Edinburgh Edge a Narrow Win

Report C/O Gillian Orr

Clyde Valley travelled to Edinburgh on Saturday hoping to get back to winning ways but the Wolves stood in their way. Blackhawks received the ball but the power of the Edinburgh defence forced them to punt the ball.

Clyde Valley returned the favour on the Wolves’ next possession and this set the tone for most of the game. Edinburgh won the battle of the punters when their punter continued to down the Blackhawks deep in their own half.  T

he travelling fan had something to cheer about in the 1^st quarter when Tam Chapman latched onto QB James Keogh pass to bring up 1^st down but penalties soon silenced the away crowd.

Although Wolves Barney O'Hagan tried to run an impenetrable Blackhawks defence they were once more forced to punt.

The pressure of the Wolves defence forced the Clyde Valley QB into a hurried pass which was intercepted by the Wolves but they were unable to capitalise on the Blackhawks error.

The third quarter continued as the first 2 with both team’s defences dominating the game not allowing the offences to gain any progress.

It was the Edinburgh defence who finally broke the deadlock when, following a Wolves punt which was downed on the Clyde Valley 2 yard line, a fumbled snap was pounced on by Wolves’ Maxim Popelyushko in the end zone for the opening score. 

The Wolves kicker slotted over the extra point to bring the score to 7.

Although the Blackhawks were forced to punt on their next drive the ball was soon back in their possession when Tam Chapman intercepted a wayward Scott Hackett pass but Blackhawk’s David Orr was unable to make any further running progress. The 4^th quarter continued in the same vein as the other three with both side’s thwarted by strong defences.

Although Edinburgh tried to mount a sustained effort for a score behind the power running of Barney O’Hagan, Clyde Valley’s Graeme McMillan and Gary Orr teamed up to halt the drive.

But the Wolves defence continued to shut down the power of Blackhawks offence that had scored 40 points in last week’s encounter and the game ended with no further scoring.