The Titans Women’s team headed to Edinburgh on Saturday 3rd Feb to as the 2018 Sapphire Series got underway.  Once again competing in Division 1 North, the Titans are looking to improve on their 2nd place in 2017 in the top tier of Women’s American Football in the UK.  In the tournament format, two games awaiting against division rivals from last year, East Kilbride Pirates and Edinburgh Wolves.

Game 1 was against East Kilbride whom the Titans picked up two wins against last year.  They wasted little time in getting going in the new season, The Titans defence made a quick stop and the offense wasted no time getting on the board with a short drive as Sian Perry ran home the Titans first points of the year and Karis Smith adding the extra point.  The defence stood strong again and with Keely Edmonds running the ball as well, the Titans three-back-attack was in full force.   This time Karis Smith found the endzone.

The next score was by the Titans but this time the defence, Ellie Partington finding herself recovering a fumble in the Pirates endzone for the TD, Smith again adding the extra points.  The Titans repeated the feat on their next drive, this time Eloise Walsh with the Touchdown and the Titans led 27-0 at the break.

The second half started with Sian Kersse joining the running back attack, Kersse driving downfield before Edmonds ran in her first ever TD to extend the Titans lead.  The Titans D then added their third score of the game, this time Emma Jones finding herself in the endzone.  The offense added further scores, Perry added a second with Kersse catching the extra point before Kersse ran home a touchdown of her own.   Then after Vicky Mills had recovered the Titans 4th turnover Edmonds ran in another touchdown.   There was time for another TD from Kersse to leave the final score 63-0 to the Titans.

The second game was against an Edinburgh team the Titans had tied 6-6 with in 2017.  Edinburgh started strong, a long run by their scrambling QB set up short yardage and Edinburgh drove the ball home, the Titans D stopped the XP and Edinburgh led 6-0.   The game then followed a similar pattern to the 2-17 encounter with both defences getting on top and neither offence able to move the ball.  Not until the Titans 3rd drive that they got moving, after facing 3rd and long from their own 1 yard line Perry and then Smith scrambled for the first down.  Kersse moved the ball into range before strong blocking from the Titans Oline opened a gap and Perry was able to run home untouched from 12 yards out.  The XP was added by Smith and the Titans led.

The Titans D continued their great form and extended the lead on the next drive forcing an Edinburgh safety to give the Titans a 9-7 half time lead.

Looking to take control the Titans O duly delivered; Smith, Edmonds and Kersse pounded the ball to the left, to the right and then up the middle as Smith ended a long drive as the Titans O-line ran the wedge home from 1 yard out and Kersse added the XP.   More of the same on the next Titans drive as Edmonds ran 25 yards and Kersse was not to be denied, dragging defenders over the line.  Smith added the XP.

Looking to ice the game the Titans D then did more than that, nothing their 4th touchdown of the game as Roz Breaks picked off the Edinburgh QB and sprinted into the endzone, much to the delight of her teammates to give the Titans a 29- victory and the perfect start of 2 wins from 2 games.