RAMRAIDERS

Clyde Valley Hawks 0 – North Lanarkshire Rams 30

Hawks were at home to Rams on Sunday after winning the away leg Hawks hopes were high.

The Rams went into Sunday`s game against the Hawks knowing that they had to win. Sitting at one win and two losses they couldn`t afford to drop to 1 and 3, and a good performance was needed.

After both teams swapped punts several times, the stalemate was broken, when running back Andrew Noble went on an amazing 70 yard run.

He stopped, started, bobbed and weaved like the Tasmanian Devil.

The Hawks didn`t know what hit them as he hadn`t played against them in the first game this year.

A further two extra point s were added by the “new” Rams kicker Paul McGovern, making the scorline 8 – 0

Another two highlights in the first quarter were recovered fumbles from Blair McTague, and the fast improving “quiet man” Alan Martin.

The second quarter saw more of the same with Andrew Noble striking from 19 yards out, on a run that would have seen many a player stopped, but he was just too quick.

The two extra points were run in by Blair McTague, making the scoreline 16 - 0

The Rams defense were strong and they contained and controlled everything the Hawks threw at them in the first half, and they never looked like scoring.

Compounded by two further turnovers when both Jamie Reyes and David Hare had one interception each.

It was a very good first half for the Rams. Like any running back of Andrew Noble`s quality the other team can never stop them, they can only hope to limit them to as few yards as possible, but despite the Hawks best efforts he had another 100 yard game.

That was in the first half alone as an injury saw the Rams trainer take him out of the game as a precaution, as he will be needed further on into the season.

The second half was a back and forth affair as the Hawks tried their best to impose their will on the Rams, but the derense wereas solid as they had been in the first half. Again the defense came up with the goods as David Brand snatched another interception to stop any momentum the Hawks had.

Underlined later by a two point safety forced by Steven Kane to take the score to 18 – 0
It was the fourth quarter and the Rams had an advantage by now as they had worn the Hawks down.

Illustrated by the 40 yard pass and catch by Alan Martin, where at least four Hawks players had hands on him but could not stop him. A failed extra point try saw the score now at 24 – 0

The Rams were by now too strong for the Hawks O line and all their QB could do was scramble for the sideline as fast as he could.

The Hawks never really looked like scoring, and the Rams defense must be worthy candidates for best defense in the league.

Another mistake and fumble by the Hawks saw Steven Kane pounce on a loose ball and run it back 65 yards for the final score to make it 30 – 0.

Any last hope was snuffed out as David Hare grabbed the ball out of the air for another interception, as the Hawks commited their sixth turnover.

All together it was another very good team performance, and proves the Rams have turned the corner and are finding a far better rhythm than in weeks one and two, and are coming together as a team.

This Sunday sees the Rams at Home to the Tigers at Greenfaulds High School kick off 2pm

Clyde Valley travel to Inverclyde on Sunday to take on the Sharks.

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