While the Glasgow Tigers weren’t in action this weekend, there was plenty of American Football action around the country.
Four of our division rivals in the NFC1 North – Yorkshire Academy Rams, Gateshead Senators, Northumberland Vikings and Aberdeen Roughnecks – were in action.
We’ve taken a look at those games this weekend, with a view on how they impact the Tigers.
Aberdeen Roughnecks 3 Northumberland Vikings 7
Division-favourites the Vikings – who beat the Tigers 22-14 in the season opener – came away with the win after their longest away trip of the year.
Vikings man Jacob Shotton (23) came up big for the side this week (Photo: Michael Oakes)
The Vikings took an early lead when Quarterback Richie Howe connected with receiver Jacob Shotton for a 16 yard pass, before the receiver tacked on the extra point to make it 7-0 in the battle between north-east Scotland and north-east England.
The Roughnecks fought back and made it 7-3 with a second quarter field goal. That would prove to be the final score of the game, as a tough defensive battle meant a scoreless second half.
The win moves the Vikings on to 3-0 for the season, and gives them a two-game lead over Aberdeen in second place. East Kilbride Pirates have only played one game so far this year, and could tie things up with the Vikings in their forthcoming games.
Yorkshire Academy Rams 22 Gateshead Senators 6
After a tough start to the season, Yorkshire Academy Rams – who many fancied as a potential challenger to reigning champions Northumberland – scored their first touchdown, and with it, sealed their first win of 2019.
Rams man Keimar Stuart opened the scoring against Gateshead Senators (Photo: Richard Lundy)
Gateshead had a chance to take an early lead in the first quarter, but the Rams rose well to block the field goal attempt. The Rams then had a similar chance to make it 3-0, but a bad snap – a week after Tigers lineman Craig Begg blocked a field goal which would have been the opening score for the Rams – gave the ball back to Northumberland.
An action-packed first quarter was capped off by the Rams’ first touchdown of the year, as Keimar Stuart took it home before Chris Lawton scored on a two-point attempt to make it 8-0 to the Yorkshire side.
The Rams doubled their lead as the half-time whistle blew, with Luke Campbell scoring on a 32-yard run before Lawton converted the 2PT for the second time to make it 16-0.
In the second half, the Rams made that early advantage count as they added on another touchdown with Conor Robson scoring on a long run before the Rams’ third two-point try of the game was wiped out by a penalty, leaving the score at 22-0.
Former Tiger Nick Halfpenny kept the Rams in front with a key interception, and despite a second-half score from Gateshead after a fumble recovery, the Senators were unable to put more points on the board and the game finished 22-6.
The Rams first win moves them to 1-2 for the year, while Gateshead are still looking to pick up their first W at 0-2 for the year.
The Tigers are back in action with a road trip to Gateshead this Sunday. A win could move the Tigers up into second place in the table but with just a few games played this year, every team still has it all to play for.
Make sure and follow the Tigers on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest updates, plus scores and results from all our fixtures throughout the season.
