Rams fleeced after locking horns with Pirates
May 13th, 2019
East Kilbride Pirates 47 – Yorkshire Academy Rams 12
The Pirates opened up their home schedule with a comfortable win to take them to 2-0 for the season to date.
They made the best possible start, when on the first play from scrimmage, running back Dougie Meechan scored on a 53-yard dash, and while Allan Creer’s PAT went wide left, the home side held an immediate 6-0 advantage.
Perhaps this led to some complacency as it was the visitors who were next on the scoreboard. An 8-play ground attack finished with an 11-yard run by Conor Robson to tie the scores, Yorkshire also tried to run in the 2-point conversion, but came up short.
Early in the second period, East Kilbride restored their lead when QB Neil Baptie broke out from deep in his own territory and showed a clean pair of heels to run 82 yards for the score. The PAT was blocked, but the home side were now starting to find their rhythm.
The next drive brought a second TD for Meechan, who only had to run 10 yards on this occasion. The same player soon added his third score of the game from 7-yards before Greg Atkinson added the PAT to make it 25-6.
Ahead of the break Ruaridh Malcom added a 6-yard rushing TD and Atkinson tagged on the PAT, pushing the Pirates’ lead to 32-6 at the interval.
The first passing TD came in the third quarter, when Baptie connected with David Fallon from 16 yards, Atkinson again converting. The Rams stuck to their running game and got a second (15-yard) score from Robson to end the period.
Sam Montgomerie, who had come on at QB in the third quarter, looked to be heading for paydirt in the final period, only for him to be picked off at the Rams’ 2-yard line. However, this merely set up the Pirates’ D for a piece of the action, and it was no real surprise when Steven Kane corraled the ball carrier in the endzone for a safety.
The final TD came late on, when Montgomerie passed to Martin Gallagher from 10 yards, and although the PAT was blocked, a 47-12 victory had been secured.
A competent performance after a slow start sums up the Pirates’ day. They must now carry that forward to their tie against local rivals, the Glasgow Tigers when the teams meet this Sunday (19th) at Nethercraigs (KO 12:00)
Report by Bill Campbell
Photos Duncolm Photography
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