WIPEOUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Five touchdowns from Graeme Macmillan helped Clyde Valley Blackhawks romp home to the best possible start in their first season in the BAFL Division 2 League, hammering fellow newcomers, Highland Wildcats at Wishaw. This was not the first time that these senior sides had lined up against each other. Under the BAFA rules for affiliate membership rules, new teams have to play fellow affiliate teams in order to gain full entry into the league for real. In their previous encounters, the Blackhawks were the dominant force and were clear favourites to repeat that feat again as both sides were looking to make a positive start in their first official game in division two. Both sides had players who had graduated through their youth ranks, but this was a Blackhawks side packed with experience, with players having previously enjoyed British title success at youth level. Along with new additions from Cumbria and top up with a number of seasoned veterans, the home side had a clear advantage over their northern visitors in size and depth.
And their turnover was promptly punished when Quarterback Ryan Rodgers picked off Tam Chapman and they fired a log pass to Gary Orr, who made a great catch under pressure for the opening touchdown, with Chapman adding extra point conversion for a 7-0 lead. The Blackhawks were soon threatening again when Rodgers delivered a precision pass up the middle to David Orr Jnr for a second touchdown, which was converted again to put the Blackhawks two scores up. The home side found themselves in great field position at the start of the second quarter and some great determined running from (G -Mac) Macmillan, increased the home sides life to 20 points without reply. The pressure from the Clyde Valley offensive line was starting to wear the Wildcats down and they were forced to punt the ball deep inside their own half. But with the ball being returned back to the Wildcats 13 yard line, the visitors were in further trouble when Macmillan blasted through for another touchdown. The Clyde Valley rusher was denied another scoring opportunity when a terrific 60 yard run into the end zone was called back by the referees. Then when they punted the ball back to the opposition, a tackled on by Gary Orr on the returner, forced a fumble, with MacMillan diving on the loose ball. Minutes later he powered through for another touchdown, giving the Inverness side a mountain to climb going into the break.
But they still had their troubles to seek when MacMillan scampered into the far corner of the endzone for his fourth touchdown of the day. Then on the next drive, the Inverness quarterback was picked off again by Gary Orr, who returned the ball back upfield to the far corner of the endzone, doing just enough to cross the goal line to make it 49-0. On the next Wildcats drive Orr pulled in another interception and minutes later, Rodgers picked off Chapman for an easy touchdown. Chapman then added another successful kick to give the Blackhawks a 52-0 lead. Then during the final period, the home side wrapped things up when MacMillan weaved through for touchdown number 5, then inside the final minute Philip Moran powered through to make it 64-0. Whilst the Wildcats will need to add to their numbers in time for their next game, however, despite having a strong squad for their opening win, the Blackhawks, (sponsored by J Chapman the Butchers Glasgow road Wishaw), continue to look for more recruits.
The Blackhawks train on Sundays at the Beltane playing fields in Wishaw from 1 till 4. |
And they made their physical presence known right from the opening drive, forcing the Wildcats to turnover possessions after just a few plays. 
Having racked up 33 unanswered points, the Inverness was battling for pride. And even though they had a distinct disadvantage in terms of size and numbers, they continued to battle hard, hoping to take something from this game.
