The disappointments of last season's College Bowl defeat now confined to the history books, the Glasgow Tigers got back on the winning trail on Sunday (Nov 6th) with a season opening victory over Stirling Clansmen.

With both sides ringing in the changes with their squad line ups during the off season, it was season college campaigner, Matt McCusker that made the crucial difference in what was a tough defensive struggle for both teams.

After an uneventful first half, the breakthrough finally came during the later stages of the third quarter when receiver, Matt Norton pulled in a 20 yard McCusker pass in the corner of the end zone for the opening score.

McCusker then turned from touchdown maker to touchdown taker early in the fourth quarter with a short dive over the goal line for another six points.

Then inside the final two minutes of the match, the Clansmen’s misery was complete when they gave up a two point safety.

With all of the Scottish teams in action today, this was the game of the days in Scotland with the Tigers hoping to re assert the authority that saw them coast through a perfect regular season and all the way to last season’s national final.

For the Clansmen who also lost a number of key players during the of season through graduation, this was the start of a new era, but hopes were high that they could recapture the form from a few years ago that some them rule the roost in the Northern Conference.

But disaster struck for the home side right on the opening kick off when Andrew McIvor fumbled the kick off return, which was recovered by the Men in Black, giving them great field position.

The Clansmen then serve notice that they were not going to conceding anything without a fight with the Tigers failing to capitalise on their good fortune, eventually turning over possession.

And with Stirling now facing a long drive up field, the home side were soon under pressure, being forced back by the dominant Tigers defensive line and had to punt the ball clear from the danger zone.

Both offenses continued to stamp their authority in the game.

Then at the start of the second quarter, the Clansmen attacking machine appeared to be in gear when Quarterback Ian Smith handed the ball off to Richard Mandille, who found a gap through the middle for a nine yard gain.