SUSSEX Thunder came close to defeating British League champions London O's at Southwark Park.
Despite an 18-15 defeat, Thunder pushed the O's all the way.
Thunder scored first when Cliff Reid, playing his first game for four years, forced his way into the endzone for a touchdown and Andy Smythe kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
The visitors held firm for six plays but on the seventh play O's quarterback Junior Price fired a precision pass to Clive Palumbo for the touchdown but the extra point was missed.
London O's then took advantage of some good fortune when Darran Cooper collected an eight-yard pass for their second touchdown. The two-point extra attempt was missed which meant London led 12-7 at the end of the half.
In the third quarter, the O's stretched their lead to 18-7 when Collis Seale-McConnie scored on an eight- yard run, but Thunder fought back in the fourth and a one-yard run by Matt Townsend and a two-pointer from Stuart Franklin reduced the deficit to 18-15.
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