URN

• Backfield: The group of offensive players the running backs and quarterback who line up behind the offensive line

• Down: A period of action that starts when the ball is put into play and ends when the ball is ruled dead (meaning the play is completed). The offense gets four downs to advance the ball 10 yards. If it fails to do so, it must surrender the ball to the opponent, usually by punting on the fourth down.

• Drive: The series of plays when the offense has the football, until it punts or scores and the other team gets possession of the ball.

• End zone: A 10-yard-long area at each end of the field. You score a touchdown when you enter the end zone in control of the football. If you're tackled in your own end zone while in possession of the football, the other team gets a safety (2 points).

• Extra point: A kick, worth one point, that's typically attempted after every touchdown. The ball is placed on either the 2-yard line and is generally kicked from inside the 10-yard line after being snapped to the holder. It must go between the uprights and above the crossbar of the goalpost to be considered good.

This Superbowl weekend also sees the 3-2 Nottingham Outlaws and the 2-2 Nottingham Trent Renegades in action in the American Football Varsity fixture. The Outlaws go into the game off the back of two victories and didn’t give up any points on their last outing against the DMU Leicester Falcons. They have recovered well from two loses against Birmingham and Loughborough, two of the best teams in the BUAFL Midland Athletic Conference and are now looking to push for a playoff berth.

This should be a hotly contested affair, last season’s fixture ended in a 6-0 victory for the Renegades and the Outlaws are looking for revenge; team captain and defensive lineman Declan Foley feels the game last year was fiercely contested with the Renegades lucky to snatch the game.

Time will tell whether this season will be different.

Tuesday night sees the return of Nottingham’s Varsity Series between Uni and Trent, with the opening ceremony taking the form of a Darts match between the two universities at Rock City. Proceeds go to CP Sport, a local charity situated in the Nottingham Science Park.

With tickets being snapped up almost immediately, URN went to the Boat Inn in Lenton, home of the University of Nottingham Darts Society, to see how preparations have been shaping up ahead of this hotly-anticipated showdown.

URN caught up with club president Josh Hole, to get his thoughts ahead of the first ever Darts Varsity fixture.

The team appeared in high spirits ahead of their pending encounter with Trent, and were happy to share with us some of their darting highs and lows, as well as their own personal messages and promises for the Trent team. Here’s what Josh cared to divulge.

Despite the opening ceremony not awarding any official Varsity points to the victors, the hype surrounding the night has been electric. Despite remaining tight-lipped when asked for specifics, Josh was still able to give us a sneak preview of what will be getting the crowd on their feet come Tuesday night.

Notts County secured their place in the FA Cup Second Round with a comfortable 4-1 win against 10-man Accrington Stanley at Meadow Lane.

Karl Hawley grabbed a brace for the League One side and his first came just after the half hour mark with a delicate chip over Sean Murdoch in the Stanley goal.

County then doubled their lead almost immediately after the break through Alan Judge. The midfielder found himself with the freedom of Nottingham in the Stanley area and his shot somehow managed to squirm through Murdoch at his near post.

Accrington never looked like causing an upset and their afternoon went from bad to worse when their captain Andy Proctor saw red for bringing down Hawley as the striker raced clear.

County added a third when Alan Sheehan, whipped in a free kick which evaded everyone to creep inside the far post.

Stanley did manage to pull a goal back late on through Luke Joyce who fired the ball low past Stuart Nelson.

However the home side soon extinguished any chance of an Accrington comeback. Hawley grabbed his second of the game and his side’s 4th as he coolly finished after being sent through by strike partner Ben Burgess.

County now face a potentially tricky tie in the Second Round as they travel to Blue Square South side Sutton United.

Tom Jenkins

By now you will be aware that England suffered a 5-0 loss in the recent one day international series away in India. I’d like to start with a positive for England; Steven Finn was England’s leading wicket taker of the series with 8 scalps. With the likes of Stuart Broad and Chris Tremlett injured for the series young Finn was left with quite a bit of responsibility and seemed to cope well. On spinner friendly pitches he still managed to get at India’s top order. Unfortunately for Nottinghamshire’s Graeme Swann, it was a series to forget claiming just 2 wickets in the 4 games he played. Comparing this to the 11 wickets Jadeja acquired for India, he needs to improve if he is to maintain a place in the ODI team.