BUCS 2024/25 Season Finale: Conference Cup weekend

Photo: JC - Capel Photography

The final games of the BUCS 2024/25 season sees four Conference Cup finalists take to the field. Having already secured promotion, each side lay everything out on the line to be crowned champions of the Tier 2 North or the Tier 2 South.

Northern Conference Cup

Sheffield (1) vs Derby (2)

The Sabres were favourites of the Tier 2 North Eastern division in September and lived up to expectations, having secured the division title. Starting their season with two emphatic wins over the Sunderland Spartans and the York St John Jaguars, before facing the York Centurions in week 7 where they would round out 34-14 winners. After the Christmas break, the Sabres train did not stop with a 12-0 victory over Sunderland and a final day victory over York, finishing the season at 5-0 with 187 points scored and only 33 conceded in division play. The playoff came around, and they faced familiar foes with the Spartans travelling back down the A1, a 21-7 battle meant that that the South Yorkshire outfit would face York in the semi-finals. York proved a real test for the Sabres but they managed to travel back to Sheffield with a 16-10 victory, and they now look to host the Derby Braves on Sunday.

Player to Watch

Luke Howkins (Quarterback)- In Tier 2 its uncommon to can get a Quarterback who can throw the way that Luke can, a dominant player all season long and the Sabres will look to him to lead them through the final and to take the trophy home.

Speaking to Head Coach Phil Jarret he previewed the sides match up on Sunday. “I am over the moon about this season. The number one goal was getting promoted back into Tier 1. I would have been happy with just that.

“Going undefeated in the regular season, getting the number one seed, and making the final are all cherries on top.

“Going into the final I am expecting us to be the best version of ourselves, we have just had a painful Varsity loss that has changed the way we are approaching our preparation, Derby is a great organisation who have earned their place in the final, I'm expecting them to turn up ready for a battle.”

Just a short trip down the M1 we see a Derby Braves side who were unlucky last season not get promoted from Tier 2 but have put that to one side and dominated the season. Starting with a 49-8 victory over the ARU Siege, another two back-to-back victories were instore for the Braves before the Christmas break with a huge win over Lincoln, and putting De Montfort to the sword, showed the offensive power of this Braves side. They faced off against Lincoln before the Christmas break knowing a win would all but secure playoff football, a 31-0 victory at home again showed that the Braves are here to take it all.

After the break a 39-22 victory over the Cambridge Pythons, plus a walkover victory against the DMU Lions, meant that they would be heading into the playoffs undefeated and holding that number two seed. They would however not play the first round of the playoffs due to Cambridge conceding a walkover to the Braves, they would then host the Edge Hill Vikings where they would handle business and go into the finals with a 40-0 win.

Player to Watch

Joe Perkins (Receiver)- Joe is a name that people in the Britball community will know. The former Tamworth Phoenix and Great Britain Youth Wide receiver will be held in high regard by his teammates as someone they can look to ahead of their final clash with Sheffield. Joe’s skills will be on full show for the Braves and could be a massive part as to why they become Northern Champions.

Two truly dominant teams, both deserving of a final spot. Sheffield have been involved in close games, so are they battle hardened? Or do they have weaknesses? This is the beauty of inter-conference matchups; they go a long way to show you the stronger division. This could be a close game and a fun one!

Southern Conference Cup

Oxford Brookes (1) vs Plymouth (2)

Oxford Brookes have put the Tier 2 South on notice from their first game. A first season for Coach Stitt could have been a tricky one, and you would forgive that, but they’ve just gone on a dominated all season. We did not get to see Brookes until week 4 of the season as they put Royal Halloway to bed with a 35-0 victory, followed two weeks later by a dominant 68-0 win over Chichester, before the Christmas break, they looked like they match their match by only putting 14 past the Surrey Stingers but after the break they returned to form with a 60-0 victory over Solent.

The final game of the regular season saw them defeat Sussex 18-6 and meaning they finished number one in the south with a 5-0 record. There was no round one for Oxford Brookes as Aberystwyth conceded the victory against Brookes. When round two came along there were questions whether the extra week off was going to be a disadvantage but they quickly put that talk to bed as they put 42 past Queen Mary and forced their way into the final.

Player to Watch

Kevin Desena (Running back)- The way to win in BUCS especially at Tier 2, is to have a dominant running back, and that is what Desena is. When the game gets tough against Plymouth the rock will be handed to him and watch as he leads the attack for Brookes.

Speaking to the President of Oxford Brookes, Omer Kazarnovski, about the upcoming fixture and the season so far: “Preparing for this season we had one goal in mind which was changing this programme.

“Making it something big so our players will be proud to say they play for the OBUAF, we had leaders in the position we wanted and new coaching staff with a vision and a lot of experience.

“We are glad about what we achieved this season, but the job isn’t done yet. We continue to work towards the final and towards Tier 1 next season. We are expecting a hard battle. We know that Plymouth is a good team that works hard getting ready for the final. It will be a good game and a good show to watch.”

Brookes will welcome the Plymouth Blitz the only other undefeated side in the Tier 2 South. The Blitz started their season against the UWE Bullets second side, they came away 19-16 winners at Hillside Gardens. They would face the Bath Spa Bulldogs a week later winning 45-22 at home before a long break would ensue for the Blitz. They would not return until after the Christmas break where they would travel to Worcester and take a 17-0 victory home with them, their last two matches would come in the last two weeks of the season, an 8-6 home win over Gloucestershire and a 7-0 away win over Aberystwyth would see the Blitz take the number two seed in the South. In round one of the playoffs the Blitz would host the Greenwich Mariners where they would show their class with a 33-0 victory and advancing to take on Sussex Saxons where they would win 21-6 again showing their offensive and defensive strengths.

Player to Watch

Temi Ademakinwa (Defensive Tackle)- The Blitz will need to put up a fierce defence up against Brookes and Temi will be leading the line for Plymouth. The defence will look to Ademakinwa this weekend as they face a team with such a talent for scoring points, expect him to have a big game this weekend.

Speaking to the Plymouth Blitz Head Coach James Ogier he had this to say: “We are, obviously, incredibly proud of our season. Before we had started, we were worried about the 13-week break between our second and third game of the season and how motivated people would be during this period. The players were incredible, all pushing themselves to improve during that time.

“The players have been excellent role models and have held each other to account both on the field and in the classroom; often celebrating the good, but quickly calling out the bad.

“We now face a tough, well-drilled side. With both players and coaches who have played at high levels, we know that this is going to be physical contest, with dynamic play-calling and solid fundamentals. Truthfully, we wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s a privilege to make it so far into the playoffs and we’ve worked hard to get where we are. We’ve earned our place in the final, and we wouldn’t want the game to be anything less than a fierce and hard-fought challenge.”

This match-up could be one for the ages, a side in Oxford Brookes who can score a ridiculous number of points followed by a defence who have conceded 12 points all season. They face a Plymouth side who will look to back up recent results and hold off Oxford Brookes. The game will be won and lost when Brookes have the ball, the Blitz will need to hold off the Brookes offence for as long as possible, and look to strike when they can, they have proven that they can stop sides who can score multiple touchdowns, but this will be their toughest task to date.