TROJANS WIN BATTLE ROYAL

West Coast Trojans 56 ~ 40 Clyde Valley Blackhawks

Report C/O Gillian Orr

Sunday saw both teams coming off a loss and with Clyde Valley one up in the series Trojans were looking to stamp their authority on the game but things almost didn’t go to plan in one of ther highest scoring games this season.

After trading fumbles, Trojans Brian McFerren gathered in a Blackhawks punt and dodged and weaved his way past several defenders to scamper 72 yards for the opening score.

QB Gary McNey nailed the extra 2 points when he connected with Tommy McGeorge. Blackhawks struck straight back following a combination of runs and passes Phil McCabe ran over the middle from 4 yards out to give Clyde Valley the 6. The extra point kick was blocked by the Trojans. 

Blackhawks added another six soon after when, following an interception by Gordon Lockhart, Gary Orr connected on a 10 yard pass from QB James Keogh for the go ahead score.  Following a penalty against the Blackhawks Tam Chapman booted over the extra point.

But again the lead soon changed hands when Brian McFerren gathered in the kick off and looked endzone bound until Blackhawks Darren Darroch dragged him down at the 10 yard line but it only delayed the score for two plays when QB Gary McNey tossed the ball to a wide open David Pasnik in the right hand corner of the endzone. He tacked on the extra 2 points with a pass to Tommy McGeorge.

The 2^nd quarter saw the lead go back to the Blackhawks when Graeme MacMillan went on a searing 20yard bolt to edge the visitors ahead Tam Chapman brought the score to 20 when slotted over the extra points.

Blackhawks stretched their lead further when they capitalised on a Trojans error.

Andy Taylor recovered a fumble and Phil McCabe made the home side pay when he burst through the line and sprinted 27 yards for the TD.

This time the extra point kick sliced left. The Clyde Valley defence continued to pile on the misery on the Trojans next possession when Colin Mooney snatched a wayward McNey pass out the air and scurried to the endzone only to hear whistles blowing to call the ball back. However the score was only delayed for a matter of seconds.

Tam Chapman gathered in a Keogh pass and ran 34 yards to extend the Clyde Valley lead. Chapman showed his versatility when he kicked over the extra point.  Trojans next possession saw another score, when McNey connected on a 17 yard pass to a double covered Tommy McGeorge in the endzone, this time Craig Fulton added the extra 2 pointer to bring the home side closer to the lead once more.

Trojans edged to within 1 point when David Pasnik picked up a Blackhawks punt and scurried 54 yards to give them first and goal on the 9 yard line. 

Brian McFerren added his second of the day when he swept round the right and dashed the nine yards to the endzone. The extra two points were secured on a pass.

This time it was the Blackhawks turn to return the ball for a TD, the waiting arms of Graeme MacMillan gathered the ball at the 8 yard line and he raced up the sideline to give the visitors a 7 point lead. Tam Chapman made it 8 when he slotted the kick over.

The half ended with the scoreline Trojans 32 ~ 40 Blackhawks.

West Coast levelled the scoring on the opening possession of the 3^rd quarter when, a ten play 54 yard drive was topped off by Brian McFerren’s 3^rd of the day. The Trojans added the extra two on a burst through the middle. 

After a few traded punts Gary Orr sacked the Trojan’s QB to return the ball to Clyde Valley and they were unlucky not to score when the ball slipped through the fingers of Gary Orr.

West Coast’s luck fared little better when a fumbled handoff was recovered by Graeme McMillan but Clyde Valley’s offence was unable to capitalise. Blackhawks gave the Trojans a difficult task when punter David Orr booted the ball 40 yards to trap them on their own 4 yard line.  But West Coast took on the challenge and marched upfield behind the power running of Brian McFerren.

The Trojans showed their versatility when a 66 yard catch and run by Tommy McGeorge finished in the endzone for the go ahead score with less than 2 minutes on the clock.

A pass over the middle to David Pasnik added the two. Phil McCabe gave the travelling supporters something to cheer when he returned the kick off 48 yards but they were shortly silenced when David Pasnik intercepted a wayward Keogh pass and returned the ball to the 10 yard line, a penalty by the Blackhawks gave the Trojans 1^st and goal at the 5.

After two unsuccessful attempts up the middle by Gary McNey bounced along the line and tumbled over the goal line.  A pass to Craig Fulton finished the scoring with 35 secs left on the clock.

Clyde Valley would like to thank their travelling supporters and look forward to their next away game on Saturday 3^rd July against Edinburgh Wolves at Meadowbank Stadium.