GRIDIRON ROOKIES

Inverness Inter schools American Flag Football Tournament.

In a joint venture between the Active Schools initiative and Inverness Blitz Academy of American Football Inverness held its first Inter Primary Schools American Flag Football Tournament on Saturday 25th March.

The Active School Co-ordinator for the Charleston area, Kirsten Grant arranged with Coach Robbie Paulin of the Inverness Blitz to run a series of school PE sessions and after school clubs with pupils from primary 6 and 7 of both Kinmylies and Muitown Primary Schools and this combined with two other programmes being run at Glenurquhart Primary School and Lochardil Primary School.

This resulted in six teams competing on the day for the Scouper Bowl Trophy.

Kirsten Grant commented “I am delighted to see over 50 children participating in this event and thoroughly enjoying it. The Inverness Blitz`s programme is ideal for Active schools as it provides the opportunity for kids to progress in the sport”.

All teams were well supported but the Kinmylies team had the added support of their own cheerleading group.

The teams competed in 2 groups of 3 with the winners of each group meeting in the final.

After some very close and exciting games it was the Lochardil Reds and Lochardil Blues that met in the final.

Both teams traded touchdowns but it was the Lochardil Reds that went in at halftime 2pts up from extra point conversions.

The second half proved again to be a very close fought game but the turning point came as the Reds intercepted a pass and returned it for a TD to open up a 2 score lead which they managed to hold on to until the final whistle.

Muirtown finished in third place with Kinmylies in 4th and Glenurquhart in 5th with Muirtown`s second team finishing 6th.

Coach Robbie Paulin summed up the day during the presentation of certificates by saying

“ The standard of American Football shown here today was very high considering most teams had only 5-6 weeks practice.”

Euan Mackie, Headmaster of Lochardil Primary School was on hand to give out certificates to all players and added “ Thanks to organisers of the tournament and the Active Schools Co-ordinators for all their hard work and effort in putting on this excellent tournament.”

PICS C/O INVERNESS BLITZ