Pirates sink Rams as league reaches the halfway stage

Jun 24 2009 by Paul Thomson, East Kilbride News

EAST Kilbride Pirates’ season reached the halfway point on Sunday as they claimed a narrow 28-26 victory over the Yorkshire Rams.

The Scottish American football side were favourites, having won all nine of the teams previous meetings, however, they did not expect the physicality with which the Rams approached the game.

Things started well for the home team as they opened the scoring in the first quarter. Quarterback Ryan Hunter found an open receiver in Jamie McLaughlin and hit him for a seven yard completion and the opening touchdown.

Yorkshire Rams kept their composure and struck back with a score of their own, through a 29 yard catch and run from Quarterback Pete Rogers to Receiver Ben Barker. Kicker Adam Steele added a further point to make it 7-6 and put the Pirates behind for only the second time this season.

Despite this, East Kilbride put together another strong drive which culminated in a touchdown on a four yard run from Receiver Craig Towler. Hunter added the two point conversion on foot, spinning out of a tackle in the corner of the endzone to take the score to 14-7.

The Pirates gave themselves a cushion at half time, managing to add a further six points when Hunter found Tight End Mark Murphy for his fourth score of the season. They again went through the air as Hunter added the to point conversion by finding Towler for a 22-7 half time lead.

Rams’ Running Back Adim Irozuru claimed a touchdown before Steele's extra point kick reduced the Pirates lead to a less than comfortable eight points.

The visitors soon reduced the deficit to just two, before Pirates Running Back Kyle showed grit and determination, powering through a mass of bodies to go over the line and give the home side an eight point lead once more.

But with five minutes of the game remaining, there was still time for the Rams to steal the points and it was not long before they found themselves deep inside the Pirates half of the field. Rogers finished the drive off when he fired another long bomb to Barker for another touchdown.

At this point, the Pirates fully expected to see the Rams send Kicker Steele on to pull the gap to just one point, but they opted to attempt to tie the game with a two point conversion. What looked like a pass play seemed to fall apart and the scrambling Quarterback was brought down short of the endzone to preserve the Pirates’ unbeaten record and their top of the table spot.

The Rams won't have to wait long for their chance of revenge as the Pirates travel to Leeds for the return leg on Sunday. The Scottish side next play at home when they host the West Coast Trojans on August 2.

IN FOR THE SCORE: Running Back Blake Kyle scores the winning touchdown during the Pirates’ victory.