Pirates bounce back against Jets
May 8th, 2016
East Kilbride Pirates 37 Coventry Jets 0
The Pirates got back to winning ways after their humiliation at the hands of Tamworth just six days earlier, with a comfortable win against a depleted Coventry side on Saturday. The Jets travelled north with a small squad and their lack of numbers was to tell as the game progressed.
The first period was a stop-start affair as the two sides tried to come to terms with both blustery conditions and an eagle-eyed team of officials who flagged every infringement. As a result, the quarter came and went without any scoring. However, that quickly changed at the start of the second period. Coventry were forced to punt, but with the kick coming off the side of the punter’s foot at travelling at 90 degrees to the kicker, they actually lost yards on the play, leaving the Pirates a short field to work with.
Quarterback Neil Baptie immediately capitalised, running the ball in from the 13-yard line. Craig Black’s conversion kick came back off the post but the Pirates finally had their noses in front. Both of the Jets subsequent drives ended on interceptions, with Jimmy McIntosh and then David McInally picking off stray passes. However, all the Pirates had to show for their endeavours was a 20-yard field goal from Black to make the score 9-0. The much-needed second TD came later when, on a 4th-and-10, Baptie connected with his favourite target, Jamie McLaughlin for a 41-yard score. Black converted to leave the Pirates 16-0 up at the break.
After the restart, things got worse for the visitors. Following a false start penalty that pushed them back to their own 11-yard line, they then fumbled the ball and it was gratefully recovered by Thomas MacMillan as it rolled into the endzone. The conversion made it 23-0 and that lead was improved when EK scored again on their next offensive drive. Running back Scott Widdowson carried over from 21-yrards and Black once more converted. With the Coventry players tiring, their mistakes were starting to mount up. Another fumble was forced by Johnny Forrest and recovered by Steven Kane inside the Jets’ half. A quick drive was capped off by a 3-yard run from Iain Dick before Black again added the extra point. With the lead now more than 35 points, the running clock rule came into play and the final period passed without any further scoring.
East Kilbride now has a two week break before they travel to face Merseyside Nighthawks on May 21, where they will hope to continue the improvements seen against Coventry.
Game report by Bill Campbell
Photo courtesy Duncan Gray, Duncolm Photography
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