East Kilbride Pirates v Cambridgeshire Cats: #13 Neil Batpie hopes it's 13th year lucky in British final

East Kilbride Pirates’ number 13 is hoping the stars align to deliver the British Division One title in his 13th year with the club.

Quarterback Neil Baptie has led the Pirates to Sunday’s Britbowl final against Cambridgeshire Cats and victory in London would cap quite a turnaround in fortunes for the team in recent years.

You have to go back to 2011 for the last time the Pirates tasted success in a British final, a stage when Baptie was playing understudy to Ryan Hunter on the roster.

Fast-forward 11 years and Baptie has already emulated Hunter by winning the Conference title this season, but he hopes to add to that by claiming the club’s second British title this weekend.

Number 13 may be unlucky for some, but Baptie hopes success is written in the stars for the Pirates when he dons his favourite figure once again in Sunday’s clash.

The 33-year-old – the son of former Falkirk, Motherwell and Hamilton footballer Crawford – said: “This is my 13th year, funnily enough, and I certainly hope it’s a lucky omen for me.

“I’ve been into tattoos and tattoo culture for years and 13 is always a lucky number in that circle.

“The team never had a 13 when I arrived and when it came to ordering the new jerseys one season, I asked for it and I’ve always held onto it since then. So we’ll see what happens.

“We beat Leicester in the Conference final the other week there, the same team we beat in the 2011 Britbowl final, so there’s that as well.

“For me personally, it was a big goal to get to a final. Ryan Hunter did it before me and that 2011 season was his height, so when I was succeeding him at the club a good few years ago, it was always the goal for me to win a championship with the team.

“Being able to do that now in my 13th year,