On tour Pirates sink Senators
GATESHEAD SENATORS ................ 14 EAST KILBRIDE PIRATES ................ 53
A trip to the North East of England saw East Kilbride make it nine wins on the trot with a convincing performance against an under-strength Gateshead squad.
The Pirates almost got off to the perfect start when Andrew McBride returned the opening kick-off 80 yards, but was caught just eight-yards short of the endzone.
QB Neil Baptie quickly took advantage of the field position, finding David Fallon for a five-yard touchdown, which Greg Atkinson converted.
Gateshead’s reply saw them move into Pirates’ territory before having to settle for a 44-yard field goal attempt. The kick was blocked and recovered by EK, but they gave the ball back almost immediately on a fumble.
Later in the period, the Senators had possession and were driving into the ‘red zone’ as the quarter ended.
After a short run, Gateshead passer Lewis Taylor connected with his favourite target Cameron Grant and Grant also added the PAT to tie the scores.
Stung into action, the Pirates scored touchdowns on their next two possessions.
Firstly, Baptie ran the ball home from 12-yards before running back Ryan Strachan carried over from the same distance. Atkinson converted the second kick to leave EK 20-7 ahead.
The home side were not about to give up however, and Taylor again completed a scoring pass to Grant from seven-yards that he also converted.
EK had one last drive before the break and managed to add their third rushing touchdown of the quarter when Strachan scored from three-yards out. Atkinson’s PAT made it 27-14 at the half.
Some straight talking and minor adjustments during the interval saw EK take control in the second half. This, coupled with a tiring home side, led to four more touchdowns.
First was an unconverted touchdown following a 12-yard pass from Baptie to Liam McClory. Then, just before the turn around, Baptie found Fallon from nineyards and Atkinson’s kick was successful.
In the fourth quarter, Atkinson decided to show his running skills were a match for his kicking and he added two touchdowns on carries of 67 and 19 yards before converting the second to complete the scoring.
The OnPoint Financial MVP award was shared by Atkinson and Strachan for their hard-running performances.
East Kilbride now have a week off before they face Northumberland Vikings in a “winner-takes-all” contest.
That game on July 21 is at GHA Rugby Club, Braidholm Road, G46 6EB and kicks off at 3pm.