9th April 2001 - London O's 62-0 Bristol Aztecs

The London O’s opened their season at Southwark Park with a 62 point shut out against the Bristol Aztecs.

Afterwards, Coach Riq Ayub said, "It was great to start with a win. It was great to put those stories that we are slow starters behind us. Bristol kept their heads up and never gave up. They showed us a lot of different stuff, and all credit to them for their performance." Looking ahead to the game next week against La Courneuve Flash, Coach Ayub went on to say: "Taking nothing away from the Aztecs, but we have got to work a lot harder than that to beat our opponents next week."

First quarter

The O’s scoring started four plays into the game. Warren Keen running 26 yards to open the season for the O’s. Andy Boyle, starting his first game as a senior for the O’s, against his old team mates, slotted the PAT. Watch out for young Mr Boyle, you are going read his name often.

London O’s 7 Bristol Aztecs 0

The teams swaped three and outs before Bristol found themselves deep in their own half and punting for the second time in the game. Marco Fasulo burst through the line to knock the ball high in the air. So high that only one man was likely to catch it, Gary Thomas. Not only did Thomas catch the ball, he returned it for the five remaining yards of the field for the score. Andy Boyle kicked the PAT.

London O’s 14 Bristol Aztecs 0

Bristol struggled to sustain a drive in the face of fearsome hits from Tim Newton and Gary Thomas. After the punt, Junior Price passed to another debutante in an O’s senior jersey, Marvin Allen for the 37 yard TD reception. This was the first game for the former London O’s junior with footballing blood coursing through his veins, and his first catch for a TD is not a bad way to start. Andy Boyle kicked the PAT.

London O’s 21 Bristol Aztecs 0

Bristol now dug themselves deeper in the mire. Their next pass was picked off by the 2000 BritBowl MVP, Shola Goppy. Warren Keen ran strongly on the O’s subsequent drive leaving the O’s in good field position to end the quarter.

Second quarter

To open the quarter, another former O’s Junior, Aden Durde ran the 12 yards needed to trouble the scoreboard attendant. Andy Boyle kicked the PAT.

London O’s 28 Bristol Aztecs 0

It was not long before the O’s offense took to the field again following tough tackles by Collis Seale-McConnie, switching to the dark side of the ball this year, and stand out Damien Anderson. Junior Price kept his impressive afternoon going with passes to Tight End Adam Earle, returning to the O’s this year. A 15 yard Price scramble (in which he probably ran ten times that far), another more orthodox run by Roland Williams also of 15 yards and the team was within range of the end zone again. Junior Price hit Andy Boyle for a 25 yard Touchdown, which he calmly kicked through the uprights. Mutterings on the side line about "Mr Automatic" started to become more audible.

London O’s 35 Bristol Aztecs 0

The end of the half could not have come too quickly for the visitors. For Junior Price it could have gone on all afternoon as he was 100% complete for 82 yards from 5 passes including two TDs.

Third quarter

Bristol received the opening kick off, but a fumble forced by Damien Anderson and its recovery by former England Monarch, Francis Hatega gave the ball back to the O’s offense.

Junior Price had given way at QB to Stuart Franklin. A variety of plays was finished off by Roland Williams running for 27 yards and six points. Andy Boyle kicked the PAT. Was it too early for the growing whispers of "Mr Automatic" on the sideline?

London O’s 42 Bristol Aztecs 0

As Bristol tried to pass their way back into the game, the inevitable happened, Lance Knight intercepted a pass returning it 15 yards. The O’s offense took the field again and after a completion to Clive Palumbo and a runs from Warren Keen and Justin Oke, Stuart Franklin hit Clive Palumbo for the 9 yard scoring pass. A degree of boisterous celebrating put the kick back 15 yards and that was enough for us to write for the first time all afternoon, the kick failed.

London O’s 48 Bristol Aztecs 0

Effective pass defense by Lance Knight, and tackles by Sacha Conte and Max Ume-Ezeoke, saw Bristol still trying to mount a drive as the third quarter expired.

Fourth quarter

Bristol returned to the air and it did not pay off as Scott Rowe intercepted a pass returning it 30 yards. As if to emphasise their depth, the O’s third QB of the game took the field in the person of Dominic Dearman. With Justin Oke at running back, and with Dearman passing for 77 yards on 10 attempts, the O’s offense did not look too shabby. Unfortunately, by this time the effort was beginning to tell on the Aztecs. Aden Durde was the first to benefit, with a 10 yard run, Andy Boyle’s kick was good.

London O’s 55 Bristol Aztecs 0

When the O’s next had the ball, they played two of their rookies at running back, Robert Scotland and Alex Lee. Then Dominic Dearman hit veteran receiver Clive Palumbo for 23 yards and his second score of the game. The Andy Boyle kick was good.