Longhorns Cross Border Raid Leaves Leeds at a Loss

Report Eric Dougan

Pic C/O JD Andrews

Sunday 12^th July 2011, Leeds Corinthians Rugby Club

Lanarkshire Longhorns Junior American Football team travelled south to Yorkshire on Sunday to face last year’s division runners up, Leeds Varsity Bobcats.

After losing on both their previous match-ups, the Longhorns were determined to keep their recent run of form going with a third consecutive win. The game had the added incentive to both teams of being a “must win” if they were to have any chance of progressing to this year’s play-offs.

Lanarkshire lost no time in taking the game to Leeds, striking swiftly at the heart of their defence with a series of running plays headed up by Andrew Steen, but couldn’t convert any scoring opportunities.

The Longhorns defence stood firm in the face of two Leeds offensive series and after QB Ally Ferguson got his passing game going with receptions from Steen and Nicky Farrell, he finished off with a trademark short yardage sneak for the opening score of the game, putting Lanarkshire 6-0 ahead. Leeds’ response was to the fumble the ball on their very next possession, defence captain Mike Orr recovering for the Longhorns to increase their misery!

The game began to swing more in the Longhorns’ direction with staunch defending driving Leeds back towards their own endzone, and the Bobcats discipline began to slip with one of their players ejected from the game for violent conduct. The first half came to a close with Leeds barely able to get out of their own half, rookies Steven Sinclair and Gareth Thomson showing their potential at Defensive Back once again.

Leeds thought they had regained control of the game when they opened the second half with a 50 yard touchdown run and conversion, slipping into an 8-6 lead. Their celebrations were short lived however after Nicky Farrell collected their kick-off and returned the ball behind a wall of Longhorns blockers for a stunning 75 yard touchdown, pulling Lanarkshire back with a 12-8 advantage!

Leeds were unable to recover from this devastating turnaround and began to struggle on offence, picking up technical penalties and finding Longhorns DB’s in the path of almost every pass. Farrell and Steen began to eat up the clock in the running game, and kicker Andrew Reid sent several punts deep into Leeds’ backfield. Leeds fared no better in their running game losing possession deep in their own half, so when the Longhorns started the fourth quarter they once again had the Bobcats’ endzone in their sights.

A touchdown wasn’t to be, so Reid stepped up to kick his first Field Goal of the season, effectively putting the game out of reach at 15-8. Two interceptions from Sean Fallan and William McLaughlin and a sack by David McInally saw the Longhorns defence handing the ball back to Ferguson and his offence with seconds remaining, and as he took a knee, the clock and the Bobcats’ season finally ran out!

The Longhorns have completed all their regular season fixtures and now have to wait on the outcome of Gateshead Senators’ next two matches on 26^th June and 10^th July. Anything less than two wins for the Tyneside team hands the Lanarkshire Longhorns their first play-off place in only their second competitive season……..the waiting begins!

Longhorns Head Coach Graeme Clee commended his team after the game for showing the grit and determination to grind out a win in such a hostile environment, adding that they had gained the reward they deserved after working hard during the off season to prepare for games such as this one. Offence Captain, William McLaughlin was proud of the whole team performance, stating the way they all fought every inch for each other showed the Longhorns were a true family. Defence Captain Mike Orr added that it had been a tough game, but the Longhorns had held strong to ensure they registered a win!