G FORCE !!!!!

Glasgow Tigers 40 Stirling Clansmen 6

Glasgow Tigers may have had a roller coaster season last year, but the 2009/10 model continued their perfect start to the new season with a powerhouse victory over their old rivals, Stirling Clansmen.

With both sides struggling to get off the mark last year, it was a much improved Tigers side that took to the field at the weekend and showed that they have got the potential to make a strong challenge for the Scottish Conference title this year.

The Clansmen have been struggling to reproduce the campaign when they romped home to the Scottish title a few years ago.

And at the weekend, despite showing terrific work rate, the visitors could not cope against a Tigers side that had too many offensive tools at their disposal for them to handle.

Having run up a convincing win over Sunderland the week before, the Tigers quickly got into their stride during the opening drive with some impressive series of power runs from rookie, Lewis King who, in carrying on the tradition of some fine Tigers running backs over the years, almost finished off the drive in style, sprinting 40 yards, shaking off two challenges crossing the Clansmen goal line.

Unfortunately the score was chalked off for two block in the back penalties.

However despite the evidence of a strong running game, the Tigers soon showed their potency in the air when quarterback Gregor Beattie delivered a text book diagonal pass sending the ball falling into the hands of Scott McIntosh for the opening touchdown.

Even though the Clansmen were struggling to get their offensive machine in gear, they appeared to be having more success on the defensive side of the ball and appeared to be containing the Tigers attack.

However after almost fumbling away possession, the home side stepped up a gear, or should I say their new rushing "King Lewis", supported by a rock solid offensive line, which cleared the way for the rusher to take the Tigers to the Stirling 10 yard line.

Minutes later, King finished off what turned out to be an impressive drive, taking advantage of some excellent blocking by his line, sprinting for the far corner of the endzone for a second touchdown.

The Clansmen continued to offer nothing in attack and soon found themselves in further trouble when they got caught short with repeat of the opening score, when Beattie sent a diagonal pass again straight to McIntosh to make it 18 unanswered points, followed by King running in an easy two point conversion.

Glasgow were soon threatening the Clansmen goal line again when King ran in his second touchdown of the day.

And even though the game looked as if it was running away from them the Clansmen came out fighting at the start of the second half and finally give the Tigers something to think about, forcing the home side back to their 20 yard line.

But unfortunately the drive collapsed when the Tigers forced a fumble, which they recovered.

Then on the next play, the home side had some breathing room, when King, once again ate up the yards and give the Glasgow side some breathing space.

However the visitors regrouped and managed to stifle the Tigers attempts to move further up field, forcing them to punt away possession.

The defensive trade off continued, with neither side giving much away until the early stages of the final quarter when Beattie connected with Ewan Beesley for a 78 yard completion to give the home side 32 unanswered points.

The game was effectively killed off when Lewis Begbey dived over the goal line for another touchdown, leaving King to run in another two point conversion.

Instead of running up the white flag, the Clansmen were determined to take something from the game and caught the Tigers off guard when having struggled to get their passing game going, they finally connected with a long pass, giving them excellent field position.

Then minutes later, a slick move by the Clansmen offense allowed Josh Polson to cross the goal line and to finally break their duck.

Even though time was against them, the Clansmen had found a new lease of life and were starting to put the Tigers under some pressure, capitalising on some enforced errors.

And it was not long before they were two yards for the Glasgow goal line.

However the Tigers managed to regroup and play like the team that dominated the first two quarters with the Stirling drive finishing short for the home goal line.