Tigers Toil as Titans turn up the heat

Glasgow Tigers 24
Manchester Titans 46  

Blistering heat and a good crowd greeted the two teams in this crucial game in the BAFL 2 North play-off race.  

Coming off the back of three straight wins it was Glasgow 's offense that struck first, on the back of safety Graham Whyte's interception.  

Well drilled and running some unique plays the offence ran the ball home when Sparky took a hand off from Quarterback Ally Choat and then weaved his way in from nineteen yards out.

The Titans stopped the conversion and the Glasgow Defence then gave the ball back to their offence when Robert Mann returned an interception twenty three yards to set up a Choat thirty yard pass to receiver Paul Docherty for an early 12-0 lead. 

Manchester struck straight back through prolific rookie back Anthony Bingham who broke free and went seventy yards for a score.

Into the second quarter Manchester drew level, when quarterback Keith Strahan found receiver Rik Lowthion in the corner to level the scoring at 12-12.  

Unfortunately at this point the game was delayed for over an hour as Glasgow cornerback Andy Connelly was taken to hospital with a nasty looking neck injury.

(the injury was not as serious as first thought and he was later discharged to travel home with the team.)

The decision was taken to take half time early, and the game restarted with six minutes left in the second quarter.  

It was the Tigers who caught the Titans defense napping and moved quickly downfield, to run the ball in from close range when Graeme Clee charged in from the two yard line. Glasgow now had an 18 - 12 lead.  

However , Manchester hit back immediately from the kick off, when Phil "crazy hands" Walldecker returned it seventy five yards for the touchdown.  

This time kicker Anthony Bingham was on target and the Titans, who went ahead for the first time 19-18.  

With half-time being short lived the third quarter kicked off immediately, Glasgow received and looked to again hit the Titans defense, but after a poor first half showing the Titans D stepped up and held firm.

After a Glasgow punt it was on the next drive Anthony Bingham broke free and went seventy two yards for his second touchdown of the game, he then kicked the point after to give the Titans a 26-18 lead and both teams traded punts for the rest of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter would prove to be Manchester 's when quarterback Strahan found receiver Shaq Mussa with a thirty six yard pass for a score. Glasgow linebacker Jamie McCansh blocked the extra point kick and it was 32 - 18 to the Titans.

Both defenses then forced turnovers and it was Glasgow who ultimately prospered from good field position, with a Choat 26 yard pass into the corner to William McLauchlan give them first and goal and an Ally Choat quarterback sneak saw them score from one yard out, to make the score 32 - 24.

The Titans came out looking to kill the game off and did just that, Strahan again found received Shaq Mussa, this time for a forty two yard touchdown and then connected with Phil Walldecker for the two point conversion.

The Titans defense then came out and stopped the Glasgow Offence who were trying to get back in the game.

With the clock running down rookie running back Dave Barnett, went fifty eight yards for a touchdown to finalize the scoring at Manchester Titans 46 - 24 Glasgow Tigers.

The Tigers now have to prepare for the visit of Dundee next week (12 th August) where it's a 12.00 kick off at Cambuslang.