101. London Olympians 14-13 East City Giants, Eurobowl Semi-Final, 4th June 1995
The Olympians held off an East City Giants comeback in this Eurobowl Semi-Final at Crystal Palace. Stephen Hutchison and Leonard Valentine scored TDs as the Olympians led 14-7. A late Giants TD pulled the scores to 14-13, but Lind’s kicked went wide handing the Olympians a third consecutive win over the Giants in the competition. Match report.102. Amsterdam Crusaders 21-42 London Olympians, Eurobowl Final. 4th July 1993
In front of 6,000 fans in Heysel Stadium, the Olympians became the second British club to win the Eurobowl competition with a comprehensive 42-21 win over the nemesis of British teams, the Amsterdam Crusaders. The Olympians had 499 offensive yards, and were always in control of this contest. Richard Dunkley ran for 144 yards and Leonard Valentine passed for 222 yards and 2 TDs in this historic win. Match report.
103. France 2-58 Great Britain, 22nd March 1987
The GB Lions signalled their strength to the rest of Europe in this European Championship qualifier with a comprehensive rout of the French on their own patch. By half-time a lead of 32-0 had been built up and the fixture was as good as over. Joe St.Louis (Ravens), Trevor Carthy, Victor Ebudideke and Mark Williams (Bulls) all rushed into the endzone as Mark Spong (Portsmouth Warriors) led the way at quarter-back.Brett Lewis (Chelmsford) and Chaz Jasicki (Brighton B-52s) also got time in the passing position as Coach Tate experimented with his three QB's. But whatever the formation, the Brits could do no wrong. Lewis scored the fourth TD himself before half-time and then, as every British player got on the field, Mark Wynnick (Ravens), Steve Harvey (Birmingham), Mark Delaney (Ravens) and Allan Brown (Milton Keynes) all scored second half touchdowns. The final two scores were from passes from Lewis. France scored a solitary safety in the very final minutes. This victory sent shockwaves around Europe and GB were installed as favourites for the 1987 European Nations Championship.
104. Amsterdam Crusaders 2-0 Birmingham Bulls, EuroBowl. 31st May 1992 5 mns from end
In a hugely close game, the reigning British champions travelled to Amsterdam for this Eurobowl match up and came home with a 2-0 defeat conceding a safety in the 2nd quarter. Not only were they dumped out of the competition, but they lost their Head Coach Steve Moon shortly afterwards when he resigned. Match report
105. Coventry Jaguars 6-14 Northants Storm (OT). 30th May 1993
In windy conditions, the scores were deadlocked at 6-6 after 4 quarters, and it took Johnny Atlas’s 2 yard run in OT to secure the win for the Storm. Match report
106. Leeds Cougars 36-34 Gateshead Senators, 15th June 1991
Tiggy Bell ran for 271 yards and 3 TDs, as the Cougars edged a cracker. The teams were tied 28-28 at half time, but Pastorelli’s 35yard TD to Ward coupled with Chris Thomas adding the 2PAT gave the Cougars the win. Match report
107. Birmingham Bulls 26-34 London O’s. 6th September 2000, BSL Division One Final
In one of the better finals in recent years, the O’s secured a 4th successive national title despite 3 TDs from Bulls WR Marc Cohen. The O’s led 21-7 early on, and always had control with Shola Goppy making 10 tackles and Warren Keen running for a 47 yard TD. Match report
108. Nottingham Hoods 40-35 Birmingham Bulls, 29th June 1986
Cliff Stroughter rushed for 266 yards on 40 carries and 5TDs, as the Hoods won a vital Central Division matchup. The Hoods came from behind on 3 occasions, before eventually edging into a winning lead. Match report
109. Birmingham Bulls 19-14 Leicester Panthers, 17th April 1988
The Bulls tore into the Panthers early on with a dominant first half moving into a 19-0 lead. A second half comeback, led by QB Sean Payton’s 2 long TD passes pulled the scores back to 19-14, and a last minute interception by Bulls CB Paul Roberts prevented a tremendous Panthers win. Match report.
110. Oxford Bulldogs 31-26 Coventry Bears, 8th July 1990
Despite the Bulldogs backfield terrorising the Bears D all afternoon, the Bears held onto a 26-24 lead with minutes to go, and it took a last minute TD to take the victory. Match report111. London Capitals 52-7 Clydesdale Colts, 15th September 1991, BNGL National Bowl
The Capitals took the BNGL National Bowl by a record scoreline as they dominated the Colts. Malcolm Glover passed for 320 yards and 2 scores and Junior Cain ran for a 91 yard TD before a bench clearance ended the game! Match report
112. Merseyside Nighthawks 17-14 Rockingham Rebels, 24th August 1992, BNGL Premier Semi-Final.
In this BNGL Premier League semi-final in the 1992 season, the Merseyside Nighthawks secured a thrilling victory with the winning field goal just 4 minutes from the final gun. No match report.
113. Leeds Cougars 20-14 Birmingham Bulls, 24th June 1989
The Leeds Cougars secured a first victory over the reigning British champions with an impressive 20-14 victory breaking the Bulls 17 game winning streak in front of over 2,000 fans. The lead changed hands 4 times, and was settled when Cougars safety Orlando Weekes recovered a Trevor Carthy fumble with 1.30 left on the clock. Match report.
114. Manchester Allstars 27-29 Luton Flyers, 17th August 1986, BAFL Wild-Card
Dave Munn kicked the winning field goal with less than 5 minutes to play in this 1986 wild card match up. Munn also ran for 169 yards on just 12 carries as the Flyers upset the fancied Allstars. Match report
115. Barnsley Bears vs Barracuda, 1st September 1990, BNGL Division One Bowl
Barracuda scored 5 TDs including a 94 yarder from Richie Vale, but it was the Tim Langley inspired Bears won clinched the Division One Bowl with a stunning display of offense. Langley scored 3 TDs. Match report
116. Fylde Falcons 45-53 Glasgow Lions, 1988
Glasgow edged this points fest that featured two of the best imports to have played in the UK strutting their stuff – Falcons QB Bo Hickey and Lions QB Mike Hasskamp. The lead switched on a number of occasions but it was Hasskamp’s team who prevailed. No match report.
117. Bristol Aztecs 22-21 PA Knights, 21st June 1998
The Knights jumped out to a 21-0 lead, and going into the fourth quarter still held that same lead. The Aztecs rebounded, however, and 3 rushing scores and 2 2 PATs gave them a stunning win. Match report.
118. Bournemouth Bobcats 16-13 Brighton B-52s, 1st August 1987
In this divisional title decider in front of over 3,000 fans, the B52s led 6-0 with two field goals before Chalky Elliott’s 76 yard run put the Cat 7-6 ahead. Mark Irving’s 1 yard run gave the B52s a 13-7 half-time lead. Dinham’s TD tied the scores, and Paul Cooper’s 30 yard field goal gave the Cat the win. Match report.
119. Woking Generals 20-14 Merseyside Centurions, 1988
Two undefeated sides contested the first ever BNGL Bowl game. After two perfect regular seasons, both teams had racked up over 500 pts. The Generals had not been scored on until the playoffs, and the Centurions only conceded 24pts. In the final, the Generals hung onto a 20-14 lead as the Centurions pushed for the win. Match report
120. East City Giants 29-34 London Olympians, 20th June 1993, Eurobowl Semi-Final
The Olympians reached their first Eurobowl final with an against the odds win over the fancied East City Giants of Helsinki. Former LSU QB Leonard Valentine had a stunning game throwing for over 500 yards including a 99 yarder to Wes Garth which gave the Olympians an unassailable 34-23 lead with a few minutes to go. Former Colchester Gladiator QB Milton Myers completed a hail mary for a TD for the Giants with 2 minutes to go but the Olympians recovered the onside kick and reached the final. Match report.
121. PA Knights 10-13 Ipswich Cardinals (OT), 2003
After a long hard season it was all too much for the Knights as they ran out of steam - not helped by an injury in the O's game to their star QB Ashley Heath. Ipswich who were actually building up steam at just the right time then grabbed their chance with both hands and saw off the Knights 13-10 in a titanic Southern Wild Card game which went to double OT. Stephen Wells kicking a 32 yard field goal to win it for the Cards. No match report
122. Leicester Panthers 19-24 Manchester Spartans, 1990
The Spartans jumped out to a 24-0 second quarter lead, but just before half time Warren Sweetman started the fightback, and two second half scores brought the Panthers to within 5 pts. Each team turned over the ball in the final minutes but the Panthers were unable to score the go ahead TD.Match report
123. Leicester Panthers 21-19 Birmingham Bulls, 1987
Suddenly, at 7-1, it was crunch time - the visit of the Bulls to Leicester with the divisional title at stake. For once the game billed as "the one that matters" lived up to expectations as the Midland giants set about each other with someferocity.
Trevor Carthy gave the visitors an interval lead - but Dave Chapman's block of the point after was to prove hugely significant in a thriller. Leicester turned to the run-and-shoot and Denny Walker and Norman Green (twice) went in for six as the emotion swung firmly in Panthers' favour as they raced to a 21-6 lead.
The Bulls looked dead and buried and on the verge of folding, but the explosive Paul Roberts refused to accept defeat, however, and ran in the next kick off for 80-yards to leave the game on a knife edge. In the dying secondsCarthy nabbed his second score of the day to leave it 21-19, and the Saffron Lane crowd was at fever pitch. Thankfully, though, Carthy was strangled as he attempted the ensuing two-pointer as lan Clarke and Martin Fisher exorcised "The Ghost". It was Leicester's day and even with a game to go - the Thames Valley replay - it was Leicester's Division.
124. Essex Gladiators 43-49 Bournemouth Bobcats, 26th May 1991
In an unbelievable start, the Bobcats led 31-3 after 1 quarter of play and 37-15 at half-time. The Buccaneers countered with three straight TD’s in the second half to tie the scores up at 37-37, but Higgs won the game for the Cat with two more scoring strikes. Higgs threw for 408 yards and 5 TDs for the Bobcat. Match report
125. Crawley Raiders 21-20 Scunthorpe Steelers, 28th July 1990
Fitzroy Miller ran for 172 yards as he led the Raiders into the NCMMA semi-finals. The Raiders trailed 12-0 in the first quarter, but three straight scores gave them a 21-12 lead. Schnell pulled a late TD back for the Steelers and with the PAT narrowed the lead to just 1pt. The Raiders recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock. Match report
126. Manchester Allstars 12-12 Newcastle Browns, 7th April 1985
On the first weekend of the inaugural AFL season, the Newcastle Browns snatched a 12-12 tie with a late score inside the two minute warning in front of over 1,000 fans at Swinton Rugby Club. Match report
127. Leeds Cougars 15-12 Glasgow Lions, 3rd July 1988
Cougars LB Glen Stowe recovered a fumble and then two plays later kicked the game winning 25 yard field goal with 20 seconds remaining.Match report
128. Manchester Spartans 46-40 Fylde Falcons, 17th April 1988
Hazen Choates passed for 4 TDs including a 87 yarder to Mike Dixon as the Spartans turned a 21-6 deficit into a 32-21 half-time lead. Falcons QB Bo Hickey inspired the Blackpool side to pull his side to within 6 points and a last gasp attempt to win the game was blown when they fumbled which was recovered by the Spartans. Match report.
129. Doncaster Mustangs 13-12 Dundee Hurricanes, 12th September 2004, BSL Division Two Semi-Final
Paul Weston was the two touchdown hero for the Mustangs in this tense Division Two semi-final. Mahamadou-Lamine Nikate scored to give Dundee a 12-7 lead entering the fourth quarter, before Weston picked the perfect time to score the first special teams touchdown in Mustangs history with a punt return down the left sideline for the go-ahead score. No match report
130. Leicester Panthers 27-27 Nottingham Hoods, 3rd July 1988
Nottingham pulled back a 2 TD deficit in the final quarter to force a 27-27. Panthers’s kicker Mick Bjelic had a 38 yard field goal blocked (which would have given the Panthers a 30-13 lead), which was returned 64 yards for a TD by Goddy Williams. Pablo Ortiz then connected on a 48 yard passing score to Cliff Ransom to tie the scores. Match report131. London Olympians 14-20 Birmingham Bulls, 21st May 1995
The Bulls trailed 14-13 to their arch-rivals with 8 minutes remaining until Ian Morris’s 6 yard run game the Bulls a lead they would not give up.Match report
132. Medway Mustangs 18-20 Rockingham Rebels, Combined Gridiron League, 11th June 1989
Rockingham dented Medway’s 100% record for the 1989 season by taking a last-gasp victory in the dying seconds when Rusty Kerr went over for the vital score. No match report.
133. Edinburgh Blue Eagles 20-18 Leeds Cougars, BAFL, 8th June 1986
Edinburgh went into a 20-0 lead, before Tim Casey cut the deficit on the stroke of half-time. Sammy Pryce and Paul Pryce scored second half scores for the Cougars, but they couldn’t clinch the winning score and the Eagles held onto the win. Match report
134. Mets 13-12 Tiger Bay Warriors, 9th August 1998
The Mets trailed 12-6 late in this playoff match, but drove from their own 40 yard line before Nick Tilbury completed a 14 yard TD to Wayne U-Chong to tie the scores. Steve Taylor nailed the PAT with seconds left to give the Mets the win. Match report.
135. Oxford Saints 26-32 Sutton Coldfield Royals, 11th August, 1991, BNGL Premier Division Quarter-Final
Oxford led 26-16 going into the fourth quarter, but then conceded a safety which was quickly followed by a Shane Braithwaite TD which tied the scores. Chris Timms then knocked the Saints out of the playoffs with a late 10 yard TD run which capped off a fine recovery by the Royals. Match report
136. Bedford Bombardiers 34-34 Lancashire Wolverines, BAFA Division Two, 5th June 1994
Lancashire jumped out to a 26-0 first quarter lead, and led 34-20 before Dave Arvizu’s two 4th quarter scoring strikes tied up the game at 34-34.Bedford missed the 2 PAT with the scores tied, and Lancashire missed a 50 yard field as time expired to win it. Match report
137. Sussex Thunder 23-22 Redditch Arrows, 15th August 2004, BAFL Division Two Quarter-Final
In a real cliff-hanger of a playoff match, the Sussex Thunder clung onto a 23-22 win to qualify for the semi-finals. Tied 14-14 at half-time, a safety and 31 TD passing TD put the Thunder 23-14 ahead, but Tony Perkins 1 yard run and 2 PAT reduced the scoreline to 22-23. The Arrows had two drives to win the game, but the Thunder D held firm. No match report
138. Lancashire Wolverines 44-46 Gateshead Senators, 23rd June 2002
Gateshead and Lancashire fought out one of the closest and most nailbiting encounters in league history as Craig Million ran for 122 yards and a score. Senators were behind for most of the first half with Nimmins late TD giving them the lead for the first time 18-14. Nimmins scored his 2nd and then 3rd TD of the game to extend the Senators lead to 32-22 going into the fourth quarter. Lancashire came straight back with Rob Tingle's 2 yard TD run, which he repeated for the two points to bring the score to 32-30. Not content with a two point lead, Gateshead replied with another Lee Fraser strike from 11 yards to David Nimmins, followed by a Gary Marshall PAT to make the score 39-30. The Gateshead defense was caught out by QB Adam Purcell's "keeper" 12 yard run. Rob Tingle's run added the two points to bring Lancs to within one point, 39-38 at the two minute warning. But this astonishing game was far from over. Lee Fraser, (13 of 23 for 162 yds, 3TDs, 0 ints) who was not sacked at all in the game, again gave a demonstration of how to run a two minute offense, leading a drive that culminated in Mark Lindsey's run from the 2 yard line. Another Gary Marshall conversion kick made the score 46-38. Adam Purcell then gave a demonstration of his own to leadLancashire downfield to the Gateshead 10 yard line with 3 seconds left on the clock. His pass to Neil Sullivan brought the score to 46-44. All that remained was for the untimed down of the conversion attempt. But Gateshead's defense held firm, denying Lancashire the draw and leaving Gateshead Senators narrow winners after the nerve-wracking finale of a remarkable game.
139. Gateshead Senators 22-20 Chester Romans, 4th June 1995.
Peter White ran a colossal 45 times for 302 yards for the Romans but still ended up on the losing side as Senators QB Lee Fraser threw a TD to David Nimmens to tie the scores at 20-20 and then connected with the same receiver for the crucial 2pt conversion to win the match. Match report
140. London Olympians 39-36 Leicester Panthers, NDMA League, 6thJune 1993
Three Richard Dunkley TD’s and 151 yards rushing had London 11 pts clear with five minutes to go, but a late Walter Norton TD pass and 2 PAT brought the scores close. Panthers recovered the onside kick, but it was ruled not to have traveled 10 yards and the Olympians took over and ran the clock out. Match report
141. Crawley Raiders 20-23 Merseyside Centurions, 6th September 1992, BNGL Premier Bowl
Graham Whyte scored a TD and kicked a field goal to clinch the title for the Centurions. The Merseysiders were 16-8 ahead, before Whyte’s 14 yard run with 4 minutes to go. Crawley scored on Gregg’s 9 yard run to bring the scores to 23-20 but Merseyside hung on. Match report
142. Leicester Panthers 7-10 Luton Flyers, 10th April 1988
Dave Munn ran for 101 yards and caught a 13 yard reception for the Flyers score. Martin Fisher prevented the Flyers from clinching the game with a stunning late interception which set up a final drive for the Panthers which led to Rex Harrison attempting a 35 yard field goal to tie the game. As time expired the ball went wide and the Flyers won. Match report
143. St Albans Kestrels 20-22 LA Panthers, Capital League Final, 23rdAugust 1987
In this Capital League final, Ryan Holness scored twice for the Panthers but the Kestrels were always in touch and when Graham Martin scored they went for the game tying two point conversion, but it failed and the Panthers won their first (and only) title. Match report
144. Birmingham Bulls 30-41 London Olympians, NDMA League, 14thJune 1992
Leroy Innes caught passes for 189 yards and 3 TDs, as the Olympians won this crucial NDMA regular season match. Match report
145. Streatham Olympians 13-12 Birmingham Bulls, 1985
Streatham reached the first ever British final with a heart stopping 13-12 win over the favoured Birmingham Bulls at Oxford City Football Club. No match report
146. Washington Presidents 66-62 Wirral Wolves, 12th July 1987
In this points-fest, the Presidents outlasted the Wolves 66-62 with Sammy Samuels scoring an astounding 9 TDs. No match report
147. Birmingham Bulls 26-22 London Ravens, Budweiser National League, 9th April 1989
Russ Jensen again inspired the Bulls to an early season victory over the London Ravens in this April classic that showed that there was little between the sides. The Bulls would go onto reach the final for the second straight year. No match report
148. Nottingham Hoods 22-28 London Olympians, NDMA Semi-Final, 3rd August 1992.
In this 1992 NDMA Semi-Final, the Olympians ran out to a 22-0 lead and led 28-8 in the final quarter. TDs from Mick Morton and Albert Thompson got the Hoods to within 6, but two Scott Rowe endzone interceptions and a huge hit on WR Craig Alsop caused a fumble which the O’s recovered to preserve the win. Match report
149. Merseyside Centurions 20-16 Leicester Huntsmen, BNGL 1987 Final.
The running of Andy Igweibo and the passing of Gary Tagoe led the Centurions to a first title win with a tight victory over the Huntsmen. Both sides had had dominant regular seasons, and the team from the north west just had enough. Match report to follow.
150. Manchester Allstars 26-25 London Olympians, Budweiser National Quarter-Final, 15th July 1987
Second string cornerback Seymour Osbourne clinched the win for the Allstars with an interception on a bomb late in the game after Rick Bolen had inspired the Allstars to a narrow lead. Match report.
