By Tim Monk – @Tim_MonkF10Y
The Bowl games have been decided. Promotion for some already secured, but we all know that isn’t enough. Winner’s medals are there for the taking, shaking bottles of champagne and drenching your mates with the UK’s answer to Gatorade is what they are all after. Let’s recap last week’s results and see how it all went down and what that means for the Finals.
Premiership
London Warriors 63 – 0 Manchester Titans
Tamworth Phoenix 7 – 6 London Blitz
Well, two very contrasting results in the Prem but no contrast in my predictions to the winners.
The Warriors absolutely demolished the Titans in the first half which saw 57 of the 63 points scored. I know that the Titans QB was away in Europe up until a day or 2 and I don’t what happened to the Titans, but the Warriors just took care of business and are surely favourites to take the Bowl game too.
They’ll face Tamworth after they squeezed past London Blitz. I predicted a low scoring game and just the 2 TDs were scored.
It was a defensive slugfest and plenty of back and forth between the 2 teams. Tamworth struck first and had the lead for a while before the Blitz levelled in the 4th quarter and seemingly having the momentum. The difference in the end was the XP between the two teams (actually had a funny feeling it was going to be blocked #aftertime). Was a really good game to watch on YouTube and shout out to UKAFL, even if the graphics for the time left leaves a lot to be desired.
I think HC Jason Scott enjoyed the victory and continuing to prove critics wrong…
Division 1
Sandwell Steelers 21 – 3 Northumberland Vikings
Solent Thrashers 20 – 13 Cambridgeshire Cats
I went for the Vikings in this one by a TD but the Steelers came fast out the blocks and the Vikings couldn’t catch back up. Quite surprised at how the Steelers dominated the early goings against a defence that is one of the best in the land. Whether there was any disruption to the Vikings groove as they had to travel or not I don’t know but it’s telling that so far that in both the Premiership and Division 1, all the home teams won and all the #1 seeds won.
Over in the South, the Thrashers held off the Cats. The Thrashers took the lead before the Cats scored twice to make it 13-7. The Thrashers finished the game the strongest and the Cats couldn’t keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Division 2
Halton Spartans 21 – 6 Clyde Valley Blackhawks
Birmingham Bulls 12 – 30 Inverclyde Goliaths
Essex Spartans 20 – 42 Bournemouth Bobcats
South Wales Warriors 16 – 6 London Blitz B
The Spartans defended their Halton Stadium fortress once more and had enough to take care of the Blackhawks, who scored late ruining my prediction of a 3-score game.
Good game in Birmingham, where Birmingham made a bit of a come back after going 22-6 down at half time. Stops by the Goliaths and a final nail in the coffin of a pick six sealed the celebrations for the Scottish team who are promoted in their first season in the league.
Bournemouth seem to love travelling round the M25! The only other team apart from Inverclyde to secure a victory away from home, the Bobcats put in another comprehensive victory over the #1 seeds Essex (as predicted!).
The Spartans were sent good luck messages from counterparts across the pond https://twitter.com/EssexSpartans/status/1162658631332040704 but unfortunately the Spartans actually had to go with their backup QB, which may or not have been the deciding factor in the end.
This sets up a mouth-watering clash for the Bobcats against the South Wales Warriors who took care of business in a nip and tuck game. Blitz took the lead in the first quarter but they were the only points they could muster and South Wales grew in to the game, taking the lead in the 2nd quarter and from that point on, choked the Blitz offence to run out the winners. Be interesting to see how the Bobcats approach the game on offence against a stubborn Warriors defence.
Here is confirmation of the Britball Bowl games and the dates and times as they are spread out over next few weekends:
Saturday 31st July
Division 2: 12pm – South Wales Warriors vs Bournemouth Bobcats
Division 1: 4pm – Sandwell Steelers vs Solent Thrashers
Sunday 1st September
Premiership: 4pm London Warriors vs Tamworth Phoenix
Saturday 7th September
Division 2: 2pm Inverclyde Goliaths vs Halton Spartans
We will try and bring you all the latest from at least 1 team in every match. If you are a player or coach and want to come on the podcast to talk about preparations, please get in touch with us on Facebook or Twitter (@F10YBritball).
