First order of business was to head off to the Triple A BBQ and start the "Save The Claymores" petition.

With the persistent threats to the 2 remaining non-German teams that they may well move to be part of an "NFL Germany" in the future we think it's important to communicate the feeling from the majority of fans who do not want to see this happen.

Over the course of the weekend the petition was signed by over 3000 fans which is a great start.

The game was significant game for another reason - it was the franchise's 100 all time contest (98 regular season and 2 World Bowls). Our record in the 1st 99 = 43 wins and 56 losses ...

The FTP 100 sign proved to be a good luck charm. Read their report at their site as always.

And as always in Amsterdam, we can count on the vocal support of Fire and Galaxy fans to raise the roof in our little section. As well as some bonus Dragons too!

The crowd noise was great all game.

Kickoff and Mark Jensen gets game 100 underway!

Defense immediately makes it mark as on 3rd and 6 DT Alan Harper sacks Admirals QB Clint Stoerner to force a punt.

Curt's 1st game opening drive of the season was also 3 and out and almost Hybl-esque. After Galloway had run for 8 on 2nd and 10, his pass out to Ahmad in the flat lost a yard and Nick Murphy made his usual early appearance.

Last time the Claymores lost in the ArenA was in 2001 when Clint Stoerner was our QB. On that day Clint famously tried to call 4 time outs in the 1st quarter. On this day he only felt the need to call the one ...

And on the 3rd and 6 play after the timeout it was the defense who benefited. Alphonso Roundtree leaped to make a spectacular one-handed grab of a pass to Chris Horn. It was only the D's 2nd pick of the year, and richly deserved by Roundtree who has been a rock at corner all year.

Bizarrely on 3rd and goal they tried a reverse to Ron Bellamy, who initially had some room but in the end was in no danger of reaching the end zone.

Rob Hart stepped up and booted a 24 yard FG and we were on the board.

CLAYMORES 3-0

On 1st down TE Tony Donald couldn't pull in his Stoerner's high pass at the back of the end zone.

On 2nd down, ex Claymores FB Mike Malan was sent up the middle but disappeared into the heart of the defense for no gain.

On 3rd down it seemed for a second that Donald had pulled in Stoerner's pass but he kept juggling it and never quite had control as it hit the deck and the ball rolled away. However the fireworks went off and the crowd thought it was a touchdown. No sir!
Silvio Diliberto however did get them on the board with a 20 yard FG

ALL TIED 3-3

Ian Smart ripped off another 1st down with a 12 yard run, but the offense soon had another 3rd and 7. This time the end around finally worked - as Herb Haygood raced left and then cut back into the middle of the field for a 11 yard gain.

On the next 3rd down the Claymores look to have got a break when Marcus Helfman was awarded a 1st down for this 6 yard catch from Anes. It looks like his knee is down here and the ball is short. We will take all the breaks we can get this year thanks!

Then on 1st down it appeared Ian Smart had got in from the 5 but he was marked just short. On 2nd down Ian again was stopped short. But thankfully on 3rd down Curt went in from the 1 on a QB sneak and we were in the end zone.

TOUCHDOWN CLAYMORES!

However Rob's extra point was blocked and it looked for a second like the Admirals would return it for a deuce ... however it was blown dead. Apparently the deuce is no longer part of the rules. Another break. Phew!

CLAYMORES 9-3

Amazingly we were in the end zone less than 2 minutes later, when Chris Downs fumbled when hit by Damien Gregory and Brad Franklin scooped up the ball and raced 67 yards to paydirt!

CLAYMORES 16-3

Chris Horn couldn't pull in this Stoerner pass on 3rd down on the Admirals next drive and they were forced to punt.

Talk about perfect field position for the new QB. Tom Arth had been promised the 2nd Q and in he came. Two Galloway runs gained nothing. On 3rd down Arth made it into the end zone - but a holding call nullified it. His 3rd down pass was incomplete and then Rob Hart missed a 32 yard FG ...

Two plays later the Claymores had the ball back though courtesy of the 2nd one handed Alphonso Roundtree pick of the day who quite literally stole the ball from Horn on a sideline pass.

With Hicks back in at RB the chains started to move again. An 11 yard run got us to the 20 yard line, and a 3 yard dump off on 3rd and 2 moved the ball to the 9.

An Arth run got the ball to the 3, but 2 passes into the end zone fell incomplete. However defensive pass interference on Drew Wahlroos put the ball on the 1, but Arth inexplicably gave up a 10 yard sack on 1st and goal. After a spike to stop the ball, Arth's 3rd down pass was incomplete.

Another field goal was botched. This time the snap to Nick Murphy went awry (apparently a fake had been called anyway) and all he could do was pick it up and throw it incomplete to end the half.

CLAYMORES 16-3 (HT)

3rd Q
It didn't take long for a once promising lead to disappear. The Claymores 1st drive consisted of 3 Galloway runs that gained 6 yards - right on his season average.
Then Chris Downs ripped off a 34 yard run and 2 plays later new Admirals QB Gibran Hamdan lofted a 12 yard TD to Chris Horn.

CLAYMORES 16-10

Arth looked to have swung the momentum back however when he got loose for a 39 yard run on a broken play where the middle of the Admirals simply vanished. However they didn't let him get away next time - sacking him on 3rd down.

That forced a Nick Murphy punt which was blocked by Wilson Thomas giving Hamdan decent field position again. A Cedric Scott sack on 3rd down however forced a Todd Sievers 49 yard FG attempt which was short.

4th Q
A 33 yard pass from Hamdan to a wide open Chris Taylor got the ball to the 3 yard line and Chris Downs went in over left tackle to tie the scores. Diliberto's extra point gave the Admirals the lead for the 1st time.

ADMIRALS 17-16

With 9 minutes to go, suddenly our D was leaking huge holes all over the place. Chris Downs ripped off runs of 16 and 34 yards, and Mike Malan chipped in with gains of 11 and 5, before Downs pounded another 6 for a 1st down.

But with the game on the verge of slipping away, Thomas Wright was able to force the ball from Downs' grasp on his next carry and James Lewis had the ball at the Claymores 14 yard line.

With 6 minutes left, it was a chance for redemption for Tom ...

And he responded. A combination of short passes to McCready, Hicks and Helfman got them across midfield. Then after a pass incomplete on 2nd & 10, Admirals DE Clint Mitchell foolishly hit Arth late - giving the Claymores a 1st down at the Admirals 25.

The Claymores ran Hicks up the middle twice for 4 and -4, forcing the Admirals to burn 2 time outs, but had not got any closer to a FG. However on 3rd down it looked for all the world that they would score a TD when Arth rolled right and fired toward Herb Haygood who was wide open in the end zone. Scott McCready who was trailing the play even celebrated as the ball sailed toward Herb - but Haygood couldn't handle the high pass and it would come down to the bare foot of Rob after all ...

Rob's 43 yarder (which tied a career long) was straight and true and made it with several yards to spare. Even though there was still 1:28 to play Rob wasn't shy in showing his delight at making such a huge field goal. Good for him - it hasn't been the easiest of seasons.

CLAYMORES 19-17

Now could the D hold? A 1st down pass from Stoerner to Malan got the ball to the 48 and on the next play Tony Donald dropped a pass that would have had them in FG range. Given a reprieve, 2 plays later Gavin Walls made a huge play by sacking Stoerner on 3rd & 4. On 4th & 10, Clint dropped and again Walls and Gregory chased Clint for his life. Although he needed 10 yards for the 1st down, Clint thought he saw enough green space to make it, but despite his despairing leap at the 1st down marker - ended up 2 yards short.

CLAYMORES WIN!

FINAL

CLAYMORES 19 ADMIRALS 17

Game "cheddars" to...

Rob Hart. Given his 1st chance to ever kick a 'game-winner' in the last 2 mins, Rob comes through with his clutch 43 yarder.

Scott McCready. 8 catches for 98 yards and terrific again (1 catch was later ruled a lateral). Stays on course to win receiving title.

Alphonso Roundtree. First 2 INT's of the season were both spectacular 1 handed grabs.

Thomas Wright. 6 tackles to lead the team and crucial forced fumble in 4th quarter.

What we learnt after Week 8 ...

Team showed Hart. This team desperately wanted this game, and when things started to fall apart in the 2nd half it looked bleak. But they were able to dig deep and find a way to win.

Don't let up. Although the plan was to play Tom in the 2nd Q all along, it was unfortunate how things played out. With a 13 point lead and the ball on the 4 yard line - why just not let Anes finish the half and extend the lead? The mishaps were by no means all Tom's fault, but Curt was playing well and we would maybe have got a much needed 20 point half-time lead. Curt has still yet to see action in 2 consecutive full quarters unlike the other 2 QB's.

Offense finally had ball control. A season high 43 rushing attempts helped keep the defense fresh. It might just have been a coincidence but Gavin Walls found an extra burst on the game's last 2 plays to seal the win.

We will miss you Jimmy. The win was tempered by the news that Jimmy McClain, who was playing lights out the last few weeks, had a sprained knee and would miss the rest of the season. He was still fairly upbeat afterwards - hoping to be back in the Jaguars camp in a month's time. Get well soon!

Odds & Ends

Good to see the relief on the players and coaches after the game that comes with a much needed road victory.

Also good to see Sitges Sack's John and Montse finally reunited with Jack!

BONUS COVERAGE THIS WEEK!

It was tripleheader weekend ... click here to see what went down