Great Britain beats Denmark, snags 5th at 2018 IFAF European Championships

Great Britain jumped out to a 14-0 lead and then powered past Team Denmark 33-16 to capture fifth place in the 2018 IFAF European Championships in Vantaa, Finland Saturday, August 4.

Aided by a 100 yard kickoff return touchdown in the second half after Denmark score by Josh Amis, Great Britain never lost control of the game.

British quarterback Patrick Daley threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns with receiver Dan Conroy hauling in two for 85 yard including a 67 yard touchdown. Ian Jacquet caught a 20 yard pass for a touchdown as well. Conroy also scored on a four yard run. Linebacker Alex Haldane added a touchdown on a fumble return.

For Denmark, Kasper Skyum competed 18 of 37 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown but was picked off four times. He also fumbled leading to a touchdown for Great Britain. Alex Klixbull and Lasse Lykke scored the touchdowns for Denmark.

Great Britain took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter as Conroy finished an 85 yard drive with a four yard touchdown, and then midway through the second quarter Daley connected with Conroy for a 67 yard touchdown and Britain took a 14-0 lead into the break.

Denmark reached the red zone once during the first half but the drive stalled on the 15 yard line.

Great Britain added to its lead early in the third quarter when Haldane scooped by a Skyum fumble and rumbled into the end zone to give the GB Lions a 20-0 lead.

Team Denmark finally caught a break, recovering a fumble at the Great Britain 26 yard line. Eight plays later, Denmark scored as Lykke caught a touchdown pass from Skyum and then they added a two-point convert to narrow the lead to 20-8. All their euphoria disappeared seconds later as Amis returned the kickoff 100 yards for a touchdowns, making it 26-8 with two minutes left in the third quarter.

Skyum finally got the Danish offense untracked, marching them from their own 26 yard line down to Britain’s eight yard line and capping the drive with a touchdown pass to Klizbull. Ashworth added the two point conversion and Denmark was within 10 points, 26-16 with eight minutes left.

Amis, who was having another outstanding game for Great Britain, picked off Skyum and Daley then drove the offense down to the Danish 20, finishing with a 20 yard touchdown pass to Jacquet.

Denmark’s final drive was snuffed out when Skyum was intercepted for a fourth time, at the Great Britain 22 yard line.

Britain ran out the clock and celebrated.

Watch the highlights here.