The Tees Valley American Football Academy's 12-14 year old flag NFL Schools Champions, the Eastbourne Cardinals, played at the Hollywood Complex in Glasgow against the Scottish Champions to determine who would be the best in Great Britain on Saturday.

In a very hard fought and nail-biting fixture the Cardinals lost 40-38 in the dying seconds of the game but despite this disappointing result the Cardinals showed they have what it takes to be winners and tomorrow they again enter a tough competition, the British club flag championships and go into this as favourite to take the title.

Meanwhile the academy's senior league team, the Cougars, played the East Midlands Saxons at the Eastbourne Sports Complex on Sunday and in a first half which saw a lacklustre Cougars only put six points on the board from a catch by wide receiver Andy Ellis, the Saxons dominated scoring 30 points.

After some straight talking from Cougars head coach Craig Buttery at half time, his team came out for the third quarter fired up and they scored twice, once with running back Ben McQueeny and again with quarter back Pete Rogers and the points after were also scored. Despite the Cougars onslaught the Saxons managed to hang on and for the second time this season, the lack of time and first half performance by the Cougars prevented them winning the game, the final score being Cougars 22 Saxons 30.

The Cougars next competitive match is in a fortnight away to the Saxons, where they intend to reverse the home fixtures score.

* Anyone interested in playing for the Cougars aged 18 or over can attend the Eastbourne Sports Complex in Darlington from 1pm on Sunday, June 22 where they can meet and train with the squad.