Camden Sports - by DAN AITCH Published: 7 May 2009
Running back Gareth Dauley powers in for a successful touchdown
Blitz fightback blasts Aztecs in hot opener
THE London Blitz American Football team made a white-hot start to their 2009 campaign on Sunday with an emphatic 40-16 victory over the Bristol Aztecs.
Before kick-off both teams paid respect to late Blitz player Dan ‘Raiders’ Dawson with a minute’s silence, which was followed by rousing cheers from both teams and fans alike.
The Aztecs raced into a 7-0 lead, but the Finsbury Park-based Blitz hit back immediately when Rod Bradley found the end zone, making a 39-yard reception from quarterback Freddie Boyle. Nathan Holt missed the extra point after failing with his kick, leaving the Blitz trailing 7-6.
Linebacker Mark Penfound grabbed a second score of the game for the Blitz, allowing Fabrizio Gargiulo to add the extra point to open up 13-6 lead. Another touchdown from wide receiver Bradley, combined with a successful kick from Holt, gave the Blitz a four-point lead at half-time.
In the second-half, running back Gareth Dauley scored with a three-yard touchdown and Gargiulo tacked on the extra point. Holt then ran the ball in from seven-yards and added his own extra point to score the first touchdown of his career.
The result was all but a formality when Blitz safety Ed Morgan ensured the victory with the game’s second interception to leave the score London Blitz 40, Bristol Aztecs 16.