TIGERS WIN GRIDIRON CATFIGHT Glasgow Tigers 27 Highland Wildcats 8

This was the weekend for what was be the longest day in the year.  Thankfully we were not on the receiving end of the longest game as Glasgow Tigers came from behind to record what was a comfortable victory over the Highland Wildcats.

Even though they were relative new comers to the British Youth League, the Wildcats would have not been unfamiliar to the Tigers squad with many of then having come through the junior kitted ranks at the same time.

The Highlanders were more than a match in terms of height and power, which is was a frightening prospect .  There were certainly not many 17 year olds that size when I was at school.

There was very little to separate the two sides during the opening period, but the Tigers managed to open their duck when the Wildcats conceded a two point safety.

But the visitors hit back with a trick play from six yards out when Neil Porter sent the ball across to Kenny MacKay, who then tossed the ball to Euan Rennie for a touchdown which was converted to make it 8-2 to the visitors.

The Tigers responed when Keiran Phillips crossed the goal line resulting in a tied scoreline at half time

The Tigers edged back in front when Scott Watson nailed a field goal attempt  to give the Cambuslang outfit a three point advangtage.

The Wildcats responded in style with a great run from Stewart Harrison, who cut through a mass of bodies, to rake up some big yardage all the way to the Tigers 27 yard line.

However a tough defensive stand off meant that the drive stalled and the Wildcats soon found themselves in trouble on their punt attempt when a high snap flew over the kickers head and was eventually downed in Highland territory.

The momentum soon swung back in the visitors favour when the Wildcats forced a fumble on the first play of the Tigers drive.

But the defenses on both sides tightened things up with no changes in the scoring going into the final quarter.        

However the Tigers took control of the match from then on, with QB Alan Steen, from 15 yards out, desperately trying to off load the ball, but decided to keep it for himself, shaking off two challenges diving through the narrow space at the corner of the endzone for a excellent six points.

After 31 missed a field goal attempt, another special teams breakdown handed the Tigers another break when another high snap on the punt attempt, was downed in the endzone for another safety.

The Tigers then put the game beyond reach of the Highlanders on the kick off that followed when returner Ruaraidh MacDonald recovered his own fumble to run almost the full length of the field, luck not to stumble 20 yards from home but eventuall ran in a terrific touchdown which was converted by Watson .

Even though the shine was taken off on the last score as when he ran in the six points, it was with an extended arm which resulted in a penalty for taunting **.

( **Gridiron's equivalent for taking the !*££ out of the opposition)