The young Lions travelled to Gdansk to play the
first GB International at Junior level in exactly 5 years.
The visitors dominated the first half with
touchdown runs from Craig McLeod (24yds) , Gareth Davies (4yds), Michael Green
(55yds) and TD passes from QB Joe Thompson to Michael Green (4yds) and James
Wootton (19yds). The Lions Defense held firm (as they would do all day) but the
visitors did give up a safety on a blocked punt to leave the score at 2-35 at
the half.
In the 2nd half the Polish team came out stronger
and the Lions used all of their 45 man squad. The third quarter was scoreless
but the visitors did add a final TD in the fourth when Craig McLeod scampered in
from 9 yds out. Kicker Kieron Smith kept his perfect day adding his sixth
consecutive PAT for the final 2-42 scoreline.
The Lions Offense accounted for 302yds from 49
plays (Rushing 35 for 241 5TD's , Passing 4-14- 61yds - 2TD - 1Int). Star runner
was British Youth Bowl MVP Gareth Davies who carried 13 times for 102yds and 1TD
with Craig McLeod also staking a claim with 5 carries for 48yds and 2TD's.
Michael Green had 93 all purpose yards and 2TD's.
The Lions Defense did not concede a
point.They created 5 sacks (Matthew Hardcastle 1.5, Niall Scott-Grant 1.0,
Andrew Johnston 1.0, Jonathan Plahar 1.0 and Elliott Hoyte 0.5) and two
interceptions (Dan Conroy 16yds and Nick Olive 2yds) further turnovers resulted
from four fumble recoveries (Harry Clifford, Craig McLeod, Jean-Paul Jones and
Dominic Gould (26yd return).
The unluckiest player on the day was Safety Dan
Conroy who saw both a dazzling Punt Return and a weaving Interception Return
brought back out of the Polish endzone for illegal blocks.
Head Coach Steve Rains said
"This is a great start
for us - our goal when I took over the team was to get back on the field and
with great help from BAFA, my Coaching and Admin Staff, our shirt supplier
Rhinosports and the Redditch Arrows, we made it
happen. The next goal was to win and our young men did a great job on the field.
This is a very important milestone and we are determined that it is just the
first one in a journey that will put Great Britain back onto the Junior football
map. I am very proud of our achievement to date"
Full GB LIONS Stats
OFFENSE
Passing
J Thompson 4 of 10 for 61yds 2TD 1Int
C Bourke 0 of 4 for 0yds
Total 4 of 14 for 61yds 2TD 1Int
Rushing
G Davies 13 for 102yds 1TD
M Green 1 for 55yds 1TD
C McLeod 5 for 48yds 2TD
E Harewood 6 for 14yds
G Carpenter 1 for 10yds
JP Jones 1 for 7yds
C Bourke 2 for 4yds
C Denham 4 for 1yd
K Phillips 2 for 0yds
DEFENSE
M Hardcastle 2U 1A plus 1.5 sacks
N Scott-Grant 2U plus 1.5sacks and 1FF
D Gould 2U 1A plus 1FR (26yds)
A Haldane 2U
D Conroy 2U plus 1Int (16yds)
N Olive 1U plus 1Int (2yds)
J Plahar 1 sack
A Flannagan 1U
J Donatien 1U 1A
A Crabbe 1U 1A
K Smith 1U
A Johnston 1U plus 1sack
T Wasley 1U
J Eaton 0.5 sack
D Jennison 1A plus 1FF
E Hoyte 0.5 sack