British American Football: EFAF Cup Final - The London Blitz 29 Kragujevac Wild Boars 7

Published: 7 July, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT

MORE than 2,000 fans saw the London Blitz crowned European champions on Saturday when they beat Serbia’s Kragujevac Wild Boars 29-7 to win the European Federation of American Football Cup. 

Both sides put their undefeated streaks on the line in a thrilling encounter at the Finsbury Park Athletics Stadium. The Blitz came out firing on all cylinders with Paul Summers recovering a fumble on the Wild Boars’ 

two-yard line to give the home offence excellent field position. 

Led by quarterback Fred Boyle, the hosts chalked up their first points of the game thanks to a run from veteran back Gareth Dauley. 

The extra point was successfully kicked by Jimmy Wyatt to give the Blitz an early 7-0 lead. It was soon increased to 13-0 when the Wild Boars tried to play themselves out of trouble only for Martin Ray to make a vital interception and race to the endzone for another Blitz touchdown. 

This time, however, the extra point was missed and the home side failed to add to what was turning into a commanding lead. 

The Wild Boars pulled the score back to 13-7, but the Blitz quickly bounced back when Aaron Sanders spectacularly blocked the punt, which was recovered by Lennox Johnson in the endzone for a touchdown. Jimmy Wyatt added the extra point to give the Blitz a 20-7 lead and bring an end to a breathless first quarter. 

The only score in the second quarter saw Wyatt kick a 32-yard field goal to give the home team a 23-7 half time lead. The Blitz went on to seal an impressive victory when Dauley grabbed his second touchdown of the game late on. 

Head coach Mark Moss was thrilled to see his Blitz side win the elusive trophy, and in doing so become the first British team to win the EFAF title since 1999. “This is a huge result for the club. When we entered European competition for the first time last year people said that you couldn’t win in Europe without a major sponsor or import players. 

“We have proved that this is not the case and that dedicated amateur players can compete at this level. I’m proud of the whole organisation and where we have got to.”