The Aztecs took a final tentative step towards the playoffs with this narrow victory in a game where both sides were missing numerous starters and were forced to use players out of position. The Bristol side were also without the luxury of their Offensive coach but the overall effect was to produce a Youth game of the highest quality with some stupendous drives in a fierce physical game that was a credit to both sides.

Stef Williams scampered twenty-five yards untouched, outpacing everyone for the opening first quarter score with. Alex Giltrow was stopped short on the two-point conversion to leave the visitors 6 – 0 ahead. From then on the Trojans allowed nothing more throughout the first half. Crunching hits from Keiron Askew and Chris Thacker led to Bristol having to adjust their game plan of running the ball to putting it into the air, registering a moral victory for the home side.

Tom Bishop, the Tamworth receiver who has scored all of the Trojans points this campaign took over the role of quarterback and played heroically, completing several passes as the Trojan offence moved the ball and took more than his fair share of hits. Apart from some hard running from Ian Dennant and Tom Tandurella behind the always excellent blocking of Nathan Ryan, both teams defences stayed strong and disciplined as the score remained 6 - 0 at the half.

The Trojans huge effort continued in the second half, they forced a punt on the Aztecs first drive and then went on a sixteen play, seventy-five yard drive converting three third downs and a fourth down to keep the drive moving. Bishop threw his first ever competitive touchdown pass to rookie receiver James Russell to crown the drive and tie the scores, hitting the wide out from thirty yards. Bishop then found linebacker turned Tight End Dan Hu, who hung onto the ball despite taking a jarring hit to give the Trojans an 8 - 6 lead. A score they defended well as the third quarter came to an end.

The home side held onto their slender advantage until the closing minutes. Bristol however did not panic and drove downfield converting twice on fourth down as they marched to the Tamworth two yard. The game looked as good as won for the Aztecs only for them to fumble the ball away and ease the pressure on the Trojan defense. Then fate played its final cruel card, the Trojans fumbling back to the opposition on the very next play. Last season’s finalists needed no second invitation and Jack Kelly strode into the end zone from six yards out to the relief of the Bristol organization. Owain Chambers notched the extra two points to leave the visitors 14 – 8 ahead and with the Trojans just two minutes to retrieve the situation.

Successive sacks to Bishop finally killed off any dream of a Tamworth recovery and kept the Aztecs safely on course for post-season play.

The game was played throughout with a hard hits, punishing running and gritty attitudes by both teams and more importantly with smiles on every players’ face which goes a long way to demonstrating the state of both programmes and the effect that each sides coaching staff has on the player. As is customary between these two sides they performed their warm downs together, a mark of respect that each has earned from the other.

The Aztecs then faced a horrendous journey home, discovering the delights or otherwise of the M5 for a few hours when the flooding took over and leaving them trapped motionless toreflect on a gruelling victory that may well bond this tight knit group even closer.