This game saw the welcome return of Lancashire Wolverine Colts after an absence of a few years. This was always going to be a difficulty game for them as the Hawks outfit has more experience, while the Colts are young and in the building stage.

The home side started well marching forty-two yards up field before fumbling the ball on the Wolverines eight-yard line. The visitors’ linebacker Ross Barrow was the most alert and recovered the ball to give the Lancashire its first possession. Two plays later they were two points down thanks first to a Kris Henderson sack, with the same player being helped by David Orr and Blake Kyle as the threesome downed quarterback David Ramsden in his own end zone.

Blake Kyle took the ensuing kick off back for forty yards, and the Hawks power running offense ground the visitors down allowing Hawks’ quarterback Alan Harrison sneak over from two yards out to increase the lead to 8 – 0. Thomas Carroll got a hand to the conversion attempt to keep the Wolverines still in the game. Possession soon returned to the Hawks when the kick off was fumbled and recovered by Ryan Rodgers. This time the Lancashire defence stepped up with Carroll stripping the ball and Khalid Afzal recovering the fumble to keep the lead pegged at 8 – 0 at the end of the first quarter.

At the start of the second period Clyde Valley increased their advantage when Graeme Macmillan scooted in from five yards out. A low snap prevented the conversion attempt being kicked but the Hawks had eased out to 14 – 0 lead. A Ben Musio fumble recovery gave the Hawks another opportunity but the Wolverine defense were beginning to find their feet and forced the opposition to turn over the ball on downs perilously close to the Wolverine goal line. The home side promptly boosted their score by a further two when they notched their second safety of the day through Karl McCran, leaving the fledgling Colts 16 – 0 adrift. The power and strength of the Hawks was beginning to tell. Karl McCran rumbled sixteen yards to the Wolverines three-yard line leaving Kyle Blake to step into the end zone to score on the next play. With another poor snap preventing the extra point kick the Hawks had a healthy 22 – 0 lead at the end of the half.

The third quarter saw the Lancashire outfit gain their first down of the day, throw an interception and then recover a fumble as they fought to bridge the gap. McCran, who had an outstanding game, finally dashed the hopes of the Wolverines, clawing in a stray pass and dashing into the end zone from twenty-two yards away.

Ryan McCabe began his eighteen birthday celebrations early with a fourth quarter one yard scoring dive and with David Orr slotting home the extra two points the Hawks completed a good afternoon’s work.

While the victory gives Clyde Valley every chance of taking their regular and well deserved slot in the play offs, the Wolverines can take a great deal from the game. Their defense is solid and when given a length of field to defend prove they can do it. In Khalid Afzal and Carl Rugen they have fine hard-hitting defenders. Rugen alone managed ten tackles, one assist and a sack in his first outing. Not a bad way to start in youth football. The Wolverines will improve over the course of the season and providing they listen to their coaches will be a serious threat to anyone next year. History proves the Wolverines do not produce bad sides.