The Rams travelled north of the border on Sunday to take on the East Kilbride Pirates, arguably the best team in the Division One North, and came away with a respectful scoreline. Yorkshire lifted their game from the past few weeks and played well enough to hold the Pirates to just a 16-0 lead going into the fourth quarter.

As expected both teams took the first quarter with some caution and it was the defence that was on the field most with the majority of the action being around the halfway line or just inside Ram’s territory. Early in the second quarter Pirate’s Jon Sutherland had a TD disallowed on a penalty which gave Yorkshire a breather and the Ram’s defence plus Pirate’s penalties pushed the home side back and the visitor’s got the ball when Gaz Wild picked the ball when he intercepted Lee Fraser and returned it 32 yards to give his team a chance, but it was the turn of the Pirate’s ‘D’ to hold and forced the punt. Towards the end of the half danger man Sutherland got his team within a shot of scoring with some penetrating runs taking his team to Yorkshire’s 15 yard marker. Immediately after the two minute warning East Kilbride drew blood with a 15 yard pass from Fraser to Joshua Crass for the six. Graeme Murphy’s kick was good to take the Pirate’s in at the half 7-0 up.

The Pirates added two points at the start of the second half. With some more good runs by them they reached the Ram’s 5yard line with fourth down to go and went for it, Gareth Self stooped the run at the one yard spot but on Yorkshire’s first play, Justin Lester had nowhere to go and was brought down in the endzone for the safety. The Ram’s put themselves in good position at the kick off when the ball was bobbled by their receiver and he was flatted by a massive hit by Yorkshire’s Rob Parker and the ball was recovered deep in the Pirate’s half by Andy Hill. The chance was squandered though when Michael Smith got the interception to start a drive. Passes to Philip Moran moved the ball upfield with the Ram’s defence keeping them back on occasions, Ben Walsh receiving the MVP for an outstanding game, but the Pirates gradually got the score when Sutherland went in from the seven. Murphy added the kick to make it 16-0, which is how the game entered the fourth quarter.

The home team once again started driving the ball but the Ram’s defence, with every member playing well, pushed them back and they went for a field goal. The kick was unsuccessful and Ram’s gained possession at their own 20 yard line and started some good plays of their own but the Pirate’s defence were not to be outdone, linebacker Gary Chalmers being awarded an MVP by the Rams, and Yorkshire had to punt. With six minutes left on the clock Yorkshire were closing down on the Pirates with some more good plays but an overthrown pass was picked off and returned to the visitor’s 13 yard spot. A couple of plays later and Sutherland squirmed his way 11 yards for a contested score as the ball looked to have been knocked from his hands at the 1 yard line and bouncing into the endzone, but the points stood with Murphy adding the extra point again to make it 23 - 0. Yorkshire hit back on their next drive from the kick off when Simon Dewdney hit Justin Kirby who dodged two tackles to go 76 yards for the six for the scoreboard to read 23 - 6. Within the final couple of minutes the Ram’s had the ball and needed to keep the drive alive on fourth down to have a chance of scoring again but the pass was just inches too long for the reception and the ball was taken over by East Kilbride. As the game drew to a close Ian McGown added six for the Pirates when he went in from three yards and the game closed with another one pointer by Murphy to finish 30 - 6

Following this good outing by the Ram’s they take on Staffordshire Surge at home at the Ram Stadium, Dewsbury on Sunday 20th June, kick off 2:30 pm, hoping to gain their second win of the 2004 season.