Wolves Revenge

11 May 2010

The Highland Wildcats lost away to the Edinburgh Wolves on Saturday 8^th May.  The return game against Edinburgh was to see the home team run out winners on this occasion.  Things started out well for Highland winning the toss and electing to receive the ball, after returning the ball 10 yards, the Highland Wildcats started with a play that gave them 32yards placing them 1^st & 10 on the Edinburgh’s 22yard line. Unfortunately the Edinburgh defence stood up to the offensive onslaught and on the fourth down Highland missed the chance to take the lead, missing a field goal, from then on it was a game of who could punt the ball the furthest on fourth down.  However, on one promising drive Highland new player Anthony Walkine rushed 37yards only to be called back by the officials.  The 1^st half was dominated by the defences of both teams none more so, than when the Highlanders were defending their goal line, Highland players Norbert Ferenc and Lewis MacDonald getting several good tackles against the Edinburgh Offence to deny the Home team a touchdown, forcing Edinburgh to try for a field goal, that they too missed, ending the half 0-0.

Highland were on the offensive at the start of the second half but again were forced to punt on fourth down. The game carried on like this until Edinburgh found a deep pass to their receiver and blew the Highlanders defence apart to run it in for the first touchdown of the game, the Home side duly converted the extra point and found themselves 7-0 up.  It wasn’t long before they scored again, when they intercepted a pass from Highland Quarterback Kenny Mackay, and ran it in for the Touchdown, again Edinburgh converted the extra point.   With the Highlanders now 14 points behind it looked as though they may be on the wrong side of the revenge that Edinburgh was so desperate to exact after their season opening defeat to the Highlanders only two weeks previous.  However, the Highlanders worked on their attack and worked their way up the field stretching the Edinburgh defence.  Mackay found Wide receiver Scott Milligan with a 27 yard pass for Highlands first Touchdown of the game and Highland Kicker, Martin Devlin converted the extra point.  The Highlanders were now pushing to catch up and with a strong showing from their Defence on Edinburgh’s nest drive, they were coming back into the game.  After a good punt from Edinburgh, Highland found themselves deep in their own Red Zone.  With Edinburgh keeping an eye on Milligan and expecting a deep pass, the ball was handed to Walkine who then embarked on a magnificent 83 yard run for Highlands second Touchdown, unfortunately the extra point was missed and Highland found themselves trailing by one point.  As time was running down Edinburgh managed to find the End Zone to stretch the lead to 20-13, however instead of going for the extra point they played a fake field goal and managed to squeeze into the End Zone for a two point conversion.  With time running out Highland were unable to convert their next drive into points and the game ended Edinburgh Wolves 22 Highland Wildcats 13.

After the game coach MacRae said “We expected to come here and have a hard game, as we were sure that Edinburgh were looking for revenge after we beat them in the first game, we were unfortunate after coming from two Touchdowns behind”.  I’m sure the players will learn from this and we’re all looking forward to the trip to Chester next Sunday, where, hopefully we can get back to winning ways”