BAFA Leagues 2014 – Week Four results
There was an early start to Week Four of the British American Football season as Coventry Jets hosted the Birmingham Bulls on Saturday afternoon. These two long standing teams put on a bright display in the sunshine and it was the home team that earned the win, 27-12, to join Tamworth at 2-0 on top of the Premier North.
The busiest schedule on Sunday was in the Premier South, where four games took place, and saw the London Warriors open the defence of their 2013 title. They took their time to get going but were too strong for a Berkshire Renegades side who are still looking for their first win after a 44-0 loss.
Across the capital and another London stronghold. The Olympians have so often been the forgotten team of the big three in London, but they started the season in decent, if unspectacular fashion with a 20-8 win over East Kent Mavericks. The Cambridge Cats had a strong showing early in their game against the London Blitz, but they eventually went down to a 52-6 score which was a little flattering for the visitors.
Finally in the South it was the Premier debut of last seasons National champions. Colchester Gladiators conquered all before them last year but the step up may prove a difficult one as they lost out on their travels to South Wales Warriors, edged out 14-12.
We’ve passed comment before on how the National Midlands could be the closest fought conference, and the two games played there on Sunday were further testament to that. Shropshire Revolution shrugged off their disappointing 0-2 start to get off the mark with a 27-6 home win over Leicester Falcons. Sandwell Steelers won their home opener, 19-14 over Lincolnshire Bombers, which was well deserved after a great defensive effort. This means that Oxford Saints are now the only unbeaten team in the Midlands.
After racking up 47 and 75 points in their first two games it was a question of how many when Clyde Valley welcomed Dundee Hurricanes. They continue to set the pace and after a 51-14 win the Blackhawks are 3-0 and very much the team to beat in the North.
Watford Cheetahs have yet to concede a point in the South East, and they went 2-0 with a comprehensive 42-0 win against Ipswich Cardinals. Next up for the Cheetahs a visit from the surprising Bury Saints who have been idle since their opening day win.
Across to the South West and the biggest score of the day, and maybe the biggest surprise. Solent Thrashers lived up their name and ran up the largest score the day in beating Gloucester Centurions 67-15. However the biggest margin of victory was put up by Bournemouth Bobcats as they ruined the league debut of the Portsmouth Dreadnoughts, easily winning 64-0. Maybe the upset of the week though was in Swindon as the Storm sneaked past the Bristol Apache 17-12. That was a 3-7 team last year beating an 8-2 playoff team from 2013. It doesn’t get easier for Bristol as they go to red hot Farnham next weekend.
