RHEIN FIRE 0
@
SCOTTISH CLAYMORES 33
HAMPDEN SUNDAY 18TH MAY 2003
The Claymores came into this game knowing that a victory was a must if they were to keep their World Bowl hopes alive and at a wet Hampden their first drive was stuffed. Stemkes excellent punt put the Fire on their own 6 yard line and from their first play, the ball squirted out of Rolovitch's hands and bounced around in the end zone, Rolovitch batted the ball out of the back of the endzone just as Robinson was about to pounce and was credited with the safety.
The Scots received the ball back after the two pointer and Nall moved the ball in the harsh conditions, hooking up with Minardi and Simonton and capped the drive when he found Minardi again from 23 yards out. Hart added the extra point and the score was 9-0 to the Claymores.
Fire attempted a 43 yard fielg goal as the quarter ended but the kick sailes wide right.
The conditions took their toll as the rain lashed down making ball handling difficult, the Claymores defense stepped up a gear though stuffing the much vaunted Fire rushers and when another fine Stemke punt had pinned them deep Fire back up QB, Greisen saw he ball slip out of his hand as he set up to pass from his own endzone DeVonte Peterson stormed through the line and flopped on the ball for his first TD of the season. Hart again added the PAT and the score moved to 16-0
As the half drew to a close Harper picked off Greisen as they threatened, and the offense ran the clock to the whistle.
The defense came out fired up and backed Rhine up again and when a poor snap in a punt situation caused problems James Rooths dived in and blocked the punt, the ball bounced out of bounds and the Claymores took over. Nall was sacked on a third and goal situation so that set up a 27 yard field goal my Rob Hart
The defense were unrecognisable from last week and pressurised the Fire QB's and anothe poor snap saw the Fire punter take off and try to tun for the first down, he was stopped at the Fire 32 and Nall took over the controls. Three plays later Nall found Edell Shepherd in superb isolation down the left sideline and he virtually walked into the endzone for a 29 yard score.
Helped by some big gains from Hicks, Stafford took over the offense and he launched a 33 yard strike to Anthony "Out Of Sight" Bright who scored his third TD of the season, Hart again was perfect with the PAT and the score moved to 33-0 deep into the final period.
Pride fired up Rhein who had never been shut out in their history and they moved the ballto the Claymores five, but their hopes of a consolation were dashed when Swede, Jens Pettersson picked Griesen off in the endzone to round off an impressive day on both sides of the ball.
Hats off to the players and coaching staff in this one, in horrendous conditions they executed plays and showed a will to win that might just be enough to take them to the Big Show later on in the season
