81. Medway Mustangs 28-27 Mets, 11th August 1990
Mets led 21-7 at half-time, but Medway QB Flannery led a comeback
resulting in Medway leading 28-21 late in the 4th quarter. Gary
Leyton’s TD pass to Gary Johnston seconds from the final whistle
set up a two pointer to win, but a 15 yard penalty forced them into a
1PAT kick which went wide. Match report
82. Kent Cougars 22-21 Plymouth Admirals, BNGL National Quarter-Final, 9th August 1992
Trailing 20-14, veteran QB Lennie Button marched the Cougars from their
own 10 yard, and with just two minutes remaining he completed a 7 yard
pass to Dan Dart to give the Cougars a fantastic road win in the
playoffs in front of 500 spectators. Match report.
83. Manchester Spartans 25-20 Amsterdam Crusaders, Eurobowl qualifier, 27th May 1990
The Spartans led 13-0 in the second quarter of this Eurobowl
Quarter-Final, but the Cru pegged away and after Paul Bailey scored a
rushing TD for the Spartans they only led 19-14 at the half. The Cru
took a 20-19 lead in the 3rd quarter, and it was a 4th and goal from
the one Paul Bailey TD that gave the Spartans a 25-20 that they would
hold by sacking Cru QB Phil Hickey inside the Spartans 20 in the final
minute. Match report.
84. Redditch Arrows 26-28 West Coast Trojans, 29th July 2007
The match got off to a blistering start in the first quarter when,
after an early exchange of possession, Arrows running back Errol Wilson
sprinted down the left sideline from 54-yards out, leaving several
tacklers diving at thin air. Unfortunately the extra point effort by
kicker John Riddell was blocked, so the score was left 6-0 to the home
side. This score spurred the Trojans into action on their following
drive, as a 40-yard pass set up a 4-yard touchdown run, however the
visitors' special teams similarly were unable to convert. By now both
offences were beginning to pick up momentum, but after an 8-play,
45-yard Redditch drive the Trojans defence held firm on 4th-down to
take over possession. As the second quarter began, a 34-yard
misdirection play took West coast down to the Arrows red-zone, and from
14-yards out a simple run up the middle took the Trojans to their first
lead of the day. This time the 2-point conversion was successful on a
pass to the corner of the endzone for a 14-6 Trojan lead.
Another long drive by Redditch (this time 9 plays) was brought to an
abrupt end as a wayward pass from quarterback Richard Wilde was
intercepted and returned 33-yards to set up the visitors in excellent
field position once more. The Arrows vaunted defence were up to the
task this time though as they forced a long field goal attempt that
drifted wide as the half came to a close.
The first drive of the second half saw more elusive running from
running back Errol Wilson. On 3rd and 9 from their own 19-yard line, a
short screen pass was turned upfield behind some excellent blocks, and
taken the whole 71-yards to the endzone. Yet again however, the
conversion was not made so the Arrows remained two points adrift. A
lack of concentration on the ensuing play saw another long touchdown
play, this time on a 60-yard West Coast run, and with the extra point
kick being successful, the visitors led by a 21-12 scoreline. This lead
could have been extended following a recovered fumble by West Coast,
but a James Chattoe sack forced a long field goal attempt which was
some way off-target. However the field advantage was put to good use on
the Trojans' next drive as a 44-yard pass and then a 28-yard pass were
utilised to extend the West Coast lead to 28-12, heading into the final
quarter.
Showing great resolve and team-spirit on both sides of the ball, the
Arrows were able to score two touchdowns in the final quarter. The
first was set up after a muffed punt by West Coast's Gary McNey was
recovered by linebacker Dan Shaw. Errol Wilson scored his third TD of
the day from 18 yards out on the ground, and with Wilson adding the
2-point conversion on a run up the middle, meant that the Arrows were
now only 8 points behind. With time winding down Richard Wilde fired a
50-yard pass to receiver Phil Grove, who danced his way down to the
1-yard line, and from there it was a Wilde who dived over for the
touchdown to bring the Arrows to within two points of tying the match.
On the crucial play of the game it was the in-form Errol Wilson who was
given the pigskin, but an excellent defensive effort from West Coast
denied Wilson and the Arrows a share of the game, and the Trojans were
able to run out 28-26 winners.
85. Walsall Titans 60-47 Portsmouth Warriors, Combined Gridiron League Final, 27th August 1989
The Titans won the CGL title in front of over 2,000 fans in a record
combined scoreline for a British final. The ex-Nebraska Cornhusker Von
Sheppard won the MVP award for the Titans with a stunning 166 yards and
5 TDs which helped the Titans to the win despite Eric Thoeness’s
5 receiving TDs. Match report
86. Birmingham Bulls 20-34 Manchester Spartans, 13th May 1990
Early into the 1990 regular season, the champions of 1988 and 1989
clashed in Manchester with the Spartans coming out on top in a bruising
encounter which saw Bulls QB Dave Kramme sacked 8 times. Hazen Choates
passed for 242 yards and 3 TDs, and ran for 2 himself as a late Bulls
charge was repelled. Match report
87. Leeds Cougars 55-46 Nottingham Hoods, 5th May 1990
In this high scoring encounter, Chris Thomas ran for 156 yards and 3TDs
as the Cougars blitzed the Hoods with 34 unanswered points either side
of half-time. The Hoods more than played their part with 20 points in
both the 1st and 4th quarters. Match report.
88. Nottingham Hoods 34-28 Manchester Allstars, 22nd April 1990
After 3 Allstars fumbles inside their own 25 yard line, the Hoods
recovered all 3 and punished their opponents by opening a 22-0 lead in
the 2nd quarter without breaking sweat. Greg Harden’s TD
reception and John Smith’s field goal reduced the deficit to
22-11 by half-time. The teams traded score, before Smith booted his
second field goal and then Nathan Hazell ran in from the 3 to tie the
scores at 28-28 with 1.35 left. Hoods QB Mike Grossner then led the
Hoods downfield on the next possession 71 yards in a no huddle offense
which culminated with a 31 yard pass to Albert Thompson to win it for
the Hoods. Match report
89. Bournemouth Buccaneers 42-34 Bedford Bombardiers, BNGL National Final, 29th August 1993
The Buccaneers won a first national title with a thrilling win over the
high powered Bedford offense. Albert Higgs was in fine form for the
Buccs with 228 passing yards and 116 rushing yards as they opened out
to a 28-6 half-time lead. Dave Arvizu took over as the Bombardiers QB
at half-time, and pulled them back into the game as they trailer 28-22,
but Higgs ran 56 yards for the clinching TD and the Bucs held on. Match report A and match report B
90. Cambridgeshire Cats 9-6 Southern Sundevils, 11th August 2003
A 24 yard Field Goal by Brian Jelley, 4.07 minutes into the SIXTH
quarter sealed a dramatic victory for the Cambridgeshire Cats in thIS
Quarter Final clash with the Southern Sundevils.
The Cats got off to the perfect start as strong running by Seth
Campbell and Mark Spittle set up a 25 yard pass from Quarterback Nick
Tilbury to Wide Receiver Steve Peck to open the scoring. Jelley's extra
point attempt was missed but the Cats still led 6-0.
The sweltering conditions seemed to affect both teams as the game
became dominated by mistakes and penalties until Southern Running Back
Gareth Dauley broke away from three Cats tacklers to sprint home for a
spectacular 75 yard touchdown run. The extra point attempt failed and
the half ended with the score tied 6-6.
Like the first half, the third quarter was dominated by errors,
penalties and good defensive play by both sides and the score remained
tied.
The fourth quarter saw the Cats offence start to move the ball, behind
powerful rushing by Seth Campbell and Mark Spittle, driving into
scoring range on a number of occasions. But yet more mistakes,
penalties and a blocked Brian Jelley Field Goal meant the score
remained 6-6 after 60 minutes of play.
So the game went into sudden death over time with the first team to score as the winners.
The one-two combination of Campbell and Spittle continued to work well
for the Cats and they had the first chance to win the game. But another
Jelley field goal attempt was blocked and the Sundevils regained
possession inside the Cats half.
Powerful running by Gareth Dauley and Barry Minter saw the Sundevils
move the ball to the Cambridgeshire 5 yard line. The Cats defence, led
by Linebacker Steve Bennett, dug in and three plays later the Sundevils
lined up to kick a field goal and seal victory. But veteran defender
Mickey Howling powered through the line to block the kick and give the
Cats a life line.
Yet more strong running by Campbell and Spittle saw the Cats move the
ball from their own 4 yard line as the first period of Over time ended.
Crucial Third Down Catches by Dave Lemon and Steve Peck kept the Cats
dreams alive before Booty Morris broke lose on a brilliant 30 yard run
to move the ball inside the Sundevils 10 yard line. Three runs later
and the Cats were in position for Jelley to make his game winning kick.
Match report
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