning start to the season will have been duly noted within the division.

“We will have gained a lot of respect within the league following those two performances but we will also have a target on our backs now,” he said.

“Everyone will want to take us down.

“We need to back up those performance and keep delivering.

“The first win was a new club record score and it was a fantastic way to start the season. And it was good to follow that up with a win against the Bulls.”

But there is little chance of any complacency creeping into the camp with head coach Ross Barrow and his coaching staff still seeking improvements.

“There is always room for improvement,” said Green. “Even after the 71-0 game, the coaches were looking at the tape of the game and saying ‘what did we do wrong?’ and ‘where can we improve?’.

“That’s the mentality they have. They are always striving to improve.”

Steelers made a flying start to the clash with the Bulls as qauterback Callum Davidson threw a beautifully weighted pass to rookie wide receiver Joshua Lawrence who danced his way to the end-zone for an 80-yard touchdown. (7-0).

The respective defences then took charge with no further scores in the opening half.

But it was the Steelers who took charge after the break as they bagged 25 unanswered points.