BAFA Adult Contact Week 13 Preview

Photo: Olivia Sherman - @ogsport.photos

Following a league-wide bye week to make way for the BAFCA convention we find ourselves back in action with the BAFA Adult Contact Week 13. For parts of the British American Football community the playoffs are only three game weeks away and this weekend we could see playoff places decided and crown more divisional champs. Let’s look at this week’s Adult Contact action.

All games kick off at 2 pm unless otherwise stated.

Premiership

North

East Kilbride Pirates (2-3-1) vs Manchester Titans (6-0) - 12 pm

Tamworth Phoenix (3-3-1) vs Edinburgh Wolves (3-3) - 12 pm

Merseyside Nighthawks (0-8) vs Newcastle Vikings (5-2) - 2:30 pm

For some teams in the Premiership North, a hard slog to the end of the regular season awaits with four games in five weeks. Two of them being the Pirates and Titans. Manchester played host to EKP back in Week 6 where they were dominant and finished 42-0 victors. Since then, East Kilbride has gone 1-1-1 with minor improvements on offence. The Titans have remained dominant, but they’ll be the first to tell you they haven’t played to their standards, by my calculations they could secure a playoff spot with a win and an Edinburgh Wolves loss.

Tamworth have turned their season around since their 14-12 loss to the Wolves in Week 4 they have gone 3-1-1 and fought the Titans hard at home in their only loss since. They’ll be looking to keep up with Newcastle by beating the Wolves this weekend by at least 3 points to secure the head-to-head to force a crucial tie against the Vikings in Week 16. The Wolves have a difficult 2-game stretch with one of the longest away days to Tamworth and then a local derby next week. It is season-defining for the Wolves, win both and they maintain hopes of a playoff spot.

A very disappointing Nighthawks season is close to coming to an end. They host in the Prem for the final time this season and they welcome the Newcastle Vikings. When these two met in Newcastle, the Vikings finished winners with a score of 46-2, and have a lot at stake to ensure they secure the victory and continue their inaugural playoff chase. The Nighthawks’ demotion from the Premiership has already been confirmed so they will be looking to make improvements to take forward to next season and will want to finish their last home game of the season proud.

South

Bristol Aztecs (4-2) vs Hertfordshire Cheetahs (3-4) - Saturday 7pm

London Warriors (7-0) vs London Blitz (2-4)

Solent Thrashers (0-7) vs Cambridgeshire Cats (4-3)

Bristol’s loaded second half of the season continues following a two-week break but last time around they handed it to the Cambridgeshire Cats and secured the head-to-head, so their playoff spot is in their hands. The Cheetahs and Aztecs met back in Week 9 where Bristol came out 47-0 winners. Hertfordshire needs to win this game to stay in the playoff hunt.

The Warriors can secure the division title with a win over their historical London rivals having secured the head-to-head against Bristol. The Blitz however kept the score closer against the Warriors than their division rivals (not named Bristol!) with a 6-35 loss in Week 11 but the tide has changed in this division and the Warriors are dominant!

Solent needs to win this game against the Cambridgeshire Cats to secure their future in the division, but should they lose this game then their relegation from the Premiership will be confirmed (barring any realignment next year of course!). Cambridgeshire will be wanting to keep up the pressure on Bristol in case they slip up in their remaining four games so they can jump into second for the playoffs. These two met in Week 4 and the Cats won 27-0.

Division 1

NFC 1 - Scottish

Glasgow Tigers (4-2) vs Inverclyde Goliaths (6-1)

Both of these two teams secured their places in the playoffs last time around so now they are playing for the division title and seedings in the playoffs. Currently, the Goliaths sit in the second seed and the Tigers in the fifth seed. For the Goliaths it’s simple – win and become division champs with a 7-1 record. The Tigers need to win but also win by 19 points to secure the head-to-head and a chance to take the division title next week against the Highland Stags due to their first meeting finishing 31-13 to the Goliaths back in Week 3.

NFC 1 - North

Chester Romans (3-4) vs Yorkshire Rams (5-1)

Scunthorpe Alphas (4-2) vs Humber Warhawks (1-5)

In this division, we have the final NFC 1 playoff spot available, and the division title is still up for grabs. The Romans cannot secure either due to their surprisingly heavy defeat to the Alphas in Week 12 and they face the Rams who will be chasing the division title. These two met in Week 9 where the Rams secured a 26-10 victory at home, can the Romans cause an upset?

For the Alphas if they beat the Warhawks then they will secure the final playoff spot with one game left to play and will keep the pressure up on the Yorkshire Rams in the division title race knowing they’ll need the Rams to slip up to stand a chance of winning the title. Unfortunately, the Humber Warhawks are confirmed in the drop zone for this season and have two games to gather momentum into next season. These two met in Week 9 and it ended 55-6 to Scunthorpe.

NFC 1 - Midlands

Nottingham Caesars (5-0) vs Shropshire Revolution (5-2) - 12 pm

Whilst we await the decision of the outcome of the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the Panthers/Caesars game from Week 12, Nottingham finds themselves still with a simple scenario this week – win and become division champs. For Shropshire, if they wish to win the division, they will need to beat the Caesars by 29 points and hope the Caesars lose out. Granted that’s an unlikely scenario but it’s the maths!

SFC 1 - East

Kent Exiles (4-3) vs East Kent Mavericks (7-0)

This division is sewn up already, but the East Kent Mavericks are still chasing the number 1 seed in the playoffs. They can secure the number 1 seed if they win this week without conceding 64 points! These two met way back in Week 1 where the Mavericks won 27-6.

SFC 1 - Central

Portsmouth Dreadnoughts (3-3) vs Wembley Stallions (4-2)

Which of these two teams is going to join Rushmoor in the playoffs? We will have a better idea after this week. If the Stallions win, they book their place in the playoffs but for Portsmouth, they still need to win and beat Wembley by more than 17 points, due to Wembley winning 37-21 in Week 7, to take the head-to-head and be in with a shot of a playoff spot next week.

SFC 1 - West

Bristol Apache (6-1) vs Bournemouth Bobcats (3-3) - 12 pm

Bristol and Bournemouth met in Week 3 where Bristol left victorious 38-0. Bournemouth have improved significantly since then and now find themselves on a 3-game win streak. However, they face a Bristol side who will be wanting to take momentum into the playoffs as division champs. If Bristol wins, they confirm themselves as division champs and the third seed in the playoffs.

Division 2

NFC 2 - East

Doncaster Mustangs (1-5-1) vs Lincolnshire Bombers (1-5)

So, who’s going to finish in third place in this division? These two teams and Wakefield are currently separated by a tie in the division. Lincolnshire have it in their hands, but they have to travel to Doncaster this week and Wakefield next week. These two met in Week 10 where the Bombers beat the Mustangs 16-14 at home. If Doncaster wins by 3 points or more, they will secure the third spot having the head-to-head against Wakefield.

NFC 2 - West

Sandwell Steelers (5-1) vs Lancashire Wolverines (1-3-1)

Sandwell are the in-form team in this division having won their last three. Last time out they confirmed their spot in the playoffs and took top spot in the division. Should Sandwell continue their impressive form they set up a showdown with the Staffordshire Surge next week with the division title on the line. The Wolverines took their first win last time around against the Leigh Miners but face a tough challenge away from home this weekend against a team they have lost to twice already this season.

SFC 2 - East

Ouse Valley Eagles (3-3) vs Colchester Gladiators (6-0)

This division is sorted following Colchester’s win against Essex Tridents before the BAFCA convention break. The victory secured them the division title and the number one seed in the SFC 2 playoffs. These two teams now face each other in back-to-back weeks. Ouse Valley will be looking to achieve one more win to avoid finishing bottom of the division by virtue of Ipswich holding the head-to-head.

SFC 2 - West

Cornwall Monarchs (1-5) vs Berkshire Renegades (3-4)

Sussex Thunder (3-3) vs Swindon Storm (2-5)

We will finally get some ideas of who’s making the playoffs from this division at the end of this weekend! Amazingly the 1-5 Cornwall Monarch could still make the playoffs. They need to win out convincingly starting with beating the Renegades by 16 points this week since they lost to Berkshire 15-0 in Week 3. For Berkshire, it’s in their hands to make the playoffs, if they win, they’re in but to take the division title they’ll need Sussex to lose out.

For Sussex, if they win, they not only confirm a playoff space but also the division title due to their head-to-head tiebreaker against Berkshire. Sussex and Swindon met in Week 5 where Sussex won a close game 7-0 away from home. Swindon Storm can still make the playoffs, but they will need to beat Sussex by 8 points and hope Sussex loses their remaining game next week.