WFFL Playoff Clinch Scenarios with The Way We HNC It
- Andy Taylor
- Feb 19
- 5 min read
By Bez Berry and Andy Taylor
The final weekend of regular season play is almost upon us in the BAFA Women's Flag Football League for the 2024/25 season. While some of the top teams have already clinched their spot at the Finals at Ravenscraig, every seed other than one is still up for grabs and we have 5 teams hunting 3 spots in the HNC while 4 teams hunt the final two WFFL Playoff spots in the MSC.
Together with The Way We HNC It we have created a list of clinching scenarios for each team left in the competition with a chance of Finals qualification, to give you an idea of what is on the line, and a box to check for your favourite team as they progress through the weekend. This list of scenarios is non-exhaustive, there may be some that we have not considered which could come to pass on the final day.
Where can we see the action?
Saturday February 22nd:
London Flame - Brunel University, first kick-off 14:00
Leeds Samurai - Moor End Academy, first kick-off 10:45
Sunday February 23rd:
Coventry Cougars - Nuneaton Academy School, first kick-off 11:00
Aberdeen Snowcats - Aberdeen Sports Village, first kick-off 11:45
Highland and Northern Conference (HNC)
In the HNC the East Kilbride Pirates Black have dominated the conference from wire to wire and as such are secure in the No 1 seed with a 10-0 record that they will look to extend to a perfect 12-0 season with matches against their clubmates the Pirates Red, and the hosting Snowcats in Aberdeen.
Still in with a shout of the remaining 3 playoff sports are the following 5 teams:
Manchester Titans
Sheffield Giants
Leeds Samurai
Aberdeen Snowcats
Huskies
Let's take a look at what the teams need to do in order to conclude their season with a playoff berth:
Manchester Titans
After spending part of the season on the outside looking in, the Titans are in control of the second seed and will have the second seed locked up with a single win. The Titans can still miss the playoffs with an 0-2 record on the day.
The Titans hold the Head to Head tiebreaker over the Giants, should they end the season tied on record.
Sheffield Giants
Can finish as high as second by bettering the results of the Manchester Titans. Will clinch a playoff berth with a single win. The Giants can still miss the playoffs with an 0-2 record.
Leeds Samurai
With 4 games to play, the Samurai can make the biggest moves on the final day of the season. They can reach as high as second with a 4-0 record, or miss the playoffs entirely.
In the event of a 3-1 day, where their loss comes would determine their final seed:
A loss to the Titans = 3rd seed
A loss to the Giants = 3rd seed
A loss to the Titans Bees/Huskies = 2nd seed
A 2-2 record = 4th seed
1-3 record + 2 Snowcats losses = 4th seed
0-4 record = out of the playoffs
Aberdeen Snowcats
With 2 games at home the Snowcats still have an opportunity to sneak back into a playoff spot at home on the final day.
2-0 record + Samurai 2-2 or worse = 4th seed
1-1 + Samurai 1-3 or worse = 4th seed
0-2 + Samurai 0-4 = 4th seed
As the Snowcats play on Sunday, they will know in advance what they need to do in order to make Finals.
Huskies
The Huskies remain in the hunt despite their low league ranking due to their final 4 game slate this weekend they will make the playoffs if:
4-0 record + Samurai 0-4 + Snowcats 0-2 OR
4-0 record + Samurai 3-1 (Huskies win by 26) + Snowcats 0-2
Midlands and Southern Conference (MSC)
In the MSC it's been the Coventry show since Week 1 with the Panthers and Cougars combining for a 23-1 record on the season, with the blemish on the Cougars record courtesy of their cross-town rivals.
Still in with a shout of the remaining 2 playoff sports are the following 4 teams:
Leicester Huntsmen
London Amazons
London Flame
Birmingham Lions
Coventry Panthers
Locked into a top 2 seed, will clinch the 1 seed with:
4-0 record OR
3-1 record (if the loss is to the Cougars then the Panthers retain the H2H with a loss of 17 points or less. If the loss is to any other team they will hold the 1 seed) OR
2-2 (if one win is over the Cougars)
Coventry Cougars
Cannot finish worse than second, will clinch the 1 seed with:
4-0 record (defeating the Panthers by 19+) OR
3-1 record (if the win is over the Panthers by 19+ AND the Panthers lose 1+ games)
There are many more scenarios between these teams if the Cougars win by exactly 18 points, all of which include Net Points Per Game Played.
Leicester Huntsmen
Will clinch a playoff berth with 1 win. Will secure the 3rd seed with:
2-0 record
Can secure the 4th seed with:
1-1 record
With an 0-2 record the Huntsmen would run the risk of elimination.
London Amazons
The Amazons can clinch the 3rd seed with:
2-0 record.
Can secure the 4th seed with:
1-1 + Flame & Huntsmen 1-1 + Lions to be 3-1 or worse
London Flame
The Flame can clinch the 4th seed with:
2-0 + Amazons 0-2 OR
2-0 (beating the Huntsmen by 8+ points) + Lions 3-1 or worse.
The Huntsmen, Amazons and Flame all play each other in their final gameday of the season as a round-robin. The current tiebreakers in this group to keep an eye on are:
Amazons lead the Flame by 12 points after winning the first fixture 18-6.
Amazons lead the Huntsmen by 1 point after winning the first fixture 7-6.
Huntsmen lead the Flame by 7 points after winning the first fixture 13-6.
In the event of a tied final record, the Amazons will lose the first tiebreaker due to a match forfeiture earlier in the season, regardless of Head to Head.
Birmingham Lions
The Lions can clinch the 3rd seed with the following:
4-0 + Flame 2-0 + Huntsmen 0-2
The Lions can clinch the 4th seed with the following:
4-0 + Huntsmen 2-0
As the Lions play on Sunday, they will know in the morning what they need to do in order to have a chance at making the Finals.
It's shaping up to be a monumental weekend of flag football across the nation this weekend and we wish all the teams and athletes the very best of luck. The WFFL Finals is a very special day and we can't wait to showcase the best that the nation has to offer from Ravenscraig in March.