American Football: Olympians champions

THE London Olympians became the champions of European American football late on Saturday night when they defeated the Amsterdam Crusaders 42-21 to win the Euro Bowl Trophy in front of a 10,000 crowd at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, writes Nick Halling.

Facing the defending champions, the Olympians were considered underdogs against a team making its fifth appearance in the final. But they put on a powerful display of running and passing to become only the second British winners of the title, following the success of the Manchester Spartans in 1990.

The Londoners' victory was built around the exploits of their only American player, the quarterback Leonard Valentine, who threw three touchdown passes, two to the receiver Wesley Garth, the third to Leroy Innes.

The versatile Valentine also ran for two touchdowns himself, while the scoring was completed by the running back Richard Dunkley, who was also named Most Valuable Player.

The Olympians, the British title-holders, have lost only twice in their last 37 games, and are expected to retain their domestic crown in the National Championship game on 1 August.