FIFE ROOKIE FULL BACK EARNS MVP GLORY

Report and Picture C/O Fife Fire

The Clyde Valley Falcons hosted the latest Junior championship tournament on Saturday, that saw rookie Fullback Carlo Oliva lift the tournament MVP award after an outstanding performance.

After receiving 2 game MVP awards, against the Northern Wildcats and then the Glasgow Tigers he was named as over all tournament MVP after amassing nearly 300 yards rushing, en route to racking up 5 touchdowns and 3 point after conversions. He also connected with QB Mikey Orr for 5 completions.

After losing the first 2 games, the Fire's ever improving squad notched up another win in game 3 against the Northern Wildcats, and then pushed the Glasgow Tigers all the way in the last game of the day, to lose by only 9 points as the Tigers ran out 34-25 winners

"The last time we played the Tigers", commented Headcoach Mark Bramwell, "they destroyed us 68-12. No team likes to be on the wrong end of a score like that, and we were going to make sure it wasn't about to happen again".

The 5 week break since the previous tournament gave the coaching staff plenty of time to review their performance, and also look at what the other teams were doing.

"Defensively, we were a lot more aggressive on Saturday and lot more flexible in our adjustments", explained Coach Bramwell, "things really started to click, especially reading the opponents and communicating".

Offensive Coach Alister Pullen was equally delighted with the young team's performance.

"A lot of good things happened today on the offensive side of the ball", explained Coach Pullen, "we had a number of guys doing a great job playing out of position with a stand out performance from rookie Free Safety Michael Gaughan, who stepped into the breach at Tailback after Michael MacDonald went out with an injury"

He continued, "We were a different team today. We made very few mistakes on an offense that has gelled extremely well since the Inverness tournament."

" The offensive machine is certainly well oiled now, and we are starting to really look good”. He also paid tribute to the Fire's travelling support of friends and family, and the ever vocal Fife Fire Cheerleaders.

The Fire's much improved efforts were unfortunately marred by the injury to stand out defensive Safety Kieran Smith, who went out in the first game with a suspected broken wrist.

After being transported to hospital it was confirmed as a break to his Radius that will see him out for 6 weeks. "Kieran's injury is a blow to our defense and we look forward to him returning to full fitness in 6 weeks time. We all wish him a speedy recovery", said Coach Bramwell.