Attendance 14,894

The Scottish Claymore turned in a record breaking opening performance in this year's NFL Europe campaign at Hampden Park, demolishing reigning World Bowl champions Berlin Thunder 62-31.

In what was the highest ever points victory in league history, the record breaking continued, with Buffalo Bills Rusher, Ken Simonton scoring four rushing touchdowns with Chicago Bears running back, Maurice Hicks recording a 93 yard rushing touchdown, the league's longest offensive score in history.

When the NFL Europe schedules were first issued, this was one fixture that was certain to the get the punters drooling.

And they certainly got their money's worth after just the first quarter with both sides sharing 24 points.

The Thunder got off to the best possible start on their opening drive knocking on the door of the Claymores redzone after just four plays.

But the new look Claymores hounds managed to hold their ground and forced the Germans to relay on Kicker Axle Kruse for the opening points, firing the ball between the uprights from 25 yards for the opening score.

The Claymores immediatley established their running game on their opening drive mixing their options between Simmonton and Mike Mallan.

And with 11 yards from the goal line, Simmonton went for the gut and bulldozed through the Berlin defensive wall for the opening touchdown, which was converted by Rob Hart.

The Scottish crowd was quickly silenced when thunder regained their lead after just two plays, with Jorge Heckenback hooking up with Quarterback Henry Burris for a 20 yard touchdown catch.

Claymores Quarterback, Craig Nall drove the offensive back up field and got his side back infront mintures later, when he played through a defensive offside penalty call on Teto Simpson to fire the ball 34 yards to John Minardi for a superb touchdown which was concerted by Hart.

The Germans continued to expose gaps in the Scottish defense and it was not long before the lead changed hands again, when Burris kept the ball for himself to scramble home 12 yards for another score.

The Claymores changed Generals at the start of the second quarter, with New England Patriots QB, Shane Stafford taking over the controls linking up with Simonton yet again who finished the drive off with a 5 yard run into the end zone.

With Berlin not making the impression on their next drive, the Claymores were on the move again.

But Stafford, who was a third string Quarterback with the Scots last year, did his chances of extra playing time no good when he was intercepted twice in succession that led to Berlin Touchdowns.

The first came on the first play after they regained possession when Phil Stambaugh made a 25 yard touchdown completion to Pierre Brown.

This was soon followed by Travis Coleman getting in the way of a pass meant for Scott McCready, taking the ball back 38 yards for another 6 points, with Kruse tagging on the extra points to give the Germans a 10 point advantage.

However Stafford was able to make amends for his earlier errors when he successfully hooked up with his New England Patriots team mate, McCready for another touchdown, which was concerted by Hart again to narrow the game to just three points at the end of the half.

Half Time Scottish Claymores 28 Berlin Thunder 31

Second Half