Pirates AIM FOR BRITBOWL GLORY

Birmingham Bulls 27 - East Kilbride Pirates 47
Pic C/O Alastair Wilson

The East Kilbride Pirates qualified for their third consecutive Division 1 final with a deserved win over the Birmingham Bulls on Sunday. They now face Leicester Falcons for the title in London on September 24.

East Kilbride were first on the ball and soon got into their stride. They quickly moved the ball into Birmingham territory and looked to be set to progress further after a successful completion from quarterback Ryan Hunter to tight-end Kenny Muir. However, as Muir fought to gain extra yards after the catch, the ball was knocked loose and recovered by the home side.

They couldn’t capitalise though, and had to punt the ball back to the Pirates four plays later. This pattern continued, with the teams trading possession for much of the opening period.

The deadlock was finally broken by the Bulls who went ahead when their QB Sam Steward connected with receiver Jason Grant from 10 yards. Richard Penwright kicked the extra point to give Birmingham Bulls a 7-0 lead which they kept for the few remaining moments of the first quarter.

EK had the ball as the game moved into the second period and they almost immediately reduced the deficit. Hunter and running back Iain Dick combined to eat up 57 yards on 5 plays before Hunter carried over from the 1-yard line. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful though, leaving the Pirates 1 point adrift.

 Birmingham responded at once and put together a good drive before opting to attempt a 33-yard field goal. Penwright’s kick was low and hit the back of one of his own linemen before falling to the ground. While many Pirates’ players stopped, thinking the play was dead, Leon Williamson showed the presence of mind to pick up the ball and run it home for a 21-yard TD, stretching the Bulls advantage to 13-6 in the process.

 In what was becoming an end-to-end game, the Pirates came straight back and Dick broke out a 44-yard run to score. Steven Kane converted to tie things up at 13-13. Birmingham then had to punt on their next possession and East Kilbride swiftly took advantage.

A short drive, aided by a defensive pass interference call, took the ball to the Bulls’ 2-yard line where Hunter kept the ball to run in untouched, and Kane converted to give the visitors their first lead of the day at 20-13.

As Birmingham attempted to level things up before the interval, Pirates’ defensive back Scott Findlay intercepted a stray Steward pass and returned it 30 yards to score. Kane’s conversion left East Kilbride 27-13 in front at the break.

It was midway through the third period before there was any more scoring. Another Findlay interception was returned deep into Birmingham territory, and although Findlay then lost the ball, his team mate Dominik Wiest recovered it at the 6-yard line. One play later, Hunter passed to Dave Pasnik for the TD and Kane converted to pad the Pirates’ advantage to 34-13. Early in the fourth quarter, Birmingham made the most of a drive kept alive by a late hit on the QB penalty, and scored with a 31-yard completion to Denzil Byron.

The point after narrowed the gap to 34-20, but the Pirates’ advantage was soon restored when Dick ran in his second score of the day, taking it home from 10 yards, and Kane again converted. Birmingham came straight back once more, and took only 4 plays to score, with Jason Grant hauling in a 36-yard pass for his second TD. Penwright converted to leave the score at 41-27 in the closing stages.

There was still time for an Ivor Clark interception and return to the Bulls 5-yard line, leading to a scoring run for Craig Towler from just 1 yard out. The home side had one last chance to score, but another interception, this time by Dominik Wiest, allowed East Kilbride to run out the clock to end the game as 47-27 victors.

East Kilbride now have three weeks to prepare for the Final which will be held at Crystal Palace, London on Saturday 24th September.

Game report by Bill Campbell