1st June 2008

East Kilbride Pirates 12 (6:00:6:00)
Coventry Jets 46 (16:22:00:8)

A tough second game saw the Pirates heavily defeated despite a spirited performance in a day of constant rain in Hamilton.

The Jets Jeremy Simms opened the scoring with QB Michelena splitting the safeties for a 64 yard touchdown, converted with a further 2 points by a Joe Black. Not a team to roll over, however, the Pirates added to their playoff credentials with an immediate reply, quarterback Darryn Trainor leading a strong offensive series culminating in a 16 yard touchdown strike to Lee Collins.

However, in almost a carbon copy of the first touchdown the Jets QB found WR David Sonne. Black again was the recipient on the two point conversion stretching the lead to 10 for the visitors. 

After a Mark Murphy punt left the Jets pinned down on their 15 yard line and with the Pirates looking to cash in with a safetly, Michelena found some space along the left sideline and outran everyone to score with an 85 yard run before finding Simms for the 2 point conversion. Jets WR Mark Cohen then got the first of his 2 touchdowns on a 7 yard reception in the corner of the endzone. Kofi Campbell added the 2 pt conversion.

With the downpour showing no signs of letting up, ball security was becoming an increasing concern and Jets DB Dave Cowen was the recipient of a rare errant Trainor pass, beginning a drive from which the Jets scored on a 33 yard touchdown pass to give a 38-6 halftime lead.s

Turnovers blighted the second period; Coventry turned the ball over 5 times including allowing a 62 yard interception return when Pirates linebacker Steven Kane leapt like a Salmon and showed his deceptive pace all the way to the endzone to give the Pirates hope of a comeback. The point after kick was blocked, however the score spurred the Pirates on and they would have added a further six points, but for a last gasp tackle on TE Mark Murphy at the goal line, jarring the ball loose for the Jets to recover.

The Jets completed a solid performance with Cohen grabbing a 23 yard touchdown reception from backup QB Neil Balthazaar who then found Sonne on the conversion to finish the scoring at 46-12.

A tough game for Scotland's Number One team, but with some strong individual performances, the Pirates took heart and live to fight another day.

25th May 2008

East Kilbride Pirates 34 (15:00:6:13)
Gateshead Senators 8(00:00:8:00)

Starting the season by playing Gateshead is becoming somewhat of a tradition for the Pirates and with losses for the last two years, they were keen to turn the tide on their Tyneside foes.

Things started extremely well for Scotland's Number One team as they scored on their first drive of the game with an 11-play drive culminating with Rookie Blake Kyle, formerly of the Clyde Valley Hawks, rushing for his first senior touchdown. A high snap from Centre Rab Beveridge made the PAT kick impossible but quick thinking holder Ryan Hunter recovered in time to tuck the ball away and run it into the corner for a 8-0 lead.

The Senators were snuffed out on their first Offensive drive as they were for most of the afternoon and the Pirates, now moving through the gears, capitalised on good field position by running in their second score of the day after a 10-play drive, again in the hands of Kyle. Steven Wilson kicked the PAT giving the Pirates a 15-0 margin at the end of Q1.

Q2 was a more subdued affair with the Pirates coming off the boil and the Senators failing to make much headway on the Scottish side. The half ended 15-0 and looked much more like the kinds of neck-and-neck encounters the two teams have enjoyed in past seasons.

The second half started slowly, however a moment of inspiration saw Pirates 2007 MVP Running Back Craig Towler remind the spectators why he took the crown last year. After a run for a loss, followed by an incomplete pass, Towler received a pass from veteran QB Darryn Trainor, tucked in behind LT Stuart Gallagher and LG Neale McMaster on a screen play and broke up the sideline for an 75 yard score. Undoubtedly the highlight of the day for the watching fans.

The Senators then mounted a long drive, broken up by penalties against the Pirates Defense which culminated in a TD and was followed by a 2PAT reception with the Pirates caught napping.

Luckily, despite this stutter, the Scots regained their composure in the final quarter and tightened the screw with two drives of 7 and 6, both culminating in scores from close range. Firstly FB Lee Collins bundled the ball over for his first ever Pirates score and finally QB Trainor capped off a fine afternoon with a QB sneak, converted by Wilson for a 26 point winning margin.