The Britbowl Weekend Experience

Original Image Jody Davies

The Britbowl National Championship game is the pinnacle of the adult contact season. It stands alone as the highest accolade a British team can achieve, but rather than present it in splendid isolation the team at BAFA build a whole weekend around it!

Four title games to settle the champions of each tier of competition, in stadium announcers, VIP guests, competitions, merchandise, half-time entertainment and catering, plus for those that can’t make it in person, a professional level live stream bringing the whole experience to you and your chosen device.

The 2024 event had the Division Two and Women’s contact finals on the Saturday, followed by the Division One and Premier title deciders on the Sunday. I’ll take each day in turn and get you up to speed with who took home the titles and the medals.

First up at midday on Saturday, we saw two one loss programmes go head-to-head. The Colchester Gladiators (the southern champions) met the Sandwell Steelers (champions of the north). The first quarter was a cagey affair as the teams tested each other out, the defences having the upper hand. Colchester looked to have a dangerous weapon in the shape of running back Luigi Phillips, who threatened to break away each time he touched the ball. The quarter ended though with no points on the board. The Gladiators were now getting the upper hand and a punishing run by Alvez had them at first and goal. With the coaches needing someone with bull-rushing ability, they sent in defensive end Curtis Bourke, and on the next play he barged in for the go-ahead score, the PAT was good, and Colchester were ahead at 7-0. Sandwell re-doubled their efforts and started to make some plays, particularly receiver Adam Smith who ignited the crowd with a spectacular one handed catch down the right sideline. The Steelers couldn’t maintain the momentum though, and at the half Colchester had preserved their one score lead. The third quarter was another defensive stand-off, with Gladiators linebacker Joshua Mews stifling the Sandwell offence on numerous drives and Sandwell safety Rob Hardwick making some last-ditch tackles. The game came alive in the final quarter, when Phillips finally broke the big run he had threatened to, racing sixty yads to score and seal the game for Colchester. With the PAT secured, the game was won at 14-0. The MVP was awarded to running back Kieran Polley who had been a workhorse for the Gladiators all-day.

Phillips races to the endzone – Image Estelle Mai

For a number of years the Birmingham Lions women’s team had reigned supreme in the British game, that was until their sisters the London Warriors arrived on the scene. In last years final we were treated to a points fest as the Warriors retained the title on the back of a 43-38 victory. This years’ title decider though, proved to be a defensive showcase. Both teams had an elite talent in their offensive backfield, Ruth Matta for Birmingham and Siobhan Walker for London, they would both have a big impact on the outcome. A notable absentee for the Lions was defensive stand-out Phoebe Schecter who had recently hung up her pads, hers would be big cleats to fill. The first quarter didn’t deliver any points, the nearest we came was a missed field goal by the Warriors. At the start of the second quarter Birmingham mixed it up at quarterback, bringing in Oli Davies as a wildcat option and she ran for ten yards, the Lions still ended up in a punting situation though, which London blocked. Two plays later Walker broke two tackles and raced all the way to the endzone! The PAT was unsuccessful, so the Warriors led 6-0. Natalie Parker came back in at quarterback for Birmingham and with the help of two big runs by Matta she drove the ball down to the one-yard line. A sneak behind her centre equalled the score, and then they ran the same play to secure a two-point conversion and a lead of 8-6. As the end of the first half drew near, we all held our breath as Walker went down injured. She was helped from the field by the medics who worked feverishly during the break to get her back in action for the second half. Truly embodying her team’s name, she was the epitome of a Warrior as she continued to make plays. London knew they had to go for it, but an errant pass was picked off by Sydney Green (who was playing her last game) as the third quarter closed. The Warriors pushed on in search of a score, but a big hit by the Birmingham defence caused a fumble that was recovered by Matta and the game was effectively over. Green came in at quarterback and ran the ball well to eat up the clock, before taking the knee on successive plays to close out the game. It was fitting that the contest should end with the ball in her hands as Birmingham regained the title. New BAFA CEO Chad Ehlertsen handed out the medals along with the MVP cap, which went to Ruth Matta for her impact on both offence and defence.

Sydney Green finished the job for The Lions – Image Jody Davies

As the sun set on Saturday’s action we were at the halfway point in the annual festival of British American Football. Sunday, as we would witness, delivered two more high octane encounters.

Following a morning full of torrential rain in Coventry, as game time approached for the Division One Championship, the sun broke through. The teams had already secured promotion to the Premiership tier, but this game was to decide the top Division One team in the country. Both had gone undefeated throughout the season. In fact, The Rushmoor Knights could claim to be from the most successful club in Britball, with both their under 16 and Under 19 sides already having taken their respective National Championships. The Nottingham Caesars, who were originally founded as the junior team of Britball pioneers The Nottingham Hoods in 1984 had raced through their schedule scoring for fun. The stand was filling up and was swelled by a contingent of British American Football Hall of Fame members, who were introduced by the stadium announcers and cheered by the crowd. It was time for some action.

As the teams entered the field it was evident that Nottingham had the numbers advantage, their roster was huge. In contrast, Rushmoor looked to be missing some key personnel. The most impactful of the absentees was talismanic quarterback Calvin Stitt, who had injured his shoulder in the “semi-final.” They did however, feature GB Women’s starter, Lucy Peaty in the defensive backfield.

Nottingham won the toss and elected to receive the ball, it didn’t take them long to make a statement play. Quarterback Liam McGovern found his favourite target, Ben Harrison, for big yards. Four plays later he found him again, this time for a touchdown, it had been a ninety-three-yard drive! The PAT kick was good, 7-0 Nottingham. The Caesars defence were also fired up, with veteran linebacker Andrew Wilkins making a big tackle for a loss causing the Knights to punt and give the ball back. At his own thirty McGovern handed the ball off to speedy running back Toby Okuwa, who shifted through the gears and raced seventy yards to the house! As the quarter ended it was now 14-0 Caesars.

Despite some tough running by GB Lions running back Aaron Sekwalor, Rushmoor couldn’t get any momentum going on offence, and as soon as they were back in possession, Nottingham piled on the agony for the Knights defence. Two further passing touchdowns in quick succession, one to Harrison followed by another to Selasi Sosuh, coupled with a two-point conversion, moved the score to 28-0. Rushmoor it seemed, couldn’t catch a break. A high snap was recovered in the backfield by Sekwalor but he fumbled the ball as he was hit. Elite edge rusher Jean-Richard Wohi showed great awareness, scooping the loose ball he ran it in for another score, with the kick converted we were getting close to triggering the running clock! 35-0 Nottingham.

Wohi spent the day in the Knights backfield – Image Danny Pole

With Stitt out, James Biggar was standing in at quarterback for the Knights, he knew he had a willing target in receiver Stephen Godfrey and despite being under constant pressure, he continued to try and find him. His perseverance paid off and they connected on a forty- yard pass, placing them in the red zone. Two plays later they hooked up again, this time Godfrey was in the endzone and Rushmoor had opened their account. They converted the score, making it 35-7 Nottingham. The Caesars then shot themselves in the foot when they had to recover a botched snap in their own endzone, the Knights got the safety adding a further two points to their tally moving it to 35 – 9. Enthused by their change in fortune Rushmoor drove down the field, and with time running out in the first half, they decided to go for a field goal from fifty yards out. It fell short.

A more optimistic Knights entered the field for the second half, unfortunately for them they met a more determined Caesars. As the third quarter progressed Nottingham added two further scores. Another reception by Sosuh and a pick-six by Sam Pearson. Harrison also ran in a two-point conversion, meaning the final quarter would start with the Caesars ahead 49-9.

The clock was now running, and Nottingham were rotating. The Caesars kept the ball on the ground to eat up the clock, feeding Ben Pugh who ensured the chains kept moving. Rushmoor did get the ball back, and the Biggar to Godfrey partnership completed one last pass. On the next play though, Nottingham’s Theodore Okechukwu recovered a fumble in the Rushmoor backfield, and the game was over. Final score 49-9 Caesars.

Nottingham’s combination of veteran ballers and young talented athletes from the Trent and Nottingham universities had combined to deliver them an undefeated season and a well deserved place in the BAFA Premiership North for the 2025 season. Veteran Head Coach Vanden Warner and his staff had rebuilt the programme over the last few seasons and their hard work and determination had paid off. The MVP, unsurprisingly, went to Ben Harrison.

Harrison had himself a day! – Image Danny Pole

The stage was now set for the final game of the weekend, and the contact season itself. If we study the geography to see where the top tier British Champion teams have been based over the years, we will see that of the thirty-eight, twenty-six of them were based in London. History repeated itself in 2022 and ’23 when the Titans won their back-to-back titles, duplicating what the Manchester Spartans had done in 1989 an ’90. So far though, a Northwest three-peat is still proving to be elusive.

Britbowl XXXVI, The National Championship between the London Warriors and The Bristol Aztecs, the two teams who had defeated all other pretenders to the throne to claim their place in the final. The Warriors came into the game as six-time champions, looking to make it a magnificent seven. In the previous two finals they had been thwarted by the Manchester Titans and they were determined to regain “their title.”

Bristol, had been trending upwards for a while, aided by the addition of American scholarship athletes from the University of West England to their roster, they were now in position to fight for the highest prize. As the two teams entered the field it was evident that these were bigger, faster, stronger athletes.

Bristol won the toss and chose to defer, so London’s offence would get the ball first after a good return by Justin Poerio. Quarterback Dee Williams handed the ball to running back Andy Owusu and in a portent of what was to come throughout the game, he punished the Aztecs defence for good yards. A completed pass by Williams to Joe Hamilton kept the drive alive, but then it stalled, and the Warriors had to punt. Bristol started the game with young British quarterback Louis Benzey under centre, and he found Terrell Jones for a good gain, but they then had to punt too. Williams got caught in the backfield by Bohatec, but that didn’t rattle him, and on the next play he connected with Hamilton for a big gain down the left sideline. Up stepped Owusu, thundering around the left end he broke two tackles before arriving in the endzone to open the scoring. London kicker Cunningham pushed the PAT right, Warriors 6 – Aztecs 0.

Owusu was tough to bring down – Image Jody Davies

Back in possession Benzey found AJ Carr and Karekin Brooks with accurate passes, but the Warriors defence stiffened, and Bristol had to punt again. London’s running back group was full of fierce runners, and Raymond Sabowale broke a play for thirty yards. A scramble by Williams had them at fourth and one, and a “brotherly shove” play secured them a further first down at the Bristol twenty. Williams found Eden-Palmer over the middle and he was tackled at the three. A quick pitch to Owusu found him with space and he went in for his and the Warriors second touchdown. This time the kick was good, moving it to 13-0 London. Bristol chose to insert Brooks at quarterback and his smooth passing mechanics found David Asamoah for a first down. Brooks then scrambled for a further seven yards as the first quarter came to a close.

Two penalties in a row didn’t help the Aztecs, but then a deep pass to Asamoah had them inside the London five. Jones took the hand-off but was tackled immediately, however, on the next play he bounced it to the outside and squeezed inside the pylon, the PAT kick was good, and Bristol were back in the game. Warriors 13 – Aztecs 7. Both offences were struggling for consistency and traded punts. As the two-minute warning was given the Brooks to Asamoah connection had Bristol at the Warriors 32. Looking to maintain their momentum Brooks launched a pass, but an athletic leap by London’s defensive lineman Samuel Robertson, allowed him to intercept the ball! With time running out in the half, Williams took to the air, four first downs later the London offence had made it to the Bristol thirty-two. On fourth down they chose to attempt a field goal, Cunningham struck it long and true, the forty-eight-yard kick edged the Warriors lead to 16-7. The Aztecs had very little time to work with, but got their kicker, Spencer Cutlan into range. With three seconds left on the clock, he slotted the kick to reduce the deficit, it was now 16-10 in London’s favour. It had been an exciting end to the half leaving it as a one score game.

Sitting in the stand, it was good to see such a close fought game, with the level of play befitting a National Championship. Bristol would have the ball to start the second half. Brooks was spraying the ball around, with Carr and Asamoah making catches for first downs. On fourth down at the London nineteen, we were thinking field goal, the Aztecs coaches though, decided to run it and the Warriors linebackers swallowed the ball carrier up. London couldn’t get on top though as Williams was sacked on fourth down and the Aztecs had the ball back, but not for long as Benzey was picked off by Malachi Slue, only for Williams to immediately return the favour, with Seeger snagging the ball. Owuso and Sabowale made good yards, but London still had to punt. Carr caught a pass in stride and took it fifty yards to close the quarter.

Sabowale was a constant threat – Image Jody Davies

It was a dramatic start to the final quarter! Looking to push the ball downfield Brooks zipped it across the middle, but Warriors’ linebacker Rob Warren undercut the receiver and picked off the pass! With London back in possession they introduced some fresh legs in the backfield in the shape of Uriah Higgins. Behind some impressive blocking. he immediately ran for two first downs in succession. Now at the Aztecs fifteen, Williams faked the hand-off and dashed out around the right end, he was forced out of bounds at the three. Higgins was then given the chance to top off his good work, and that’s just what he did, running it up the middle for the score. Back-up quarterback Joe Thompson was on holding duty, well that’s what we thought. He caught the snap and dashed in for the two. With twelve minutes on the clock, the Warriors had just stretched their lead to 24-10.

Brooks made some dynamic plays for the Aztecs – Image Jody Davies

With the wind in their sails the London defence put the heat on the Bristol offence, forcing them to punt. Thompson was now calling the signals and fed Owusu the ball, this time he ripped off fifty-eight yards before agonisingly being tackled at the one. With the defence keying the running back, Thompson faked the hand-off and nipped in to score himself. Another converted kick moved it to Warriors 31-10 and with nine and a half minutes left on the clock it looked like the game was over. Brooks had nothing to lose and launched another deep ball, the result, interception number four for the Warriors, this time Imran Jonasson Yunusa snagged the ball. London’s coaches were now giving their depth some Britbowl reps and Sam Fenton took over at quarterback. With under two minutes left Benzey was back in for Bristol, he tried to move the chains with a couple of passes, but they fell incomplete. With the sun now set, White hat Brian Yates held the ball aloft, and that was it, the trophy was heading back to London.

For three quarters it had been a pulsating contest, but ultimately the Warriors asserted their will to secure the title, for them it was indeed the magnificent seven.