Pirates junior shut out Chorley Buccaneers
June 13th, 2017
Chorley Buccaneers 00 – East Kilbride Pirates 20
The Junior Pirates continued their unbeaten start to the season with a comfortable win in what was being called the “Swashbuckle Bowl”.
It was the visitors who got off to the perfect start. Jack Cochrane fielded the opening kick off and returned it fully 75 yards for a touchdown. Despite the 2-point conversion attempt failing, the Pirates had an immediate 6-0 advantage. Their Defence then gave Chorley an early warning of what was to come, when Mark Stewart sacked their quarterback on 3rd Down. Further sacks in the quarter by Craig Sanders and David Harvey curtailed any progress by the home side, but with the Pirates playing into a strong wind, there was no further scoring before the turn around.
Early in the 2nd Quarter, East Kilbride stretched their lead. A 7-play drive concluded with Sam Montgomerie passing to Fraser McDonald from the 5-yard line. Matthew Irvine successfully ran in the 2-pointer to make it 14-0. The Pirates’ next drive also brought a TD when Montgomerie kept the ball from the 1-yard line following a short drive. The conversion pass was incomplete, but that left a 20-0 advantage going into the second half.
With persistent rain now added to the windy conditions, the defenses on both teams started to take control. Sanders added two more sacks, while Chorley also got to Montgomerie, as well as picking off one of the QB’s passes which they returned to the EK 5-yard line. The resulting defensive stand pushed them back 20 yards and was indicative of how the game was flowing.
It was more of the same in the fourth quarter, with the offenses struggling in unhelpful conditions. Sanders was able to add his fourth sack of the day while Harvey got his second as the Pirates were happy to run out the clock and head home with the shut-out victory.
The Juniors’ next game is their first home fixture of the campaign, when they face Highland Wildcats at Hamilton Rugby Club on Sunday 25 June at 12pm. This will be part of a double-header, preceding the senior team’s game against Merseyside Nighthawks.
Report by Bill Campbell
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