Division 2 playoff picture takes shape
The eight teams reaching the postseason in Division 2 have now been decided with one week to go in the regular season.
Dundee went into the half time break confident. Sure Milton Keynes had won their match against Bedfordshire but Dundee were getting the better of the Division 2 leading West Coast Trojans and were 14-6 up. A win would see them into the playoffs, but unfortunately the second half saw the Trojans started playing like the champions they are storming to a 47-14 victory that saw their rivals eliminated.
This was the day when most of the league played their final games and so we now know how Division 2 stacks up. At the top barring a massive upset against the Clyde Valley Blackhawks next week will sit the undefeated West Coast Trojans. The team have appeared imperious all season and in their first seven games had given up just 12 points on defense.
Lancashire lost for the first time last weekend but are unlikely to let that affect them going into the postseason especially as the
margin of defeat was a single point. Similarly Berkshire are 9-1 having fought through a tricky West with South Wales pushing them
hard. Seemingly the most competitive of them all though was the East.
Four teams were in contention for a playoff position in the East going into this week. Three now qualify. The best of these (thanks to a last second touchdown against Essex) are the Kent Exiles. They will relish a home game to open the postseason but might have hoped for easier opponents than the West’s runners up South Wales who have only given up 58 points all year and are looking great.
Shropshire will be making a trip to Berkshire and despite a couple of close games are looking good going forward. Essex meanwhile in 7th should be able to give Lancashire a good fight and run them close having nearly topped the East. The tough ask falls to Milton Keynes but they have proven themselves to be fighters this season. Can they go to the West Coast Trojans and do what Dundee and so many others have failed to do?
It is all building up to be a fantastic quarter final weekend at the end of the month and we have not even mentioned Division 1.
Content courtesy of Jonathan Little – BAFANL News Editor.
