Despite winning their first two games without conceding a point, East Kilbride have recently found themselves under the microscope of the game’s pundits who were suggesting that the Pirates had peaked and were no longer the force they had been in recent years. This only served to add further determination to the squad as they prepared to take on one of the other unbeaten teams in the Premier North division.
East Kilbride received the opening kick-off and an impressive return by Aaron Paterson gave them good field position. On the first play from scrimmage, running back Iain Dick broke free and raced 54 yards to the endzone. Mark Murphy kicked the conversion and the home side were 7-0 ahead with only seconds played. The Defense were equally fired up and forced Doncaster to punt after only three plays. A six play drive ensued, combining the rushing talents of Dick and quarterback Ryan Hunter before the latter finished it with a 14-yard scoring run. Murphy converted for a second time to extend the lead to 14-0. Again the Mustangs couldn’t generate any response and were forced to punt. However, the kick was blocked by Mark Murphy and EK regained possession deep in Doncaster territory. Two plays later, Neil Baptie, now in at Quarterback, carried home from 4 yards before Murphy once more tagged on the extra point.
The home side continued to dominate and took just two plays to get the ball back, with Aaron Paterson snaring an interception and returning it to the Mustangs 3-yard line. An Offensive Pass Interference call pushed the Pirates back temporarily, but they made up the lost yardage before adding a fortuitous touchdown. Baptie was tackled short of the goal-line and the ball was jarred loose on impact, but it fell straight into the hands of Iain Dick who scored instead. Murphy’s conversion made it 28-0 and the Pirates were well in control before the first period had ended.
At the start of the second quarter Doncaster finally started to show some resilience. QB Graham Lightfoot connected with wide receiver Martyn Lee for a 38-yard gain that took them to the EK 1-yard line. The same duo connected on the next play to record the first touchdown conceded by the Pirates in 2013. A muffed snap on the extra point saw the Yorkshiremen try for a 2-point conversion but it was unsuccessful, leaving them trailing by 28-6. East Kilbride were forced to punt on their next possession, but soon got the ball back when Paterson picked off a stray pass for the second time.
Again the home side capitalised on the turnover and Baptie passed to Mark Murphy who caught the ball in stride before completing a 71-yard touchdown. The fact that Murphy missed the resultant conversion is unlikely to have spoiled his delight at adding another 6 points. In response, the Mustangs put together a long drive, aided by no fewer than four Defensive penalties, before Lightfoot passed to Tim Darracott from short yardage. An attempted 2-point conversion was repelled, making the score 34-12. East Kilbride had one more drive before the interval and this one was rounded off with a 14-yard run by Jamie Welsh plus an extra point by Murphy. Doncaster had one last possession but a Scott Findlay interception brought that, and the first half, to a satisfactory conclusion.
Perhaps inevitably, the pace decreased after the interval, and the sides traded field position for the first part of the third period. Eventually though it was the home team who scored again. Good running from Dick and Welsh moved the ball to the 5-yard line before Dick added his third touchdown of the day. Paterson, who was also having a prolific game, got the ball back with his third interception and although there was no score on this occasion, East Kilbride were again knocking at the door. Their next drive saw Baptie complete a 36-yard pass to Ryan McCluskey, and the receiver now in his third spell with the Club, notched his first ever Pirates’ touchdown. Murphy’s conversion was blocked and the scoring was complete at 53-12. The only significant events in the final quarter were a fourth interception for Paterson, a single game record for the Pirates. The other was less savoury, with linebacker Kris Henderson suffering a broken fibula. Everyone at the Pirates wish him a speedy recovery.
Next up for the Pirates is a trip to Blackburn to face the Lancashire Wolverines on June 16.
Report by Bill Campbell
East Kilbride received the opening kick-off and an impressive return by Aaron Paterson gave them good field position. On the first play from scrimmage, running back Iain Dick broke free and raced 54 yards to the endzone. Mark Murphy kicked the conversion and the home side were 7-0 ahead with only seconds played. The Defense were equally fired up and forced Doncaster to punt after only three plays. A six play drive ensued, combining the rushing talents of Dick and quarterback Ryan Hunter before the latter finished it with a 14-yard scoring run. Murphy converted for a second time to extend the lead to 14-0. Again the Mustangs couldn’t generate any response and were forced to punt. However, the kick was blocked by Mark Murphy and EK regained possession deep in Doncaster territory. Two plays later, Neil Baptie, now in at Quarterback, carried home from 4 yards before Murphy once more tagged on the extra point.
The home side continued to dominate and took just two plays to get the ball back, with Aaron Paterson snaring an interception and returning it to the Mustangs 3-yard line. An Offensive Pass Interference call pushed the Pirates back temporarily, but they made up the lost yardage before adding a fortuitous touchdown. Baptie was tackled short of the goal-line and the ball was jarred loose on impact, but it fell straight into the hands of Iain Dick who scored instead. Murphy’s conversion made it 28-0 and the Pirates were well in control before the first period had ended.
Iain Dick carries the ball for the Pirates offence. Courtesy of Duncan Gray
At the start of the second quarter Doncaster finally started to show some resilience. QB Graham Lightfoot connected with wide receiver Martyn Lee for a 38-yard gain that took them to the EK 1-yard line. The same duo connected on the next play to record the first touchdown conceded by the Pirates in 2013. A muffed snap on the extra point saw the Yorkshiremen try for a 2-point conversion but it was unsuccessful, leaving them trailing by 28-6. East Kilbride were forced to punt on their next possession, but soon got the ball back when Paterson picked off a stray pass for the second time.
Again the home side capitalised on the turnover and Baptie passed to Mark Murphy who caught the ball in stride before completing a 71-yard touchdown. The fact that Murphy missed the resultant conversion is unlikely to have spoiled his delight at adding another 6 points. In response, the Mustangs put together a long drive, aided by no fewer than four Defensive penalties, before Lightfoot passed to Tim Darracott from short yardage. An attempted 2-point conversion was repelled, making the score 34-12. East Kilbride had one more drive before the interval and this one was rounded off with a 14-yard run by Jamie Welsh plus an extra point by Murphy. Doncaster had one last possession but a Scott Findlay interception brought that, and the first half, to a satisfactory conclusion.
Neil Baptie connected with his receivers for a couple of touchdowns. Courtesy of Duncan Gray
Perhaps inevitably, the pace decreased after the interval, and the sides traded field position for the first part of the third period. Eventually though it was the home team who scored again. Good running from Dick and Welsh moved the ball to the 5-yard line before Dick added his third touchdown of the day. Paterson, who was also having a prolific game, got the ball back with his third interception and although there was no score on this occasion, East Kilbride were again knocking at the door. Their next drive saw Baptie complete a 36-yard pass to Ryan McCluskey, and the receiver now in his third spell with the Club, notched his first ever Pirates’ touchdown. Murphy’s conversion was blocked and the scoring was complete at 53-12. The only significant events in the final quarter were a fourth interception for Paterson, a single game record for the Pirates. The other was less savoury, with linebacker Kris Henderson suffering a broken fibula. Everyone at the Pirates wish him a speedy recovery.
Iain Dick completed a hat trick of touchdowns in the third quarter. Courtesy of Adam Oliver Photography.
Next up for the Pirates is a trip to Blackburn to face the Lancashire Wolverines on June 16.
Report by Bill Campbell
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