Late Phoenix Comeback Stuns Pirates

June 12th, 2025

Coventry Phoenix 28 – East Kilbride Pirates 28

A tied game is relatively rare in American Football, but for the second year in a row, these teams have finished all-square. The draw better suited Coventry and EK’s play-off hopes are no longer in their own hands.

The game got off to an inauspicious start for the Pirates. They were quickly forced to punt, and Rory Kay’s kick was charged down by the home side. Coventry’s first play drew a Pass Interference call, leaving the ball at EK’s 11-yard line. Running back Bami Olupona powered home and Aaron Jones added the conversion. The Pirates next possession also ended in a turnover, although this time they had made it deep into Phoenix territory before Cameron Dunn’s pass was picked off. Coventry couldn’t take advantage and soon were forced to punt. The Pirates duly got back on level terms just three plays later when Dunn went downfield to Struan Bailey, who headed for the endzone, side-stepping two home defenders on the way. Kay added the PAT to make it 7-7 and the score stayed that way for the remainder of the period.

On their first drive of the Quarter, Coventry moved the ball from their own 20, into Pirates’ territory and then another PI call took the ball to EK’s 8-yard line. From there, QB George Hatfield connected with Aaron Jones who also converted his own TD to restore the lead for Coventry. Not to be outdone, East Kilbride moved the ball steadily upfield all the way to the Phoenix 2-yard line before Dunn carried home and Kay converted to level things up once more. The Pirates then quickly got their noses in front. Having forced the home side to punt after a 3-and-out, it took just two plays to go ahead. Dunn’s first pass fell incomplete, but on the second he found his target in Fraser McDonald who raced home for a 63-yard TD. With long-snapper Lewis Smith having been injured on the previous conversion, EK went for a 2-point conversion. Dunn looked to have run the ball home, but was ruled down just short of the line.

At the start of the second half there was a period where both sides were forced to punt before EK eventually stretched their lead on the fourth possession of the period. On 3^rd-and-6, Dunn pump faked to freeze the defence then passed to McDonald who dragged two defenders into the en  dzone with him. Dunn successfully ran in the 2PAT this time and the Pirates now held a two score lead. Late in the Quarter, yet another PI penalty gave Coventry great field position and they capitalised when Hatfield found Rhys Parfitt in the back corner of the endzone. Jones’ PAT was wide left, leaving EK ahead by 8 points as the game moved into the final period.

On the first play of Q4, Ker Stuart picked off a Hatfield pass, but EK failed to make any progress and had to punt. The same happened on their next possession, but this time around, the kick was blocked by Daniel Shodipo who also recovered and returned it for a TD. With the score now at 26-28, the Phoenix had to go for the 2PAT, and Hatfield managed to run the ball home, despite being forced wide. The Pirates did their best to respond, and marched the ball all the way to Coventry’s 12-yard line. On 4th-and-short Dunn ran the ball and seemed to have passed the line to gain before fumbling the ball out of play. However, he was ruled to have fumbled before making the necessary yardage and the ball was turned over on Downs. Neither side was able to string together any momentum thereafter and the game fizzled out to a 28-28 draw. The Pirates’ Jack Daniels Gameday MVP award going to Fraser McDonald, not only for his two TD’s, but some fine blocking on running plays to help his team mates gain yards.

East Kilbride now have three games left and must win all three and hope that other results go in their favour elsewhere. First up is a visit to Newcastle Vikings on Sunday (June 15^th). The game is at Druid Park and kicks off at 3pm.

Report by Bill Campbell

Share this article