East Kilbride Pirates tame Mustangs

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 East Kilbride Pirates 27 Doncaster Mustangs 7

Game Report by Bill Campbell

Game two of the East Kilbride Pirates’ 2010 season saw another ‘road trip’, this time to take on the Doncaster Mustangs. The warm weather was certain to be a factor as the game wore on, so it was important to get off to a good start, and that's precisely what Scotland’s number one team did.

Having kicked off, the Pirates soon forced their hosts to punt, and taking over at their own 25-yard line, it took only two plays for East Kilbride to score. Successive runs of 32 and 43 yards from Running Back Iain Dick brought the opening touchdown and Tight End Mark Murphy kicked the conversion to make it 7-0.

Again the Mustangs' Offence was shut down and they quickly punted for the second time. The Pirates' second touchdown came on a longer drive this time, but after moving the ball 59 yards on eight plays, Quarterback Andy Mackintosh plunged over from one yard out to score. Murphy's conversion attempt was blocked this time round, but an early 13-0 lead gave the visitors the strong position they had set out to obtain.

Into the second period and Doncaster started to come back into the game on the back of some good running by Jeremiah Jordan. As the game edged towards half-time, the Mustangs finally got on the scoreboard when Quarterback Graham Lightfoot found his receiver Paul Oates from 17 yards to reduce the deficit. Dayne Robinson added the Extra Point to make it 13-7.

Any momentum that the home side thought they might have as the half went inside the two-minute warning quickly dissipated as the Pirates put together a six-play, 60-yard drive that ended with 29-yard pass from Mackintosh to receiver Craig Towler just as time expired. Murphy was allowed to tag on the conversion to leave the interval score as 20-7 in the visitors' favour.

The third period saw the teams swap possession several times after a number of turnovers by both sides as the players tired in the very warm conditions.

Going into the final quarter East Kilbride still had a two-score lead, and eventually made the win safe with their fourth touchdown of the day.

An eight-yard pass from Mackintosh to Neil Baptie gave the rookie receiver not only his first catch as a Pirate, but his first score as well. Yet again, Murphy converted to conclude the scoring and East Kilbride could take the opportunity to give game time to some of their first year players.

East Kilbride face their third straight away game this coming Sunday (30 May) when they travel to take on the Dundee Hurricanes at Dawson Park.

To find more about the team or to get involved visit www.piratesfootball.co.uk or email info@piratesfootball.co.uk You can also find the team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/piratesfootball.