The Watford Cheetahs opened their 2013 Season with a 26-22 win against arch-rivals the Milton Keynes Pathfinders on Sunday.

The Pathfinders scored first, putting together a strong drive to get in field goal range, which kicker, running back and safety marshall Williams duly converted to take a 3-0 lead.

The Cheetahs though opened their account for the season when QB Martin Brown hooked up with second year TE Julian Lorelli on a short pass, which was run in ten yards for the opening TD, breaking three tackles on the way. The XP was missed and MK ended the first quarter in possession.

The Cheetahs defence stepped up to the plate in the second quarter and QB Brown completed to WR James Lowry in the back corner of the end zone on fourth down for the Cheetahs' second score of the day.

Rookie half-back Andy Wilkes then took in the two-point conversion for a 14-3 lead.

The Pathfinders drove back down the field behind strong running of heavyweight FB Rick Price and a 15-yard pass interference penalty, and RB Williams punched it in from the one-yard line to bring the game back into the balance.

On the next drive the Cheetahs gained yardage through a long completion to WR Craig Edmunds and eventually Ajayi ran it in from the 15 to give the Cheetahs some breathing room. The two-point conversion was incomplete and the Cheetahs led 20-9.

The Watford side took three players to score when WR Sam Roberts jumped over the DB to snag the TD. Again the two-point was not converted and the teams went into the half with the home side down 26-9.

However the second half was all Milton Keynes, as they immediately scored through a pass from QB Smith to Jeremy Leonard in the corner of the end zone to make it 26-16 with the XP.

Again in the fourth quarter MK's QB Smith led his team back with poise, and threw a 30-yard strike down the left touchline to WR Jeremy Leonard again, to pull the Pathfinders back to 26-22.

The Cheetahs in the fourth quarter again struggled but the defence held firm led by NT Craig Cudmore and Matt Bright. An incomplete pass on fourth down from Smith allowed the Cheetahs to run out the clock for their first victory against MK in three years.

The Cheetahs take on the Maidstone Pumas on Sunday at Queens School, Bushey.