Reigning National Champions, Clyde Valley Hawks suffered their first defeat in over two years as close rivals, North Lanarkshire Rams, finally downed them is a hard fought pulsating game that was a triumph for British youth football.

In the initial stages both sides forced a succession of turnovers. Ram's John Heron gathered in a wayward pitch out only for the Hawks to strike back when Lee Collins stripped the ball for Alistair Longford to recover. North Lanarkshire mounted their next drive behind some powerful running from Adam Donaldson but once again Clyde Valley took the ball back through an Andy Reynolds' interception only for the Rams to regain possession when Adam Donaldson fell on a Hawks fumble. The incident packed and enthralling first period drew to a 0 - 0 close.

The Rams went back to their ground game in the second with Donaldson making two tackle breaking runs from twenty-one and sixteen yards to set up his own two yard scramble for the opening score. The extra point was missed to leave the Rams with a 6 - 0 edge. Both teams then traded possession before Hawks Glen Chapman intercepted a wayward pass only for the visitors to still fail to make any impression. With one possession left in the half, Hawks lost yards when firstly Rams' Greg McIntyre sacked the Quarterback, then Steven Main and Blair McTague combined to down him for a second time. So the home side clung tenaciously to their slender advantage as the half closed.

The Hawks clawed their way back in the third when, on their second possession of the quarter, Andy Reynolds barrelled over from the four-yard line. The two point after attempt went wide left leaving the sides tied at 6 - 6. The teams continued to exchange possession for the rest of the quarter as defenses refused to give an inch in this titanic battle.

North Lanarkshire regained their lead on the first play of the final quarter when Donaldson sprinted 31 yards to the end zone. Paul McGovern slotted the extra points to stretch the advantage out to 14 - 6. With time becoming a factor Chapman recovered a muffed punt attempt on the Rams two-yard line and Hann dived in for the score. This time the kick drifted wide right to leave the defending National Champions still two points adrift and unable to bridge the gap.