TIGER TIGER!!!!!
Glasgow Tigers 41 Hull Hornets 28

With a number of their successful youth team, stepping up to the next level during the off season, the 2007 campaign saw the new look Tigers come close, but no cigar!

Was this the day when fortune would favour the Men in Black for once – well you could see as they warmed up that confidence was definitely high.

The Tigers were up against a scratch Hornets squad who were struggling to get their guys ready in time for the kick off. But judging by the strength and size of the opposition, this was not going to be a push over.

The key factor would be how well would they utilise their numbers during what was going to be a tough four quarters.

Taking charge of the offensive controls for the Tigers was Ally Choat, who was thrown in the deep end last week, taking over from Kris Kennedy, despite not having seen any real action at quarterback for a long time.

It was much more confident Choat that took to the field on the Tigers opening drive and earned himself an early confidence boost ending the opening series diving over the goal line for the opening six points, which was followed with “Sparky” running in the two point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

The Tigers confidence continued to soar on their next drive when two excellent passes to Dan Seltzer, put the home side in sight of the goal line yet again.

And Choat finished it off minutes later, stepping back to fire the ball to Seltzer again for six more points, with “Sparky” once again adding the 2 points conversion, putting them in what appeared to be cruise control.

But the “Men in Black” got a timely wake up call on the kick off when Gaz Hughes displayed great determination and eventually showed the Tigers rear guard a clean pair of heels returning the ball back up field for a well executed touchdown.

And the alarm bells were starting to ring when Quarterback Martin Pepper held on to the ball, shaking off two challenges, doing just enough for 2 well earned points.

Things started to look up for the Tigers on the next Tigers drive when a half hearted pass up the middle, the ball bounced off two Hull players and fell into the hands of Paul Docherty just inside the Hull half.

It is things like happening then you know that it is going to be your day!

Going into the final minutes of the half there still remained no change on the scoring until on a crucial third and long play, a great run from Sparky, took the Tigers to the 6 yard line.

Then on the next play Graeme Clee burst through a mass of bodies for a welcome touchdown, with Docherty grabbing another successful conversion catch in the far corner of the endzone.

During the half time break not all the Tigers players were resting on their laurels, with some of them, practising some field goal moves.

And the practise certainly paid off when Dean Jardine nailed a 20 yard field goal to make it 27-8 in favour of the Tigers.

However instead of raising the white flag, Hull stepped up a gear, putting the home side under pressure and had their lead cut back when Kurt Jean Pierre jumped over some diving bodies to reduce the deficit to 13 points.

The Tigers regained the advantage in the final quarter when a terrific reverse move cleared the way for Nick Irwin to sprint down the far side, putting the home side in excellent field position.

Then minutes later, some excellent blocking from Glasgow set “Sparky” on another homeward run putting the Tigers 33-14 ahead, with Clee grabbing another 2 point conversion putting them that step close to that coveted first win of the season.

And the Tigers put the game beyond doubt when “Sparky” hit the endzone again to make it 41-14 for the home side.

However the Hornets were by no means finished as Hughes turned in another text book kick off return, with Jean Pierre adding another touchdown and a two point conversion to make the score line more respectable.

But despite the strong finished the day belonged to the Tigers who finally broke an unenviable losing streak. And if today’s performance is anything to go by, there will be more wins on where that came from this season.