Bears keep play-off hopes alive ahead of derby (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Bears keep play-off hopes alive ahead of derby

6:30pm Wednesday 13th February 2013 in Sport By Sports Desk

Bradford Bears 12, Teesside Cougars 8

Bradford Bears, the American football team of the University of Bradford, came through some very difficult conditions against Teesside Cougars to pull out a win that kept alive their hopes of reaching the play-offs.

The Bears took the lead late in the first quarter, with Steven Zurheide running in his 11th touchdown in seven games this season.

After the two-point conversion failed for Bradford, Teesside struck back halfway through the second quarter with a long run from their quarterback to tie the scores and they got the conversion to lead 8-6 at half-time.

After the break, with the cold wind now picking up to accompany driving rain, both teams struggled to threaten the opposition end zone as the clock ticked into the fourth quarter.

And the ticking clock seemed to spur the Bears into action. After putting together one of their best drives of the game, Zurheide finished it off to put Bradford 12-8 up.

The Cougars did little to threaten after that though, and the Bears ran out winners.

That leaves the Bears with another all-or-nothing game next Sunday against Leeds Carnegie.

A win will see them qualify for either the National Championship or Challenge Trophy play-offs, while a loss will almost certainly see their season come to an end. Kick-off is at 1pm at Bradford University Playing Fields, Woodhall.