Lanarkshire Longhorns 48
Manchester Titans 0

One of the most notable things about the Junior Kitted Leagues is that they are very unstable.   Whenever teams kick off the new season, one often wonders if teams can hold on to their rosters long enough to ensure that they can complete a regular season – especially in Scotland.

But on saying that, they have provided us with players who have been very successful in today’s senior game.

And even there was evidence of young talent still coming through the ranks after watching the Lanarkshire Longhorns run over a helpless Manchester Titans side at the weekend clocking up 48 points without reply.

The Longhorns, a product of the amalgamation of players from the Glasgow Tigers and Clyde Valley Football organisations, have been enjoying a successful season so far, having only dropped two games, occupying third place in the Northern  Conference standings.

And the writing was soon on the wall for the Titans that this was going to be a long day for them when William McLaughlin downed the ball on the visitor’s 14 yard line.   On the next play, Andrew Steen shrugged off a number of challenges, only to fall one yard short of the goal line.

Quarterback Ally Ferguson finished the drive off, taking the ball into the endzone for the opening six points of the day.

Manchester tried to step up the pace during the early stages of the second quarter, but shot themselves in the foot when Stevie Munro got in front of a wayward pass.

It was not long before the Longhorns were threatening the visitor’s endzone and increased their lead when Nicky Farrell cut through a mass of bodies for another touchdown, which was converted by kicker Andrew Reid for a 14-0 lead.

Manchester’s game plan appeared to be falling apart when Steen turned on the speed down the side of the pitch, shrugging off some half-hearted challenges to make it 20-6 in the Scots favour.

The Longhorns got the second half to an ideal start with a perfect kick off which was recovered deep in Titans territory, but because of some hesitation on the Titans Special Teams and the Longhorns Linemen charging downfield smelling blood, the visitors were forced to start their new drive just inside their five yard line.

Not surprisingly the Titans went three and out on that drive and had to punt the ball back to the Longhorns, who returned the ball back into the Titans danger zone. On the next play, Steen powered through the middle for another touchdown, with Reid splitting the uprights for another successful two point conversion kick.

The rout continued when Farrell left the Titans rear guard for dead, blasting up field for a 40 yard touchdown.

Going into the final period, the Longhorns increased their lead when Farrell taking over the offensive controls as quarterback, picked off Tight End Craig Samuel at the far corner of the endzone for another six points.

The Farrell, who was one of a number of backfield players who had given the Titans defense a torrid time, decided to hold on to hold on to the ball and finish the Titans off, running in what was an easy final touchdown, with Reid nailing another successful two point conversion for a 48-0 final score.

Pic C/o Lanarkshire Longhorns