The game was televised in highlights on the ORF (National Austrian TV) both late on Saturday night and again at lunchtime on Sunday with an hour long programme showing the best of the action and both pre-game and post game interviews.

This was the Knights second venture into Europe and saw them return to Austria where the standard of football is much higher than that in Britain and the Guildford based team knew that they had a tough game on their hands as well as coping with the rigours of the long journey to Vienna.   

The Dragons kicked off to the Knights and the visitors put together an impressive first drive that saw 9 plays move them 43 yards to the Dragons 16 yard line from where Jon Wyse kicked a 33yard Field Goal for an early Knights 0-3 lead.

The Dragons attempt to respond was abruptly halted after a quick 3 plays and out series that saw Jay Cashman and Chris McIver stopping WR P Eidherr 2 yards short of first down yardage on a reception from American QB Brent Luebke. The Dragons - fearful of the Knights returners - punted 15yards out of bounds and the visitors took over on their own 39yard line.

The Knights moved the ball well on the ground with both Tony Stitt and Kingsley Ejiogu gaining good yardage but two crucial penalties (a factor that was to eventually contribute to the Knights downfall) meant that despite an Ashley Heath connection of 11yards to John Barclay on third down the Knights were forced to punt the ball away.

John Wyse kicked to star Austrian Receiver Tomas Oberzeller who fumbled the ball - the Knights special teamers jumped on the opportunity and the Knights had great field position at the Dragons 25 yard line.

The unusual experience of playing in a Stadium in front of a noisy crowd with a booming PA System then became a factor for the British team. An audible at the line of scrimmage to change the play called was not heard by all of the Knights offense - in the confusion that followed the Knights fumbled the ball and the Dragons recovered to even up the turnover score.

The Dragons also made the turnover hurt all the more with two huge plays to their first touchdown. First Brent Luebke took off on a 31yard option play run before being forced out of bounds. Then he took to the air and gave Oberzeller the opportunity to redeem himself as he reeled in a 37 yard pass despite close attention from the Knights Defensive Backs. Schubert added the extra point attempt and the lead exchanged hands at 7-3.

Keith Theobald returned the Kick Off 9yds to the Knights 43yd line as the Dragons again avoided the Knights kick return specialists with a short kick. tony Stitt carried the load for the Knights and impressed as he moved the ball to the Dragons 35yd line behind the blocking of the Knights O Line. The Knights then went back to the air to maintain balance on a 1st and five following a home team penalty, unfortunately the pass was intercepted by R Mikula who returned it 21yds before being brought down by Jon Wyse.

The Dragons however lost a yard on the next three plays and were forced to punt. this time Kuen boomed the kick high 32yds downfield to Chris McIver. tremendous blocking gave him the opportunity to get the return underway and then set up further blocks to leave him one on one with the kicker, a neat shoulder fake saw him in the clear and scoring on a 79yd return for a Touchdown. Jon Wyse added the extra point and the Knights regained the lead 7-10.

The Dragons took over as the second quarter began and turned to the running of their star back Christian Ully. After two good gains Luebke kept the ball himself to break into Knights territory and then kept the ball again for another Dragons first down. Tony Mackenzie was on fine form and the Dragons decided to counter away from him with S Scharinger on the next run - he met cornerback Marvin Jimerson who both caused and recovered a fumble to even up the turnover count at 2-2.

The Knights went back to their ground game and moved the ball confidently with Tony Stitt, Kingsley Ejiogu and Marc Saunders carrying the load. after two first downs the Knights found themselves at 3rd and 2 on the Dragons 17yd line and Ashley Heath followed Luebke's lead by keeping the ball himself for a first down at the Dragons 13yd line. The Knights first run saw Tony Stitt caight for a loss of 2yds before he regained that ground on the next carry. Heath's pass on third and long was incomplete and the Knights were forced to settle for three as Wyse again converted this time from 29yds. Knights lead 7-13.

Wyse drove the kick off deep into Dragons territory and John Barclay streaked in to bring down Bacher on the return at the home teams 15yd line. Despite good clock management by Luebke the Dragons had too far to go in the remaining time and the Knights went into the break with the 6 point lead.

The Knights had held the ball for 17 minutes in the first half restricting the dragons to just 7 minutes of possesion. Despite not scoring a touchdown offensively the British team were in control - but the second half was to bring a complete reversal of that situation.

Wyse boomed the restarting kick deep into Dragon territory and this time it was Stuart Clackson that brought Bacher down at the 14yd line.

Christian Ully picked up 2 yards on first down, Luebke then saw two passes fall incomplete and the Dragons were forced to punt. The Knights Special Teams triumphed again as Tony Mackenzie burst through the puntwers protection to block the kick which he then recovered at the Dragons 31yd line.

The Knights sought to take a grip on the game through the ground game but three successive runs could only yield 4yds and they brough on Wyse again for his third successful Field Goal attempt from 37yds out. the Knights led the the turnover count at 3-2 and the game by 7-16.

The Knights Special teams were in impressive form and Bacher found no better fortune with the next return as Rob Camplin brought him down after a 12 yd return at the Dragons 30yd line.

The home team then embarked on a drive that took 6 minutes off the clock and could probably be identified as the turning point in the visitors fortunes.

Luebke and Ully carried the load on 7 further rushing plays to Luebke's 2yd touchdown scamper. Schubert kicked the extra point and the Knights saw their lead sliced to 14-16.

The Knights next drive took up the remaining 2 minutes of the quarter with Kingsley Ejiogu breaking a 10yd run before the Dragons forced the Knights to punt - the snap beat Wyse however and he recovered enough to throw incomplete and leave the ball at the Dragons 42yd line.

The Dragons started the drive by pounding Ully at the Knights for 4 straight runs - after intial success Chris Cooke held him to a yard and then Chris McIver brought him down after an option pitch for a loss of that yard to bring up 3rd down and 10. The Knights had the chance for a vital stop but Ully came umarked out of the backfield to pick up a first down on a 20yd reception from Luebke.Ully lost 6yds on the next play and a further yard on second down to see the Dragons back in a hole at 3rd and 17. Luebke's pass was complete to Eidherr but he was still 4yds short and the Dragons faced 4th and 4 at the Knights 15yd line.

Dragons Head Coach Tino von Eckhart decided against a Field Goal attempt and a one point lead and left the Offense on the field - or did he simply rely upon Luebke's experience to draw a penalty from the Knights? Only Tino can tell you but that is precisely what happened as the visitors gave up first down after on an offside call despite Chris Cooke stopping Luebke for a gain of only 2yds. Three plays later Luebke crashed into the enzone on a one yard run for the winning touchdown. Schubert added the PAT and the Dragons led 21-16.

The Knights took over after a kick out of bounds at their own 35yd line. Good runs from Tony Stitt saw them move to the Dragons 32 yd line in 3 plays. the Dragons then made a crucial play as Ashley Heaths first down pass was intercepted by G Scherzer.

The home team consumed 4 minutes on the next drive as Ully was given all the work on the ground and Luebke's only pass fell incomplete. The Dragons punted to the Knights 31 yard line to give the visitors one last chance to come back with just 1minute and 30 seconds remaining.

The Knights got nothing on the first down run but Tony Stitt picked up 12 yds on a reception from Ashley Heath on second down. The Knights were out of time outs and faced 1st and 10 on their own 43yd line with just 40 seconds remaining. The almost inevitable pass was picked off at the Dragons 33yd line by S Steurer although the play was disputed by the Knights sideline the home team only had to kill the clock to secure their win.

Knights Head Coach Steve Rains said "This was a very close, hard fought and exciting game. Apart from our disappointment at the result this has been a tremendous experience for the club and we are very proud of our players and the way they have represented the club, our league and our country both on and off the field. Last year we came to Austria and were found wanting in the second half - this game could have gone either way right to the very end - that is progress and we must not lose sight of that in our disappointment".

Asst Head Coach James Mitchell added "There was no one thing in the game that decided the outcome - we did some good things across the board but at the end of the day we came up just a little short against a very good team. We will now get back to focussing on our domestic season this week against the London Blitz - Danube play Zurich and who knows we may still be in with a shout in this competition by the time we play Zurich in two weeks".