Handforth Hammerheads 8 v 12 Lancashire Wolverines
These close neighbours were once again involved in a tight and titanic struggle, with the final place at stake for the English Conference playoffs. Over the last three seasons only a single score has split the sides and this game was no exception.
Honours were even in the first period as defenses stood firm. Handforth drew first blood in the second quarter when quarterback Ric Hennessy scampered sixty-seven yards for the TD. The conversion attempt failed leaving the home side with a slender 6-0 lead at halftime.
James Lynch extended Handforth's lead in the third when he downed Wolverine's quarterback David Mead in his own end zone for a safety. As the sides went into the fourth quarter the Hammerheads still looked as if they had their playoff berth booked.
The Wolverines rallied in the fourth quarter as Sam Fogg sprinted thirty-one yards for the score. With the two-point conversion failing the Wolverines still trailed 8-6. With Handforth's offense struggling to find the end zone Lancashire finally took the lead when Matt Lord blasted in from one yard out. The conversion again failed leaving the score 12-8 in favour of last year's English second place team. The Hammerheads took to the air on almost every down in the final moments but miscues and good defense had Lancashire breathing a sigh of relief as they protected their narrow victory.
North Lanarkshire Rams 10 v 13 Inverclyde Sharks
The ever-improving Sharks pulled off somewhat of a surprise when they downed the Scottish Division runners up. I heavy and very wet conditions, Inverclyde drew first blood with a three-yard dash from Gary Clark for a score. Alan Parker, as accurate as ever, kicked the two points to give the Sharks an early 8 - 0 advantage. The Rams battled back when David Hare sped into the end zone and Paul McGovern notched the extra points to tie the scores as the first quarter expired.
The second quarter saw defenses refusing to budge and only a safety by Sharks' Sean Carney split the teams 8 - 10 at the interval.
Both offenses found the weather and stiff defenses difficult to beat in the third and it wasn't until the fourth quarter that the Rams recorded a safety of their own through Martin Wallace to tie the scores at 10 - 10. With less than four minutes on the clock the Sharks gambled on the reliable boot of Alan Parker, who slotted home the game winning field goal from thirty-seven yards and record a memorable victory.