51. Portsmouth Warriors 36-35 Walsall Titans, CGL, 1989
In this dress rehearsal for the end of season title game, the Warriors
edged this 71 point thriller by a single point. The Titans would have
their revenge in the bowl game though – see game 89. No match
report.
52. London Ravens 27-31 Amsterdam Crusaders, Eurobowl Quarter-Final, 1988
The Ravens had waited four years to prove claims that they were the
best in Europe, but an extra long 14 game regular season had not been
their best and the cracks were beginning to show in their previously
impregnable armour. The Ravens had the toughest of all the opening
round opponents, the Amsterdam Crusaders. The Ravens led a thrilling
game 27-24 going into the two minute warning in front of a capacity
Crystal Palace crowd, but the Cru scored right near the end leaving the
Londoners stunned and defeated. No match report.
53. Leeds Cougars 49-53 Northants Storm, 22nd April 1990
Leeds fought their way back from a 47-28 deficit to stunningly take the
lead 49-47 in the closing seconds through a Chris Thomas TD. The
Storm’s Johnny Atlas then scored on a 57 yard catch and run to
break their hearts. Match report.
54. Birmingham Bulls 14-21 Manchester Spartans, Bud Bowl III, 5th August 1989
The Spartans won their first national title on the back of Paul
Bailey’s Britbowl record 245 yards rushing, but all the talk was
of Bulls star QB Russ Jensen’s absence after walking out on the
team on the eve of the match. Spartans seized their opportunity and the
national title. Match report.
55. Frankfurt Knights 28-30 Birmingham Bulls, 12th August 1995
It may have been a friendly, but the Bulls had something to prove
against the FLE side. In front of 3,200 noisy German fans, the Bulls
kicker Andy Raffo slotted a late 29 yard field goal to put them 30-28
before the Knights kicker Stephen Maslo missed a late minute kick
himself. Match report.
56. Glasgow Lions 91-62 Gateshead Senators, NDMA, 26th May 1991
Records galore were set in this game. Most points in a top flight game
(153), most combined offensive yards (1374) and most passing TD’s
in a top flight game (Darren Trainor – 10). Jerome Erdman caught
6 TDs (that tied a top flight record) from Trainor as the Lions offense
went into overdrive. Match report
57. Manchester Spartans 59-50 Glasgow Lions, 19th June 1988
Despite the 9pt victory, this ridiculously high scoring match was only
sealed in the final few minutes when with the Spartans leading 52-50,
the Lions QB Mike Hasskamp was picked off by Sean Mason who returned it
for the winning score. Hasskamp and Spartans QB Hazen Choates combined
for over 700 yards passing and Paul Bailey returned a kickoff 88 yards
for a TD in this offensive bonanza. Match report.
58. PA Knights 14-12 London O's, BSL Division One, 4th April 2004
The O’s lost their first game in 6 years in this tight affair in
Guidford. Kingsley Ejiogu scored to put the Knights 7-0 up on their
second possession, before a 59 yard fumble recovery brought the
champions into the game. The Os’ took a 12-7 lead late in the
first quarter on Stuart Franklin’s 19 yard pass to Clive Palumbo
which they held onto going into the fourth quarter. The Knights scored
the decisive blow when QB Heath found WR Steve Belcher for a key 15 yd
gain. Tony Stitt powered them closer and then shook free a tackle on
the next play to race 13yds to a Knights lead that would not be
overcome. Jon Wyse added the extra point and the home team led 14-12
which they held onto. Match report.
59. Oxford Saints 15-14 Colchester Gladiators, BAFA Division Three Semi-Final, 19th August 1995
Stuart Brereton put Colchester 14-0 up in the third quarter, and there
appeared no way back for the Saints in this semi-final match. Saints QB
Bob Johnson connected with Jason Vadher-Lowe to put the Saints on the
board, and a safety a few minutes later in the fourth quarter made the
deficit just 6 points. A late Johnson TD pass to Vadher-Lowe tied the
scores and Belcher’s PAT clinched a 15 point fourth quarter, a
stunning win and a place in the final. Match report.
60. Luton Flyers 36-36 Birmingham Bulls, 1st May 1988
The Bulls looked like they were cruising in this encounter as they
blanked the Flyers in the 2nd and 3rd quarters and led 29-7 going into
the 4th quarter. Forced to go long they scored on 2 bombs to Don
Stradling and also on a run from Dave Munn, before the Bulls gave the
ball up on downs with 23 seconds to go. Stradling caught his 3rd TD of
the quarter at the death, and Dave Munn’s 2 PAT leveled the
scores in front of disbelieving fans. Match report.
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