RAMS
WIN scot POP WARNER CLASSIC
SAU/POP
WARNER CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
CLYDE
VALLEY FALCONS 28 NORTH
LANARKSHIRE RAMS 34
A touchdown from Jamie McCoy, capped off a momentous
encounter in the championship final of Britain’s only officially
sanctioned Pop Warner League following a dramatic six point triumph
over tournament favourites, Clyde Valley Falcons.
Ever since the
league started 2 months ago, the Falcons were firm favourites to
come away with the title having won every game, including a 28-0
whitewash of the Rams two weeks ago.
But in what was the perfect advert for the game
in Scotland in what was an enthralling, entertaining encounter,
the Rams managed to tie the scoring in the final thirty seconds
thanks to a Steve Giannandrea touchdown catch.
But after failing to score on the first drive of
sudden death over time, McCoy sealed victory for the Rams in dramatic
style.
“Absolutely
unbelievable,” said Rams Receiver Giannandrea. “The
whole spirit of the team was brilliant on the day. “ It is
amazing winning this and to beat probably the best team in Scotland,
the Falcons, made it extra special.”
With the Falcons having dominated the regular season
fixtures they were always going to be favourites over the Rams following
their 28-0 whitewash against a scratch Rams side two weeks ago.
 The
Rams squad were boosted with the return of players that they thought
that they had lost prior to the start of the season, but were still
out numbered by a strong Falcons roster.
After a closely contested opening spell,
the breakthrough came late in the first quarter, when Greg Conroy
sprinted to the far corner of the end zone to put the Falcons 6-0
ahead.
On Clyde Valley’s first play in the second
quarter, they stretched their lead when Fraser Anderson managed
to shrug off a couple of challenges to burn the turn down the near
side to cross the goal line for another six points.
But instead of crumbling, the Rams hit back got
back into the game, early in the second half, when a fake field
goal attempt saw Blair McTague fire a precision pass to Johnny Ewing
for a touchdown, with Giannandrea splitting the uprights with the
conversion attempt, reducing the deficit to 4 points
After almost fumbling the ball way on their next
drive, the Falcons almost went back in front thank to a superb run
from Conroy, weaving his way through the Rams defense into the end
zone, but thankfully for the Rams, the touchdown was called back.
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