BAFA Leagues 2014 Season – Week Two Results
The 2014 British American Football season is barely underway and yet we’ve seen some amazingly high scoring games. Some teams have yet to make a start, but those that have are setting down some heavy markers for those awaiting their turn.
Once again arguably the game of the week involved the Chester Romans in the National North West. Coming off the back of their narrow road win in Staffordshire last week, they were again on their travels, this time to Merseyside Nighthawks. Another game full of twists and turns had the Romans on the losing side this time, the ‘Hawks edging a thriller 23-21.
The other game in this conference saw newcomers the Walney Terriers visit the Manchester Titans. The Titans just missed out on playoff football in 2013 and they were simply too much for the new boys running away with a 52-13 win.
In the Premier North the Gateshead Senators came back down to Earth with a considerable bump. After last weeks emphatic win over Doncaster, they entertained the East Kilbride Pirates. The newly promoted Senators were soundly beaten 72-0 and now know that life in the top flight will not be plain sailing. Tamworth Phoenix had a huge 2013, going 9-1, and they opened their account this year with a 36-0 win at the Lancashire Wolverines.
The only match played in the Premier South was in Berkshire as the Renegades looked to bounce back from an opening day defeat. Last year the Bristol Aztecs went to the playoffs and they look in good form early on as they handed out a 41-0 thrashing of their Berkshire hosts. It was meant to be the day that the London Warriors started the defence but due to the Sussex Thunder withdrawing this year they have to wait until Week 4.
The league have announced that there will be no 1-0 walkovers for teams in the Premier South that were due to play the Thunder.
Which leads us nicely, or not, into the National South East where another new team was due to make its debut. London Hornets could not fulfil their fixture against the Ipswich Cardinals and it has been confirmed that the Suffolk side has been awarded a 1-0 win.
Two games did go ahead and there were two more shutouts bringing the total to five so far on the day. Watford Cheetahs beat the Ouse Valley Eagles 19-0, and the Essex Spartans crushed the Maidstone Pumas 69-0.
A story brewing in the South West is that of the Gloucester Centurions. After losing out by a point last week they were on the road again, this time to face the Bristol Apache. Playing their part in another heart breaking loss, this time by a score of 8-0, means that the Centurions have already matched their loss total of 2013 when they went 8-2. In a conference that includes Farnham and Solent they may find it tough to match the heights of last year.
Lastly we go to the Midlands and another team making their BAFANL debut. The Sandwell Steelers fought hard in their home opener, but in the end it was the experience that got the Oxford Saints over the line by a score of 34-6.
