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Titans Edge Close Fought Battle
Report and Pic C/O Clyde Valley Blackhawks
Manchester Titans 20 – 12 Clyde Valley Blackhawks
Blackhawks made the long road trip south on
Sunday to take on the unbeaten Manchester Titans.
Clyde Valley shocked the home side by taking the
lead.
Firstly the Blackhawks defence forced the Titans to cough up the ball and
recovered it in excellent field position then their offence settled quickly
to their task.
QB James Keogh engineered a sound drive including
power runs from Graeme ‘G Mac’ MacMillan and Philip McCabe as well as
passes to David Orr and Gary Orr.
The QB looked as if he ended the drive with
a keep for the TD but after a referee’s conference it was deemed he was
inches short.
This only delayed the scoring for a play as
Darran Sharp took the handoff bounced right and crossed the plane for the
opening score.
The kick was blocked by an advancing Titans line.
Manchester’s Nicholas Copely returned the kickoff to give the Titans a
short field.
And 6 plays later QB Alan Mead connected with
Christopher Heap on a 22 yard pass for the tying score. Nicholas Copley
added the extra 2 points.
At the start of the 2nd quarter Clyde Valley’s
defence continued to pile on the pressure when Gordon Lockhart snatched a
wayward Alan Mead pass but the Blackhawks were unable to take full
advantage and after trading a few possessions they prevented the score line
from increasing when an endzone bound ball was battled down by Graeme ‘Special’
McMillan.
The Titans came out in the 2nd half hoping for a
better performance but their hopes were, initially, to be denied. Niall
Sweeny must have been annoyed when he made it all the way to the one yard
line only to see it marched back because of penalties.
The two sacks in a row by Blackhawk’s Graeme
‘Special’ McMillan took them out of field goal range. Clyde Valley were
unfortunate on their next drive when they lost QB James Keogh following a
sack by Philip Cowey. Titan’s offence then added 6 when Nicholas Copely
took the handoff and scampered to the endzone.
The extra point kick was prevented by a strong
surge from Blackhawks. Clyde Valley faired little better on their next
drive when Manchester’s Chris Harwood intercepted the ball and returned it
to the 5 yard line.
Nicholas Copley burst through the middle to bring
the score to 20 -6 the extra point attempt was broken up by game MVP Graeme
‘Special’ McMillan.
The never give up attitude of the Blackhawks came
to the fore in the 4th quarter when the defence gave the
travelling supporters something to cheer when the snap sailed over the head
of the QB and as he tried to recover it he was pounced upon by Gary Orr and
the squibbling ball was picked up by Darren Darroch who sprinted 68 yards
untouched for the TD.
A high snap broke up the extra point. With time
quickly running out Clyde Valley had one last opportunity to tie up the
score. Facing a 4th down play Philip McCabe took the handoff and gave the
ball to Ryan Rogers on a reverse but he was tackled inches short of the 1st
down marker. Manchester then ran the clock out.
Clyde Valley would like to thank sponsors William
Grant and Sons Distillers, Chapman the Butchers and The Commercial Hotel
Bar and Club and all their travelling supporters.
Clyde valley are now recruiting at all age groups
for next year and would welcome anyone who would like to join
them at training call 07787785262 and ask for Colin (CALLING ALL AMERICANS)
The next home game is a week on sunday against
the Tigers this is one not to be missed .
Beltane playing fields Sunday 2.30 kick off
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