Culloden “Blitz” their way to Claymores Bowl V
With the increase in popularity in the sport of 5 on 5 Flag football in the Inverness area, The Claymores were glad to join forces with the highly successful Inverness Blitz Academy to host a northern qualifier for Claymores Bowl V. Claymores grassroots assistant Jim Burns said of the Blitz set-up and tournament organiser Robbie Paulin “ It’s testament to the enthusiasm and organisation up here that we can happily entrust an event like this to someone who’s still eligible to play youth football”  |
| Claymores’ Jim Burns keeps a close eye on proceedings, as Glenurquhart High try to get some offense going against eventual winners Culloden Academy. |
With schools eager to take up the opportunity of getting coaches from the Blitz Academy to come along and coach pupils in their schools, the initial quota of places was soon met, with teams being formed in Culloden Academy, Inverness Royal Academy, Fortrose Academy, Dingwall Academy, Glenurquhart High School and Lossiemouth High School.
The teams were split into two groups of three with the winner from each group going through to play-off for the place in the Claymores Bowl final. Group one featured the Moray Maniacs from Lossiemouth High School, Dingwall Academy Vikings and Fortrose Academy. The Moray Maniacs who were narrowly beaten in last years Claymores Bowl final were favourites to take this group and in the first game showed the form that had taken them so far before as they beat Fortrose 57 – 6, with Maniacs running back Innes Thomson making some long explosive runs and also some great catches. Jane Johnston of Fortrose picked up their points on a run play from deep in their own half.
In game 2 Fortrose recovered from the defeat to push local rivals Dingwall Academy Vikings and with only 5 minutes left in the game the Fortrose team were within 1 point thanks to some great play from Alex Goodwin who scored three touchdowns and Ciaran Seath with one, however an interception and a couple of good drives by the Vikings led by quarterback Kenneth Mackay gave them the game by 38 points to 25 with Vikings David Shand scoring 3 times and CJ Mackenzie twice. The final game in the group between the Moray Maniacs and Dingwall Academy Vikings would decide who would make it through to the final with both teams undefeated. It was the Moray Maniacs that took control from the start and stayed ahead throughout the game thanks to some great touchdowns from Karl Christie, Blair Laird and Innes Thomson, however the Dingwall Vikings did not led the Maniacs away with an easy win with CJ Mackenzie catching some deep passes.
The final brought together the Moray Maniacs and the Culloden Academy Cougars, the Maniacs took an early lead thanks to two touchdowns from Innes Thomson and one from Andrew Larke, but it was the Cougars who went in at half time ahead thanks to some strong running from Angus Mackintosh who ran in for two touchdowns, Daniel Boni scored on a passing play, and Josh Knox adding a forth touchdown to give the score at halftime Culloden 27 Moray 18. The second half saw the Cougars extend their lead when Thomas Grant caught a long pass and ran into the endzone, James Macmillan and Daniel Boni added another two, with Andrew Larke pulling one back for the Maniacs to give the final score Culloden Academy Cougars 45 Moray Maniacs 25.
31 Mar, 04 | 12:17 pm