Kent Exiles - Maidstone Pumas Game Report

by Martin Jefkins

Kent Exiles 58-0 Maidstone Pumas 

The Kent Exiles dominated the Maidstone Pumas for the second time in 2013, this time in their home fixture at a sweltering Beaverwood Club, coming away easy winners 58-0.

The scoring came thick and fast, despite the Pumas showing obvious improvement from earlier in the season. The first quarter saw Ben McCarthy start the scoring on a 9 yard catch from Zac Ritchie, and then Ryan Wilson snagged an interception and returned it 71 yards for the second score. The return was the longest in Exiles history, beating the previous best of 67 yards set in 2005 by Michael Turner.

Ben McCarthy catches the first TD of the game. Image courtesy of Kieron Hyams.

Essex Spartans - Colchester Gladiators Game Report

by Nick Foxley

The Colchester Gladiators got off to an explosive start, running in three scores in their first four plays, on their way to an over-powering 51-6 demolition of their county rivals, Essex Spartans.

Under the floodlights at Hannakins Farm, Billericay, the host Spartans had no answer to the strength of running back Casey Campbell, who ran for another 176 yards from just 11 carries and three touchdowns, and a strong defensive performance, led by defensive lineman Dan Jones, who picked up 2½ sacks, and Josh Milgate, who led the team with eight tackles.

Casey Campbell waltzes into the endzone for one of his four scores. Image courtesy of Charles Greig

Pirates shatter Sheffield’s nineteen game winning streak

East Kilbride Pirates 36– 06 Sheffield Predators

Sheffield’s 19-game winning streak came to a sudden halt last weekend when they travelled north to face East Kilbride. In the first ever meeting between these two sides, the Pirates’ strength and experience of playing at the top level was too much for the Predators to overcome. East Kilbride received the opening kick-off and, on a wet and blustery day, promptly fumbled the greasy ball. Fortunately they recovered it and continued with their opening drive. Progress was aided by a couple of Ryan Hunter passes to veteran receiver Jason Byworth and the opening points arrived when Iain Dick carried home from the 12-yard line.

Iain Dick racked up several TD's vs. the Pirates. Image courtesy of Alastair Wilson, AJW Photography. 

Jim Harbaugh is never happy.

See...

National League Predictions, Week 12

National North

DC Presidents vs. Glasgow Tigers

The Presidents were somewhat stopped in their tracks as they lost to local rivals Gateshead and then to the Clyde Valley Blackhawks and now sit at 3-2. They take on Glasgow looking to get back to winning ways under Coach Ben Johnson.

Glasgow meanwhile, whilst not scoring much, have defended their way to a 2-1-1 record and sit second behind the Senators. This could be a close game and will depend on how the Tigers’ D holds the President’s O.

Glasgow Tigers to win by 1 score

Clyde Valley Blackhawks vs. Gateshead Senators

A rematch of the opening day 13-7 win for Gateshead sees the Senators head North to face Clyde Valley. Whilst the opening day was a close victory, recent games have seen the away side open up on offence (read: give it Evander Harewood) and score more points.

Will the Blackhawks be able to stop the now free-scoring Senators? It’ll be tough.

Gateshead Senators to win by 2 scores

Edinburgh Wolves vs. Dundee Hurricanes

The bottom two teams in the National Division North square off on Saturday. The Hurricanes are 0-5 whilst the Wolves are a fraction better off at 2-3 but both will be concerned with the win-loss ratio.

The Wolves should overcome the Hurricanes but they’ve not been recreating the form that saw them head to the playoffs last year and are struggling amongst their rivals. Maybe a win here can kickstart their season?

Edinburgh Wolves to win by 2 scores

Premiership Predictions, Week 12

Premiership North

East Kilbride Pirates vs. Sheffield Predators

It’s the battle of the undefeated teams this weekend as the Sheffield Predators travel across the border to take on the East Kilbride Pirates. Despite two high scoring offences partaking in this game, the winner will most likely be decided on whose defence plays better. With EKP currently conceding an average of less than 5 points per game, it’s hard to predict anything other than a home win.

EKP by a couple of scores

Doncaster Mustangs vs. Tamworth Phoenix

If the EKP – Sheffield game isn’t game of the week, then this one definitely is. When these two teams played in Doncaster last year, it was the Mustangs who game away with the victory. Should that happen again this season, the Premiership North title race will be blown wide open. For the Phoenix to win this one, they’ll need to stop Mustangs star receiver Martyn Lee from finding the endzone more than once.

 Close one. Tamworth to power through and win by a score

Lancashire Wolverines vs. Nottingham Caesars

After conceding more than 60 points in their previous two games, the Caesars will be hoping for a better performance when they take on the 2-2 Lancashire Wolverines (Lancashire currently average 10 points per game). This is a must win game for both teams. If the Wolverines win, their changes of a playoff spot will open while a victory for the Caesars will move them off the bottom spot of the table.

Lancashire by two scores

Atlantic Cup Preview

There is no domestic Irish football this weekend but two Irish teams take part in the EFAF Atlantic Cup! We interviewed David Barker of Trinity College Dublin and Belfast Trojans' Head Coach, Drew Mikhael, but now we take a look at the teams themselves.

Atlantic Cup Preview: Belfast Trojans' Drew Mikhael

Yesterday's Atlantic Cup Preview brought you Trinity's David Barker. Today we head to the other Irish team taking part in the competition as we (DC) spoke to the Belfast Trojans' Head Coach, Drew Mikhael (DM):

Drew Mikhael getting the traditional soaking - photo by Dave Bradshaw (https://www.facebook.com/davebradshawphoto)

AFL Week 11 Preview

Saturday 29th June

Danube Dragons @ Prague Black Panthers - 14:00 GMT

The only game that has any potential meaning this week sees the fifth place Black Panthers take on the fourth place Dragons to see if they can pull off a miracle and sneak into the playoffs. For that to happen, the Black Panthers not only need to pull off their first win against a team that is not the AFC Rangers but will also have to do so by some ridiculous margin to go ahead of the Dragons on points difference. 

The Dragons are ready to defend their playoff spot and need to dispatch the Black Panthers to do so.
© Dragons Media

Whilst there is a mathematical probability that the Dragons could find themselves dropping down to fifth and being out of the playoffs, the likelihood is that it won't happen and that their offence will pull off another brutalisation of the Black Panther defence similar to what we saw in week three and keep them in playoff position. 

With the Black Panthers offence getting progressively poorer throughout the season and their defence never having played at a great standard I can only see this one going in the Dragons favour. I believe it will be a case of trying to kill the game off before half time and then getting the backups in to finish the job. 

Prediction: The Dragons take it and secure their playoff spot, 35 - 13.

AFC Rangers @ SWARCO Raiders - 16:00 GMT

The Raiders surprised quite a few of us last week when holding out the majority of their top starters against the Vikings to turn what could have been an exciting game into a fairly dull encounter. This week I expect them to pull a similar stunt (although, when have my predictions ever come true) but this time be on the winning side of the scoreline over the leagues worst team, the AFC Rangers.

Considering the Raiders handed Adrian Platzgummer his very first AFL start against the Vikings, I see no reason why he shouldn't get a shot against the Rangers this week having hopefully survived the scolding from being thrown into the fire. Whilst the quality of the Rangers defence is nothing in comparison to the Vikings, hopefully we get to see a better representation of what Platzgummers potential is.

Young quarterback Platzgummer could be in for his second start of his career.
© Kellner Holly Thomas/Gridiron Photography

By this stage, I feel as if the Rangers are fully resigned to another winless season and having your season finale against one of Europe's powerhouses prOnobably hasn't done anything to change that sentiment. The Rangers need to keep building towards the future and if they do face a weaker Raider lineup it could prove to be a perfect opportunity to gain a little confidence going into next season, and who knows, maybe they'll try something other the letting Craig Maynard get beat up on every play as he tries to carry the team.

Prediction: This can only go one way for me, Raiders 32 - 6.

Raiffeisen Vikings @ Graz Giants - 19:30 GMT

This encounter, whilst also having zero effect on the standings, could turn out to be a very intriguing fixture depending on how both teams approach the game. To finish of their undefeated season, the Vikings can't afford to rest their starters from the get go as this Graz team have been the only team that has come close to beating the Vikings when they narrowly lost 24-20 in week six.

Just like the Raiders last weekend, I don't see the point in risking the starters for either team a couple of weeks before the playoffs and I see it as the perfect opportunity to get a little more meaningful play time for the backups, but I feel that whilst the Giants may take the approach of resting their starters and saving them for round one of the playoffs against the Raiders, I don't see the Vikings doing the same and instead will aim for that undefeated season.

Can Islaam Amadu improve on last weeks solid game?
© Kellner Holly Thomas/Gridiron Photography

If both teams come out with their big names on the field, this could potentially be one of the better encounters of the AFL season as once again the tricky Giants option attack will take on the Vikings defence with both teams being a little wiser to the other having already faced each other. Another thing to keep an eye out for is how the Viking share the ball around their offence if they have Gross under centre as well as Jesse Lewis and Islaam Amadu in the backfield, does Gross take a back seat like last week to the ground game, or do the Vikings let him sling it for the win?

Prediction: I feel this one depends a lot on which players start the game, but I'm going to give it to the Vikings 31-21.

Atlantic Cup Preview: Trinity College Dublin's David Barker

This weekend the Netherland's Amersfoort Untouchables and Belgium's Brussels Tigers head to Dublin to take on the Belfast Trojans and Trinity College Dublin in the EFAF Atlantic Cup. It will be TCD's first ever European competition so Double Coverage (DC) caught up with Club Commissioner, and linebacker, David Barker (DB):

Barker in action (#51) - photo by Ash O'Flanagan (http://www.ashoflanagan.tumblr.com)

Aaron Hernandez - he did what?!

Within mere minutes, Aaron Hernandez went from New England star to a future behind bars.

There had been talk of an arrest warrant for days, with police searching the areas around the tight end’s North Addeboro home for evidence, but to actually see such a big name star plucked from his swish digs in handcuffs was shocking to say the least.

WATCH LIVE: Authorities respond to Aaron Hernandez's North Attleboro home http://t.co/2MnclR15h0 #fox25
— FOX 25 News Boston (@fox25news) June 26, 2013

But nowhere near as shocking as the charges that were to follow. 

Aaron Hernandez charged with murder.
— George Zornick (@gzornick) June 26, 2013

Don’t get us wrong, Hernandez has had a pretty chequered past. At Florida, his reputation as a potential troublemaker - combined with talk of failed drugs tests - damaged his draft stock to the point where he was seen as a late round reach as opposed to the early round playmaker his talent should have suggested.

There was chat of gang involvement and general uncouthness. In short, Hernandez was considered a risk-reward kind of guy.

But this – this is something else. Hernandez stands accused of five firearms offences and the murder of Odin Lloyd, a 27-year old semi-professional player who was dating the tight end's fiancee.

We should have known when the Patriots cut him loose. Bill Belichick doesn’t make rash decisions on emotion and idealism, he makes decisions based on what is best for his football team.

Full statement from the Patriots following the release of TE Aaron Hernandez http://t.co/WdAz07raPm
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 26, 2013

With the amount of insiders the Pats have, they would have no doubt known how serious this situation was.

This doesn’t appear to be a simple case of telling the police a porky or two about where you were and who you know. This is murder.

Now the official charges have been brought, it seems pretty clear cut; Aaron Hernandez is in deep sh*t. 

No amount of skill in his position is going to help him work his way out of this one...

Quoted tweet data were provided by Lissted 

Oregon "Change"

Catch a sneak peek of the new Oregon Ducks helmets in this video introducing their "Changed" team under new head coach Mark Helfich

AFL Week 10 Review

JCL Graz Giants 40 - Danube Dragons 21

Not even the home field advantage was enough to spur the Dragons on to victory over mid table rivals the Giants as once again their defence let them down against Alex Good and the Giants offence and their offence were just not able to keep up on the scoreboard.

The difference on the day was that whilst the Giants were able to keep the ball and consistently maintain drives, the Dragons drives seemed to encounter multiple problems either through penalties or turnovers as they got further down field. This lack of execution and boom-or-bust feeling to the Dragons offence has been prevalent all season and is one of the keys to the Danube team improving in the future.

© Dragons Media

The decisive point of the game came at the start of the third quarter with the score standing at 20-7 in favour of the Giants, the Dragons conceded a 62 yard kick return which was immediately turned into a 33 yard Good touchdown pass. The Dragons then put together a 10 play scoring drive of their own before immediately conceding a one play 59 yard touchdown pass that took the score to 33-14 and from there the game seemed dead a buried.

This victory confirms the Giants a playoff spot and a matchup against the Raiders in the first round and amazingly leaves the Dragons still in the lurch with a regular season finale against the Black Panthers to navigate to secure their playoff spot.

Prediction: Called the winner and almost got their points spot on but slightly overestimated how well the Dragons offence would do.

Prague Black Panther 26 - AFC Rangers 12

The struggle between the leagues bottom dwellers turned out to be a fairly even contest but ending with the predicted outcome of the Black Panthers offence managing to outscore the Rangers and in doing so claim their second win of the season and keep their very slim chance of actually making it into the playoffs alive.

The game winning factor on the day was the Black Panthers ability to run the ball and physically dominate the Rangers on both lines of scrimmage. This dominance meant that Craig Maynard was never able to be efficient in the passing and really struggled to crack the Black Panthers on the ground.

As usual quarterback Andrew Shoop delivered most of the points for the Black Panthers as he passed for two scores and ran for another to round out a nice 300+ total yard game. And with that said there's not really much to add on this game, no one was expecting fireworks, and neither side delivered, both teams are still miles away from the standard that they need to be at to compete against any of the other teams in the league and until they catch up, this fixture will remain meaningless to everyone else except the Black Panthers and the Rangers.

Prediction: I imagined it to be a little more high scoring than it actually was but I picked the winner right.

Raiffeisen Vikings 24 - SWARCO Raiders 6

My analysis of this game can only go so far as there was a clear difference in attitude between these two teams towards their future matchups that had a big impact on the scoreboard. If you didn't know already, the Raider rested starting quarterback Kyle Callahan and handed Adrian Platzgummer is AFL debut and also held some of their other starters out of the game. The Vikings on the other hand clearly had the goal of maintaining their undefeated season as they didn't try anything cute with their starters and let them go out and play, resulting in a fairly easy victory on the day.

 The twin headed monster of Jesse Lewis and Islaam Amadu was the driving force behind the Vikings offence as they were both able to consistently grind out good yardage and Lewis was able to punch the ball into the endzone on two occasions to take the Vikings clear of the Raiders early on.

New quarterback Platzgummer really struggled in his debut.
© Kellner Holly Thomas/Gridiron Photography

New Raider quarterback Platzgummer may have made his AFL debut, but it was largely a day for him to forget as he really struggled against the leagues best defence completing only 7 of 19 passes for 49 yards and 3 interceptions which helped the Vikings keep the ball and the clock under their control.

With these two teams likely to face each other twice more this season there was clearly some gamesmanship at work here as the Raiders decided not to reveal anything new or expose their key players to injuries in what was essentially a meaningless game. When these two teams next meet I am expecting a whole different kind of game to take place.

Prediction: My prediction largely hinged on this being a straight up game, so even though my winner was correct, the score was quite a way off.

Player of the Week

Alex Good, #7 Quarterback, Graz Giants.

© Kellner Holly Thomas/Gridiron Photography

Good's performance really overpowered the Dragons on the day as he accounted for 6 touchdowns on the day with half in the passing game and half in the run game. Combine that with another 300+ total yards and you have this weeks player of the week.

Premiership Power Rankings, Week 11

It's the second week of our combined Premiership Power Rankings, so we've decided to add helmets of the top ten teams on the list. Why? Because we're so kind to our fans!

Helmet designs courtesy of Rob Amor.

1. London Blitz (4-0)

A comfortable 69-0 over the Berkshire Renegades kept the Blitz in the top spot for another week and improved the team’s record to 4-0. With three shutouts to their name already, the Blitz D will be hoping for another 0 performance when they take on London rivals, the O’s, this weekend.

Nebraska Cornhuskers Alternate Jersey Reveal

Adidas unveiled the new Nebraska Cornhuskers alternate uniforms this week for the Adidas "Unrivaled Game" versus UCLA

Check out the reaction from the Cornhuskers players

London Blitz vs Berkshire Renegades VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

Blitz back goes Beast Mode

London Blitz running back Temi Odeyumi went beast mode all over the Berkshire Renegades, including a soul taking stuff arm. Hold ma...

Big trouble in little Cornwall?

STATEMENT FROM THE NEWLY FORMED DUCHY REBELS 22/06/2013

Comprising 17 players and 1 coach who previously called themselves "Cornwall Destroyers".

We feel it necessary to make a formal statement as certain statements/allegations have been made on various social media by Mr. Peter Hoccom (Hoccum) regarding our leaving the Cornwall Destroyers including a statement in the "stolen" thread on the BAFANL forum that we have left to join the Cornish Sharks and stolen equipment.

We simply want to play football so will make no further comment after we have made our position and the timeline of events clear in this statement. We feel this statement is now warranted particularly following claims on various social media from Mr. Hoccom to recruit players under false promises and making unfounded and untrue accusations against players and coaches in Cornwall verbally.

The group of players now known as the Duchy Rebels AFC made the decision to leave the Cornwall Destroyers AFC of their own accord and for the reasons listed below. Options for the future of the players were then discussed by us as a group and after these discussions, the decision was made to contact Coach Myatt to ask him to join us and resume his coaching duties. As an ex player and very experienced Coach in both American Football and soccer, we valued his experience and felt honoured that he agreed to join us. At no point did Coach Myatt contact any players with regard to transfer of their duties to an opposing team. Coach Myatt had left the Cornwall Destroyers a few days before we left having had a disagreement with Mr. Hoccom, who with no playing or coaching experience decided he knew more about coaching and American football than the one qualified coach in the organization.

Sussex Thunder vs Cambridgeshire Cats - Highlights

Slightly later than planned, highlights from the Thunder's game vs the Cambridgeshire Cats.

Irish Football Round-Up

We said in our preview for this weekend that two teams would come into the Shamrock Bowl Conference Wildcard Playoffs as favourites but also that there'd be two teams facing them that will give them hell in order to reach the semi-finals themselves. Not to blow our own trumpet but we were spot on.

Photo by Nathan James Sharrocks