BAFA Adult Contact Week 16 Preview: Premiership and Division 1 Playoffs

Photo: Provided by Bristol Apache, taken by Platinum Photography

Week 16 of the BAFA Adult Contact season promises thrilling action as the Premiership regular season games unfold alongside the Wildcard Round of the Division 1 Playoffs. In a surprising turn of events, the East Kilbride Pirates vs. Merseyside Nighthawks game has been called off due to the Nighthawks not having enough players, a rare occurrence for a Premiership team. This week, the Premiership divisions are in the spotlight while the top seeds in Division 1 enjoy a bye, eagerly awaiting their opponents in the quarterfinals.

All games kick off at 2 pm unless otherwise stated.

Premiership

North

Manchester Titans (8-0) vs Edinburgh Wolves (3-5)

Newcastle Vikings (6-3) vs Tamworth Phoenix (4-3) – 4 pm

The undefeated Titans are on the brink of a significant milestone, aiming to extend their unbeaten streak to 26 games. Edinburgh, on the other hand, faces the possibility of finishing the season with a losing record for the first time since 2019. With both teams set to clash again next week, the Titans have already secured a home tie in the playoff semi-finals, while the Wolves are out of playoff contention. Historically, the Titans have dominated this matchup, winning five of the last six encounters. Manchester comes into this game fresh off a 55-20 victory over the Vikings, whereas the Wolves are recovering from a 13-28 loss to the East Kilbride Pirates.

The Vikings vs Phoenix game carries substantial playoff implications. A win for the Vikings would secure them the second seed in the North and set up a trip to London to face the Warriors. Conversely, a Phoenix win would keep their playoff hopes alive, contingent on winning next week's game against the Pirates. The Phoenix emerged victorious in their last encounter with the Vikings in Week 9, winning 26-24. With playoff dreams on the line, this matchup is poised to be a tight contest, where the defence might just tip the balance.

South

London Blitz (3-5) vs Bristol Aztecs (6-2)

Hertfordshire Cheetahs (3-6) vs Cambridgeshire Cats (5-3) – 2:30 pm

Solent Thrashers (0-9) vs London Warriors (8-0) – 3 pm

In the South, the London Blitz face the Bristol Aztecs in a critical two-game series. The Aztecs are in prime position to secure the second seed and book their semi-final trip to Manchester, thanks to their head-to-head advantage over the Cambridgeshire Cats. Coming off a dominant 67-0 win against the Solent Thrashers, the Aztecs look formidable. The Blitz, however, are no strangers to upsetting the odds, having won four of their last six encounters with the Aztecs, including a surprising 28-16 victory last year. Despite a challenging season, the Blitz recently secured a 24-10 win against the Hertfordshire Cheetahs and will be looking to repeat last year's heroics to disrupt the Aztecs' playoff plans.

The Cambridgeshire Cats are fighting for their playoff lives as they take on the Hertfordshire Cheetahs. A win is crucial for the Cats, who need to also hope for an Aztecs slip-up to clinch the final playoff spot. Their recent 34-21 victory over the Cheetahs in Week 10 demonstrates their capability, but the Cheetahs, eager to finish the season on a high note, will not go down without a fight. The Cheetahs' last game was a loss to the Blitz, while the Cats come into this game after a comfortable 42-7 victory over the Thrashers.

A classic David vs. Goliath battle, the winless Solent Thrashers take on the undefeated London Warriors. The Thrashers have struggled all season, and facing the top-seeded Warriors, who have dominated their previous meetings, this game seems an uphill battle. Their last encounter ended in a 65-0 rout by the Warriors, and the average score of their last five meetings is a lopsided 53-2 in favour of the Warriors. The Thrashers will be playing for pride, while the Warriors will be looking to maintain their perfect season and enter the playoffs with momentum.

Division 1 Playoffs – Wildcard Weekend

NFC 1

3 Scunthorpe Alphas (6-2) vs 6 Shropshire Revolution (5-3)

The Scunthorpe Alphas are on a hot streak, entering the playoffs on a four-game winning run and boasting the most potent offence in NFC 1, averaging over 35 points per game. Their journey to the third seed, though not ideal, still affords them a valuable home game. The Alphas, with a 23-7 victory over the Sheffield Giants in their last game, are confident and prepared. For the Shropshire Revolution, this season has been a remarkable ascent from Division 2 to the playoffs. Their final regular season game was a tough 44-9 loss to the Nottingham Caesars, but they will be looking to upset the high-flying Alphas. This is their first meeting, adding an element of the unknown to an already intriguing playoff clash.

4 Yorkshire Rams (6-2) vs 5 Inverclyde Goliaths (6-2)

The Yorkshire Rams, despite an administrative setback that cost them a higher seed, are eager to showcase their defensive prowess on their home turf. The Rams, who have allowed just 15 points per game, come into this game off a 32-22 win over the Humber Warhawks. Their defence will be crucial against the Inverclyde Goliaths, who are making a long journey for this pivotal matchup. The Goliaths, having narrowly lost the division title after a 49-21 defeat to the Glasgow Tigers, will be motivated to avenge their 2022 defeats to the Rams, where they suffered heavy losses of 62-26 and 42-0. This game is a chance for the Goliaths to prove their mettle and potentially set up another trip to Glasgow if they advance.

SFC 1

3 Bristol Apache (7-1) vs 6 Wembley Stallions (6-2) – 12 pm

The Bristol Apache, whose only blemish this season is a 1-point loss to the South Wales Warriors, have been dominant, especially on defence, conceding just 5 points per game. They will need every bit of that defensive prowess against the Wembley Stallions, who have a balanced and efficient offence, averaging 28 points per game. The Apache, coming off a 25-6 win over the Bournemouth Bobcats, will be looking to leverage their home advantage and defensive strength. The Stallions, on the other hand, are equally impressive and will be strategising to find and exploit any weaknesses, particularly focusing on the two games where the Warriors managed to take the upper hand against the Apache.

4 South Wales Warriors (6-2) vs 5 London Olympians (6-2)

In what could be a defensive showdown, the South Wales Warriors, with their stingy defence allowing just 7 points per game, face the London Olympians, who average nearly 27 points per game on offence but also have only conceded 10 points per game. The Warriors are on a four-game winning streak, including a notable victory over the division champion Bristol Apache. Their last outing was a dominant 41-0 win over the Hereford Stampede. The Olympians, finishing strong with consecutive wins over the London Blitz B, will be aiming to crack the Warriors’ formidable defence. This game is a classic playoff matchup where offence meets defence, and the winner will move on to face the Rushmoor Knights, adding even more at stake to this intense encounter.