CLAYMORES FLOP IN FRANKFURT
Scottish Claymores 27      Frankfurt Galaxy 33   OT
Waldstadion - Frankfurt, Germany.

It looked as if it was heading for another party night at the Waldstadion for the Claymores, but instead turned into a wake after they conceded a 21-6 half time lead to leave Germany with their tails between their legs, losing 33-27 in Overtime.

The Claymores had not won at the Waldstadion since Jim Criner's final year in 2000. 

And with the Scots desperately needing victory to get back in the World Bowl hunt, the visitors stunned the 22,000 home support almost midway through the first quarter, when Craig Nall made a 37 yard touchdown completion to the man of the moment, Ken Simonton for the opening score, which was converted by Rob Hart for a 7-0 lead.

The Galaxy were soon advancing towards the Scottish goal line in some style during the final minutes of the first quarter.   But the momentum soon swung back towards the Scots at the start of the second, thanks to the efforts of our fan draft guys.

Quarterback James Brown was sacked by TJ Bingham, resulting in a fumble, which was recovered by Isaac Keys.  But the Claymores failed to capitalise on their next drive.

The Germans made it all square on their next possession, when Quinn Gray made a 43 yard pass over the middle to Robert Gray for a tying score.

But with Shane Stafford splitting Quarterback duties with Craig Nall once again, the New England Patriots allocate capped off an 83 yard drive with a five yard touchdown pass to Shane Stafford with Hart tagging on the extra point for a 21-6 half time lead.

With less than two minutes into the seconds half, disaster struck for the Claymores, when Craig Nall was picked off by local boy Daniel Benetka to set up former Claymores QB, James Brown to punish them with a second touchdown pass to Tight End Josh Whitman.

As the noise level started to pick up, so did the Galaxy's confidence as Nall was intercepted again on the Claymores next drive by Calvin Spears.

But the Scottish defense managed to hold their ground, forcing the Germans Kicker, Jon Hibbert to go for a 39 yard field goal, which finished wide left of the uprights.

The Claymores failed to step up the pressure at the start of the fourth quarter with hart having another bad day at the office, with a 39 yard field goal attempt finishing wide of the target.

Galaxy Quarterback, Brown, who was released by the Claymores at training camp, sent out a clear message to his former mentor, Dahlquist with another impressive drive combining with receiver, Marc Lester.

Lester then cut the deficit to two points with a 6 yard touchdown catch from Brown.  But the scene was then set for a nervous final minutes of the quarter, when Jonas Lewis brought in the two point conversion attempt to make the score all square.

With Nall back at the controls for the Claymores, the visitor s hit back on their next drive linking up with Simonton for a 70 yard gain

And on the next play, the Scots were back in front, when Nall picked off Jon Minardi for a 15 yard touchdown.  But disaster struck for Rob Hart, when a poor hold from Kevin Stemke, resulted in the English Kicker missing his first ever extra point conversion attempt in a six year professional career.

The Claymores defense tried to hold off the Galaxy attack inside the final minutes of the game, but the Germans found a gap yet again, when Gray picked off Lester again.

Then with Ralph Kleinman spending most of his time on the sidelines in his civvies having been announced to have picked up an injury, came on to the field suited up for the extra point attempt that would win them the game.

But thankfully for the Scots, the PAT was blown after the snap was fumbled, setting up for a dramatic overtime period.

Surprisingly enough, the Scots elected to receive the ball during the opening drive which fell flat, forcing them to punt the ball away.

The Claymores defense, backs who had been having another difficult night, were found wanting again, when Gray unleashed a 45 yard bomb to Lester for the winning score.

The Claymores World Bowl dreams once again are hanging by a thread and now face a win or bust confrontation at Hampden this Sunday, when they take on Rhein Fire.

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