Nighthawks erase 2012 defeat with one sided win

Courtesy of Shropshire Revolution

Merseyside Quarterback Adrian Hodgers proved Shropshire's chief tormentor as the Revolution crashed to their first defeat of the season 39-7 at Oakengates Leisure Centre. Las Vegas native Hodgers ran in 2 Touchdowns on the ground and threw three more scores in between to lift his side to victory in their opening game of the season.

The Revolution were unable to reproduce the scoring heroics of last season where they edged out the visiting side in the corresponding 2012 fixture in a 37-34 shoot out. Both Defenses were on top for most of the first half and for the 3rd game running the Shropshire Defensive unit got their side off to the perfect start by forcing a stop on the first drive setting up the opening score, this time they would record the points themselves when Linebacker David Ralphs pounced on a wayward snap in the endzone and a 7-0 lead.

The Merseyside Defense were also in stifling mood as they reduced the home side to a mere single First down in the first half, allowing Hodgers to scramble for his first touchdown and find his range as he hit Wide Receiver Joe Black just before the interval to give his side a 13-7 lead.

Shropshire responded positively following the break by manufacturing a pair of promising drives in the early stages of the 3rd Quarter but they would end up empty handed due to an ill timed Leigh French fumble and dropped endzone pass respectively. 4 second half Shropshire turnovers proved too much for their defense to withstand as Hodgers capitalised finding targets Tim Parr and Harry Rutledge for backbreaking Touchdowns either side of the 4th Quarter, whilst he and back-up Quarterback Chris Lingard would record rushing scores to round off a great day for the away team.

Shropshire Head coach Dave Reid told of his frustration at the games outcome "We were beaten by the better team on the day, but we have to ask questions of ourselves in the way we collapsed in the latter stages of the game" Reid pointed to the aerial parts of the game being the difference "Our passing game has to be more productive and so does our ability to defend the pass"

Revolution have a week off to prepare for early pace setters Manchester Titans who will visit Harper Adams University as the club play their annual game in Newport on Saturday the 18th of May.

BAFANL announce final date and venue

BAFANL have released the date and venue for the final...

The British American Football Association are pleased to announce that the 2013 National Leagues season will culminate on Saturday October 5th at the John Charles Stadium in Leeds.

The stadium, which also stages the BUCS / BAFA Universities Championship Finals, will play host to a number of games in what is anticipated to be a thrilling finale to the adult contact season.

In announcing the date and location of the adult contact finals, the British American Football Association can also confirm that there will be separate championship events for the other National Leagues disciplines.

A full announcement on the dates and venues for these will be made over the course of the coming week.

Irish American Football Previews

The week of the rematch in the Shamrock Bowl Conference is matched with an intriguing match up in the IAFL-1. Last week the 26-6 victory for the Belfast Trojans over the Dublin Rebels gave the former a tight grip on the SBC North. Meanwhile at the opposite end of the division the Cowboys and Rhinos are looking to grab a win in an otherwise sparse season in a tough league. 

The Belfast Trojans are sweeping aside opposing teams in convincing fashion, are they set for another Bowl? - photo by Nathan James Sharrocks

All DC Team: The Offensive Line

One of the harder positions to select as very often their contributions can go unnoticed; however with the reintroduction of the GB Student team this year, it is an easier job to see who has been making the holes for their running backs and giving their QBs the most time. This can be seen by 2/5 1^st team and 4/5 2^nd team featured on the GB Students Roster and 3/10 of them also have been involved with the GB Senior Lions. 

Elliot McMahon - Stirling Clansmen

Elliot McMahon (#75) leads the way for 2nd team All DC Running back Zake Muluzi

It would be unfair to call McMahon a rookie as he arrived at Stirling from Filton Academy. Anchoring the line for the Clansmen, his downfield blocking ability has been the key to unleashing Grant Isdale's play in the Jet Sweep offense. Tall, strong & athletic (and sporting a natty beard) McMahon not only takes care of the first block but is then seen looking downfield to deliver that painful second level block on an unsuspecting Linebacker or safety.

Premiership Predictions

Premiership North

West Coast Trojans vs. East Kilbride Pirates

The Premiership's only all-Scottish match up in 2013 sees Troon's Trojans welcome a Pirates side fresh from thrashing Coventry last weekend. The home side entered the season playing down talk of yet another play-off run, and their first two performances have gone a fair way to confirming their modesty. Last weekend's loss in Sheffield will have hurt more than they've let on.

East Kilbride are run-away favorites for both this game and the division in general, and on their showing in the West Midlands it's easy to see why. For all the "Dick Hunter" jokes, the Pirates have some serious ability on both sides of the football, and should have no problem defending their incredible record of  not losing to Scottish opposition since being tanked 54-8 by Fife 49ers in August 1996(!).

East Kilbride by four scores