The Hawks first home game of the season gave them the opportunity to rebound from their shock defeat at
Gateshead and pit themselves against perennial rivals Glasgow Tigers. This was always going to be a hard
fought game with both sides having strong defences and the theme of defensive domination was sure to be
continued.
The home side received the ball but Tigers defence refused to allow them to make a first down. Clyde Valley’s
defence responded in the same manner and this set the tone for the whole game. It was hardly a surprise that
the teams were deadlocked at 0 – 0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Hawks had the better field position throughout the first period with Tigers being forced to begin most of
their drives from inside their own twenty-yard line. In the second, Clyde Valley attempted to nudge ahead,
but a thirty-five yard field goal sailed wide right in the strong blustery wind. The deadlock was broken
shortly afterwards, when Hawk’s Ryan Rodgers caught the Glasgow quarterback in the end zone for a safety and
an opening two point score. The half expired with both teams continuing to play rugged defense with the
Hawks still ahead by the slender 2 – 0 margin.
The Clyde Valley defence continued to pile on the pressure in the third quarter when a Tigers pitch was
intercepted by Ryan McCabe who scampered twelve yards to the end zone for the 6 points. A swarming Tigers
defence blocked the attempted conversion kick and so kept themselves in the game at only 8 – 0 adrift.
Clyde Valley’s Blake Kyle gave the fans something to cheer in the fourth quarter when he sprinted twenty yards
on a tackle breaking run. But the cheer was short lived when the drive was halted with The Hawks fumbling the ball away
With time running out Glasgow went for it on fourth down and long, only to see the pass intercepted by Blake
Kyle who barrelled eighteen yards to the end zone to put the game beyond the Tigers. Due to a penalty the
Hawks twice had attempts to score the extra points but the Tigers closed in on the ball to prevent any
additional points and give the home side the honours by 14 - 0.
The game only served further notice that the Northern Conference is likely to be the most competitive of the
three this season, and as teams find their feet as the season develops it will be interesting to see who
eventually gets the upper hand.
