Summer is on its way, but it’s not just cricket that is around the corner. The American Football season in Britain starts this weekend and that means a new campaign for the South Wales Warriors. Twm Owen looks ahead to the Welsh club’s challenges.
The only Welsh representatives in the British American football league kick off their season this Sunday – but reaching the play-offs isn’t on the South Wales Warriors’ agenda.
The Llanharan-based side gave up their place in the Southern division of Britain’s top tier Premiership after the 2016 season and as a result are barred from competing for post-season honours this year and next. But starting outside of the play-off hunt isn’t unfamiliar to the South Wales side.
In recent years their route to the post-season has been blocked by divisional rivals the London Blitz and London Warriors, the UK powerhouses who share the past eight BritBowl national championships between them.
After four seasons trying to keep pace with the UK’s leading sides the Warriors are looking for consolidation in the Central Division of the second tier of the British American Football Association (BAFA) National League.
Five to six starters, on both offense and defense, are returning from the side that did achieve a best ever Premier record of three wins, one draw and six losses. But none of those victories came after week five, underlining for the coaches the club’s struggle to compete over a full season at the top level.
A successful off-season recruitment drive has boosted the squad with the addition of more than 20 rookies, who head coach Geraint Roberts says wouldn’t have had the opportunity to test themselves in the Premiership.
“Our ambitions are to be competitive, whilst giving new players the opportunity to play. This was not possible in the Premiership as players who are ill prepared or not physically up to that level were at risk of injury,” says Roberts who makes no apology for opting to drop down to Division One.
“The level of football will not be what we have experienced in the Premiership over the past few seasons, but from watching film of the teams in our division we are expecting a very tough year.
“We have been criticised for requesting demotion from the Premiership with people from within the game saying that we have simply done it so that we can win games. This is not the case. We are approaching the season with great caution and treating every team with full respect.”
Among the changes at the Warriors are the loss of key defensive back and dangerous kick returner Tom Slater to retirement while punter Mick Duncan, who was also an underused offensive threat at wide receiver last year, has returned to Ireland and is playing for the South Dublin Panthers.
On offense, starting quarterback Dean Jackson returns and will share snaps with French QB, Cardiff resident, Max Ayoul who played in his home country in 2016. Offensive coordinator Frankie Pankhurst, who gave the Warriors an offensive cutting edge that was apparent in their best performances of 2016, has also left the club.
The first visitors to the Dairy Field, the home of Llanharan RFC, are the Bedford-based Ouse Valley Eagles with Roberts having spent late nights pouring over hours of footage from the visitor’s four wins and six loss 2016 campaign ahead of Sunday’s game (2.30pm).
The Warriors will then face a fortnight’s rest before welcoming last year’s Division Two champions Oxford Saints and the Sussex Thunder to Llanharan on consecutive weekends.
On May 7, the Warriors begin a run of five road games with a trip to the Solent Thrashers, followed by return visits to the Thunder, the Eagles and the Saints.
Unusually, the Warriors will play the Thrashers twice in Southampton before concluding their 10-game season with two home fixtures in July, welcoming the Thunder to the Dairy Field for a second time and a third and final fixture with the Thrashers.
Roberts says it is only the Eagles, who formed ahead of the 2014 season following a merger of the Milton Keynes Pathfinders and Bedford Blue Raiders, who present an unknown challenge.
“We’ve reviewed film of them from the 2016 season and they look a very well drilled team with talented players. It’s going to be an interesting game.
“Apart from Ouse Valley we have played the other teams in our division in previous years, so we have an idea on what to expect. It’s going to be a very tough but competitive division where everyone is capable of beating each other on their day. Home advantage will again be a big factor in deciding the outcome of games.”
Home games are played at the Dairy Field, Llanharan RFC and entry is free while the clubhouse is also open.