BAFA Adult Contact Week 17 Preview

As we head into the BAFA Adult Contact Week 17, the stakes are higher than ever with the final regular season games for the Premiership divisions and the Quarter Finals for both Division 1 and Division 2 Playoffs. While the Premiership playoff spots and relegation positions are already decided, teams will be fighting for playoff momentum and final division standings. In Division 1 and Division 2, the Quarter Finals will determine who advances to the semi-finals and remains in contention for promotion.

All games kick off at 2 pm unless otherwise stated.

Premiership

North

Edinburgh Wolves (3-6) vs Manchester Titans (9-0)

Tamworth Phoenix (4-4-1) vs East Kilbride Pirates (4-4-1)

The Manchester Titans have already secured the top spot and will be facing the Bristol Aztecs in a home semi-final in two weeks. They can extend their unbeaten run to 27 games with a win against the Edinburgh Wolves, whom they defeated 43-0 just last week. For Edinburgh, this game is a chance to end their season on a positive note against a dominant team.

Tamworth Phoenix and East Kilbride Pirates will be battling for third place in the division. The winner of this matchup will secure the 3rd spot, while a tie would result in Tamworth finishing 3rd due to their points conceded record. Their last encounter in Week 10 ended in a dramatic 21-21 tie. Tamworth narrowly missed out on a playoff spot last week after a heart-breaking 22-21 loss to the Newcastle Vikings, a game that dashed their postseason hopes. East Kilbride, on the other hand, had a forfeit win last week and previously beat the Edinburgh Wolves 28-13 in Week 14. This game is crucial for both teams to finish the season strong and take some momentum into the off-season.

South

Bristol Aztecs (7-2) vs London Blitz (3-6) - 2:30 pm

Cambridgeshire Cats (6-3) vs London Warriors (9-0)

The Bristol Aztecs secured their spot in the semi-finals with a win over the London Blitz last week. They will be looking to continue their winning streak into the playoffs. Despite a challenging season, the Blitz managed to keep the game surprisingly close last week, losing 14-0. The Blitz defence has shown resilience, but this will be the first time in at least 20 years that they finish with a record below 0.500.

Cambridgeshire Cats have confirmed their place as the best of the rest, solidifying their 3rd place finish. They face the undefeated London Warriors, who are aiming to maintain their perfect record and momentum going into the semi-finals, where they will meet the Newcastle Vikings. The last encounter between the Cats and the Warriors in Week 9 ended in a resounding 65-0 victory for the Warriors. Both teams are coming off strong performances, with the Cats beating Hertfordshire Cheetahs 23-3, and the Warriors thrashing Solent Thrashers 55-0. The Cats will look to put up a better fight this time around and end their season on a high note.

Division 1 Playoffs – Quarter Finals

NFC 1

1 Nottingham Caesars (8-0) vs 3 Scunthorpe Alphas (7-2) – 4 pm

2 Glasgow Tigers (6-2) vs 4 Yorkshire Rams (7-2)

The Nottingham Caesars come into this game with a formidable defence, having shut out the Birmingham Bulls 41-0 in their last match. Their defence has been nearly impenetrable, with opponents lucky to score even a field goal on average. They face the Scunthorpe Alphas, who boast an impressive offence that dismantled the Shropshire Revolution 62-7 in the Wild Card round. This matchup features the best defence against the best offence, reminiscent of their meeting at this stage last season, where the Caesars emerged victorious 20-6. The winner will move one step closer to promotion.

The Glasgow Tigers are on a four-game winning streak, highlighted by a 21-0 win over the Highland Stags. They face the Yorkshire Rams, who comfortably beat the Inverclyde Goliaths 44-6 in their Wild Card game. These two teams are evenly matched, and their last encounter in 2022 saw the Rams win 35-20 in Glasgow. This game promises to be a tightly contested battle with a semi-final spot on the line.

SFC 1

1 East Kent Mavericks (8-0) vs 6 Wembley Stallions (7-2) – 12 pm

2 Rushmoor Knights (8-0) vs 4 South Wales Warriors (7-2) – 2:30 pm

The East Kent Mavericks enter this game undefeated, looking to extend their unbeaten run to 20 games. They last played in Week 13, beating the Kent Exiles. The Mavericks will face the Wembley Stallions, who have gained confidence with three wins in the last four weeks, including a narrow 16-13 victory over the Bristol Apache in the Wild Card round. The last time these two teams met in competitive action was in 2018, with the Stallions winning 23-16. This matchup is expected to be closely contested.

The Rushmoor Knights, also undefeated, have not played since Week 12, which could result in some rust but could also mean a healthy and fresh team ready to continue their dominance. They face the South Wales Warriors, who are on a five-game winning streak and boast a defence that allows less than a touchdown per game. The Warriors' last game was a 13-0 win over the London Olympians. The Knights defeated the Warriors 23-14 last season in a similar fixture, and a similar scoreline could be expected this time around.

Division 2 Playoffs – Quarter Finals

NFC 2

1 Sandwell Steelers (7-1) vs 3 Gateshead Senators (7-1)

2 Darlington Steam (7-1) vs 4 Staffordshire Surge (6-2)

The Sandwell Steelers enter the playoffs on a five-game winning streak, securing the top seed in the NFC 2. Their last game was a convincing 35-7 win over the Staffordshire Surge. The Gateshead Senators also come in with momentum, having beaten Darlington Steam 26-16 in their final regular-season game. This is the first-ever meeting between Sandwell and Gateshead, and both teams have shown they have the firepower to advance to the next round.

Darlington Steam bring the most prolific offence in Division 2, averaging nearly 40 points per game. Despite a final-day loss to Gateshead, they look to bounce back against the Staffordshire Surge, who face a long 360-mile round trip. The Surge ended their regular season on a high note, beating the Lancashire Wolverines 36-6. This game promises to be an offensive showcase, with Darlington looking to capitalise on their home advantage.

SFC 2

1 Colchester Gladiators (7-1) vs 4 Berkshire Renegades (4-4)

3 Sussex Thunder (4-4) vs 2 Essex Tridents (6-2)

The Colchester Gladiators were dominant throughout the season until a late slip-up against the Ouse Valley Eagles. They corrected course with a strong performance in the return fixture and now face the Berkshire Renegades. Berkshire has struggled offensively, averaging just 11 points per game, and will need an exceptional effort to challenge Colchester's stout defence who were conceding a meagre 7 points per game on average until that match with the Eagles.

The Essex Tridents, despite being the away team, enter the playoffs with a better record and the higher seed due to a late change in the playoff structure. They visit Sussex Thunder, having already defeated them twice this season. In their final game of the regular season, Essex beat the Ipswich Cardinals 20-10. Sussex had an inconsistent season, highlighted by a 20-7 loss to Cornwall in their final game. They average 14 points per game but have a solid defence, conceding only 11 points per game. This game could be closely contested, with Sussex hoping to use their home-field advantage to pull off an upset.