Lancashire Wolverines...7 East Kilbride Pirates...34
By Invoice Campbell
Having secured their place within the play-offs final week, East Kilbride wanted a win to additionally safe the NFC 1 North title, together with a house recreation within the first knockout spherical.
And so they did simply that on their journey to Lancashire Wolverines on Sunday.
EK have been shortly out of the blocks on this encounter and, after forcing a fast punt from the house aspect, EK put collectively a faultless first possession.
An 8-play drive was rounded off by a 7-yard run from QB Neil Baptie to open the scoring adopted by a profitable PAT by Scott McDonald. An Aaron Callaghan interception instantly put the Offence again onto the sphere, and this time Baptie handed to Struan Bailey for an 8-yard TD earlier than McDonald kicked the additional level for a 14-0 lead.
Not lengthy into Q2 Baptie once more discovered an open receiver, with Fraser McDonald scoring on a 31-yard reception which his namesake transformed.
As within the first interval, a Pirates’ interception introduced the Wolverines’ progress to a sudden halt, Ker Stuart nabbing the ball out of his reverse quantity’s fingers this time round.
It was operating again Greg Black’s flip to capitalise, breaking a number of tackles on his method to a 31-yard TD.
Sadly, Scott McDonald’s PAT hit the submit with a powerful clunk. He did get the prospect to redeem himself simply earlier than the interval, however a 40-yard discipline objective try drifted extensive.
With a 27-0 lead in place, it was maybe comprehensible that EK’s foot would come off the gasoline, though the teaching workers have been lower than proud of a scoreless third quarter.
Their dismay was compounded when the house aspect scored early within the ultimate interval.
A forty five-yard catch and run took them deep into Pirates’ territory earlier than QB Josh Mills discovered James Schofield from 7-yards and a profitable PAT narrowed the deficit to 7-27
Sadly for Lancs, this shook EK out of their lethargy, and a crisp, 8-play drive ended with a 16-yard scoring move from Scott McDonald to Malcolm Fore, which McDonald additionally transformed to conclude the scoring.
On the finish of the sport, Lancashire very sportingly fashioned a guard of honour to congratulate East Kilbride on their success. A gesture which was enormously appreciated and reciprocated by the Pirates’ gamers.
The Distell Worldwide Sport MVP award went to Defensive Lineman Andy Meechan for a powerful total efficiency.
The Pirates will now face divisional rivals, Northumberland Vikings, within the play-off quarter-finals subsequent week.
With the Vikings being the one group to defeat EK thus far this season, an in depth encounter ought to be assured as the 2 sides compete for the suitable to satisfy the NFC 1 South representatives within the subsequent spherical.
The sport at GHA Rugby Membership in Giffnock kicks off at 2:30pm on Sunday, August 14.
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