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Glasgow Tigers 24 Manchester Titans 46
Blistering heat and a 300 strong crowd greeted the
two teams in this crucial game in the BAFL 2 North play-off race.
Coming off the back of three straight wins it
was Glasgow’s offense that struck first.
Well drilled and running some unique plays they first ran the ball home
and then passed their way to an early 12-0 lead.
Manchester struck straight back through prolific rookie back
Anthony Bingham who broke free and went seventy yards for a score.
Into the second quarter Manchester drew level,
quarterback Keith Strahan found receiver Rik Lowthien in the corner to level
the scoring at 12-12, with neither team being able to find a conversion.
Unfortunately at this point the game was
delayed for over an hour as Glasgow player was taken to hospital with a nasty
looking neck injury, early reports from the Glasgow team were that the injury
was not serious and he was later discharged to travel home with the team.
The decision was taken to take half time early, and
the game restarted with six minutes left in the second quarter.
It was Glasgow who caught the Titans defense
napping and moved quickly downfield, to run the ball in from close range to
regain the lead.
Manchester hit back
immediately as from the kick off, Phil “crazy hands” Walldecker returned seventy
five yards for the touchdown.
This time
kicker Anthony Bingham was on target and the Titans went ahead for the first
time 19-18.
With half-time being short lived the third quarter
kicked off immediately, Glasgow received and looked to again hit the Titans
defense, but after a poor first half showing the Titans D stepped up and got
the first of what would be six second half sacks.
After a Glasgow punt it was on the next drive Anthony Bingham
broke free and went seventy two yards for his second touchdown of the game, he
then kicked the point after to give the Titans a 26-18 lead at the end of the
third quarter.
The fourth quarter would prove to be high
scoring.
First Manchester extended
their lead when Strahan found receiver Shaq Mussa with a thirty six yard pass
for a score.
Both defenses then forced
turnovers and it was Glasgow who ultimately prospered from good field position,
a pass into the corner to give then first and goal and a quarterback sneak saw
them score from one yard out, to make the score 32 – 24.
The Titans came out looking to kill the game off
and did just that, Strahan again found received Shaq Mussa, this time for a forty
two yard touchdown and then found Phil Walldecker for the two point conversion.
The Titans defense then came out and got two
sacks and turned the ball over.
With
the clock running down rookie running back Dave Barnett, in only his second
game out of the youth team went fifty eight yards with his first carry to
finalize the scoring at Manchester Titans 46 – 24 Glasgow Tigers.
Special mention to the Titans defense who have
racked up 24 sacks now this season, and to the offense that rushed for 374
yards, backs Timothy Barton and Anthony Bingham sharing the lions share of
these yards.