EJC 2002 JUNIORS

HOSTS GREAT BRITAIN slipped to a narrow 21-14 defeat against FRANCE in the opening Group A game of the 2002 EFAF Wilson European Junior Championships in Scotland on Sunday.

In Group Bs opening encounter, AUSTRIA looked comfortable throughout as they recorded a 28-6 victory over the CZECH REPUBLIC.

Great Britains youngsters came agonisingly close to matching their French rivals in front of more than 600 fans who braved rainy conditions at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire.

Trailing by seven points with seven seconds remaining in the game, GB quarterback TED BAYNHAM connected on a 36-yard pass to wide receiver SAM STRONG. But after catching the ball at Frances 2-yard line, Strong was unable to muscle his way into the end zone and time ran out on the Brits.

France started the stronger of the two teams and scored on their opening drive when running back GUILLAUME DUME raced away from the British defense for a 36-yard touchdown run.

Great Britain responded admirably and were level within two minutes when Baynham, of the Southern Sundevils, fired a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver JONATHAN GERRING, of the Hertfordshire Hurricanes.

France grabbed a 14-7 halftime lead when JONATHAN PERROLAZ scored on a 42-yard run but Great Britain levelled the contest at 14-14 in the third quarter when linebacker BEN FLOOD-PAGE returned a fumble by a French punt returner 5 yards into the end zone.

Despite being buoyed by that huge special teams play, Great Britain could not turn their momentum into a lead and France took advantage by scoring the decisive points five minutes from the end of the game.

Dume, who rushed for 79 yards on the day, scored his second touchdown of the game from 5 yards out to give the French a lead they would not relinquish.

Great Britain put up a spirited fightback but when Strong was gang-tackled two yards short of Frances end zone, it signalled the end of a classic encounter.

Great Britain head coach SIMON NEWNHAM said: Its the type of situation you see often on television, the last throw of the ball with only seconds to go and unfortunately we came up short. I definitely thought we deserved to take the game into overtime.

France head coach PAUL VINCENT MIRAVAL added: We were lucky to win that football game - Im not sure we deserved it. We made a lot of mistakes and Great Britain proved they have big-hearted players.

We made a great start and maybe our players were guilty of thinking it was going to be easy. It far and away was not an ] easy game.

Earlier in the day, Austria opened up a 15-0 halftime lead before cruising to a one-sided victory over their Czech opponents.

Running back FLORIAN GREIN opened the scoring on a 7-yard run before Austria were gifted a safety in the second quarter when an errant punt snap flew over the head of the Czech Republic punter and out of the end zone.

Quarterback PHILLIP JOBSTMANN stretched Austrias lead to 22-0 as he hit wide receivers PHILLIP LANG, of the Graz Giants, and CHRISTOPH BUDIMIR, of the Vienna Vikings for 4- and 20-yard touchdowns.

After being held without any passing yards in the first half, the Czechs finally got on the scoreboard in the third quarter when running back ONDREJ VISEK raced into the end zone from 60 yards out. Austria regained control of the game and pounded out a nine-minute fourth quarter drive that resulted in a 2-yard touchdown run by PETER HAMMER, of the Salzburg Bulls.

Austria head coach BERNHARD BINSTORFER said: The players prepared really well and there was fire in their eyes. Were a young group and small in size compared to the others, but we can play football.

Austria running back FLORIAN GREEN, who rushed for 103 yards, added: Were all happy after the first victory - but we know we can play even better.

Czech Republic head coach MARTIN KOCIAN admitted: The biggest disappointment is that we can play a lot better - we made a lot of mistakes, coaches included.