Edinburgh Wolves’ back on track.

Edinburgh Wolves 14
Merseyside Nighthawks 6

Report C/O Edinburgh Wolves

The Edinburgh Wolves finally got their 2008 campaign up and running on Sunday, coming from behind to defeatthe Merseyside Nighthawks 14-6 at Meadowbank Stadium.

After a disappointing away loss to Glasgow Tigers in last week's season opener, the young team was eager to notch up a win, and a vastly improved offence helped the city side give the home fans a taste of victory.

The teams swapped punts early on, with the Wolves gradually finding their feet as the defence kept the ambitious Nighthawk offence out of the endzone for the first few drives.

But the visitors eventually got their way in the second quarter as Merseyside quarterback Tim Parr led them on a 50-yard scoring drive down the field. Parr threw a 34-yard pass to the left side, which receiver Andy Dyson caught over his shoulder to put the first points on the board, but a
tenacious Edinburgh defence then broke up a running play to deny the two-point conversion.

Later in the half the Wolves' offence began to flow smoothly and running back David “Magic” Molloy pushed up the field with the Nighthawks' defence seemingly incapable of stopping him.

Edinburgh quarterback Campbell Lewis then found Molloy on the left side and he sprinted up the outside to the ten-yard line. However, the drive ended seconds from half-time as Lewis was intercepted by defender David Eldridge.

A confident Wolves side emerged after half-time as the defence stopped Merseyside cold and forced a punt.

Wolves took advantage of a poor punt to claim the ball on their own 40 yard-line, and this time they would not be denied. A self-assured drive saw the ball stay mainly on the ground as Molloy pounded the Nighthawks' defence.

Some excellent blocking allowed Edinburgh to move the ball almost at will, and once inside the 10-yard-line Molloy battled through the middle and over the line to put Edinburgh's first points on the scoreboard. Lewis then faked the hand off to look left, and his pass found young receiver Stuart Galloway on the left side to add the two-point conversion and give Wolves an 8-6 lead.

Merseyside’s ensuing drive was cut short when Lewis, also playing defensive back, intercepted Parr's throw and put the Edinburgh offence back on the field.

Once more the Wolves' confidence shone through as Lewis and Molloy conspired to ruin the Nighthawks' day.

Molloy punished the visitors throughout the drive, and Lewis took the ball over the line on a short-yardage quarterback-keeper to score.