High scoring final was a crowd pleaser

Pirates, but this final, which they lost 4642, saw the most points ever scored by a losing team (previous highest scoring losers were Gateshead in 2008 with 28).

And they also contributed to the highest scoring final of all time by 23 points (the previous record was in 1991, Northants Storm 59-6 London Capitals).

London opened up an 8-0 lead early on before Sam Montgomerie passed to Struan Bailey from 29 yards then hit Fraser McDonald on the 2PAT to tie the scores heading into the second quarter.

Blitz scored either side of a McDonald touchdown for the Pirates to lead 24-14 at the break

McDonald was back in the endzone early in the third quarter, courtesy of a 39-yard completion from Sam Montgomerie. Montgomerie then completed his 4th TD pass, this time to Struan Bailey.

But London hit back with John Castello picking off Montgomerie’s first down pass and returning it 22 yards to score. Connor Rodgers ran in the 2PAT and the Blitz again had their noses in front at 32-26.

Still not giving up, EKP bounced straight back. A Montgomerie fumble was recovered by Jack Cochrane, who took advantage of the broken play to move the ball to London’s 22-yard line.

On the next play, Montgomerie made up for his earlier slip by finding Bailey again to level the scores as the game moved into the final period.

Early in the final period a short drive of just four plays concluded with the pairing of Montgomerie and McDonald combining for a third TD, this time from 13 yards. Montgomerie also added the 2PAT pass to Bailey to put EK 40-32 ahead – putting them on course for the title.

London kept battling away and reduced the gap to just two points when Key completed a rare pass to Ganiyu from 14 yards out.

The Blitz soon got themselves back ahead on a 41-yard run by MahoneyJones. QB Key ran in the 2PAT, leaving the Pirates needing a TD to tie the game with less than three minutes to play.

As London tried to kneel out the game, the Pirates used their time-outs hoping to force a punt and one last chance to save the game.

However, a heads-up play on fourth down by Key saw him keep the ball in the endzone, allowing time to expire, before letting himself be tackled by Ryan Miller for the two-point safety, leaving Blitz as 2017 Britbowl U19 Champions.