WEEK 3 - BRIT TOWERS

 

A change from the past two weeks updates from Brit Towers. 

Instead of posting the results and the standings on the blog, these will now be shared as snapshots on our Twitter (please follow - @BritishFFL) and the blog will be used to give a summary on the week which was.

BFFL

The defending champions, Essex Wolverines, are still searching for their first win and find themselves adrift in the East Division. It is Medway Tigers who surge ahead, with over 200+ PF average and an unbeaten record. They will want to keep this momentum going as they face Newcastle Lions, who won the BFFL North in 2020.

Over in the North, Edinburgh take top spot after their win against Manchester but come up against a tough Cambridge Dragons team in Week 4.

The South is as close as it was in 2020. All four teams are on a 1-1 divisional record and now they entertain the teams from the West. Brighton Sharks still sit top with their two wins, all the other three teams on a 1-2.

The West has that familiar feel about it with Bristol Trojans dominating on an unbeaten record, in fact divisional wise since 2020 they are 7-1. Dudley sit second but face a tough test against London Hawks.

BFC

Three teams find themselves unbeaten at this stage of the season, Merseyside Rhinos, Croydon Wildcats and Colchester Knights.

It is business as usual for the Rhinos, who won the North Division in 2020. The Wildcats had a very similar start in 2020 and tailed off, they are hoping to keep their win streak going and as for the Knights, they never got going in 2020 but appear to have kicked on this season.

Defending champions, Bedfordshire Gladiators, are poised in case the Wildcats do falter.

The West Division was touted as looking very competitive for 2021 and so far it has not disappointed with three teams on 2-1. Going to be a test of rosters this week as the competitive West take on the South.

The East is looking to bubble into life, Suffolk have not got going yet but their points for suggest it won't be long and the division has the potential to be "that" group of death we saw in 2020.

The North sees two teams without a win so far, which means Merseyside and Airdrie will want to take full advantage and put further wins in their column.

BFA

There were many changes in the BFA for 2021 with teams moving divisions and that appears to have had a knock-on affect with the results recently.

Defending champions, Derry Venom, sit third in the West, but this is beginning to look like a very competitive division even at this stage of the season.

The South teams are in a battle with the Jurassic Coast Jackrabbits topping the division, but the relief was evident as the South Devon Dolphins GM celebrated their Week 3 win, commenting it took until Week 9 for the Dolphins to get their first win in 2020.

Haydock Steelers are the early pace-setters in the North Division, they now have a two game advantage over their rivals, but it is a trip to a very strong Stevenage Sabres in Week 4 which will test them.

The East was labelled one of the toughest divisions in the entire Brit Towers universe and so far it is proving to be so. Seaton Carew Voodoo are top and averaging 209 points per game so far.  The battles in this division could be a mirror of 2020 and go down to the last week of the season.

BFU

The Oldham Talons and Great Yarmouth Stingrays are the teams of the moment, both on 100% records. They do need to maintain this with competitive teams within their respective divisions and with both teams facing opposition in Week 4 who sit bottom of their divisions, they will hope to continue with their unbeaten run.

The story of the league in Week 3 was Charlton and Dover. It has been publicised a lot that in 2020 Charlton Valiants only lost three games all season and that was to one team, the Dover Harlequins. Week 3 saw both teams face-off again and unfortunately for Charlton it would be a fourth defeat at the hands of the Harlequins who now move to second in the BFU South.

In the North, Sheffield Steel Hawks took back the top spot after defeating Bonnyrigg and posting their seond 200+ score of the season.

Great Yarmouth were able to take top spot after Herne Bay defeated Braintree and in the West it would be Oldham running out winners against West Coast Mariners.

BFO

Two teams remain unbeaten, Tyne Hellraisers and North Devon Vikings. Both of these teams are averaging over 190 points per game and are around 30 points per game better off than their divisional rivals so really are setting a pace in their respective divisions.

The East is very tight with three teams, Peterborough, Dundee and Southend all on 2-1 and this looks like it has the scope to go all the way this season.

In the West Uttoxeter Colts top the division for the first time in their franchise history with Newport T-Rex in second, both on a 2-1 record and separated by points for.

The safety net in 2021 for the BFO teams is no relegation, but with four teams going up to the BFU for 2022 there is so much to play for.

BRITISH BULLDOG

Position changes, movements and big scores were the order of the week in British Bulldog.

Three teams now have over 600 points in the Bestball format, Quantock (639.98), Sheffield Falcons (635.44) and Greenwich Galaxy (604.68). There is a massive battle behind them with Carlisle, North Herts and Ascot all on 591 points and only separated by slim decimal placings.

Most of the focus in Week 3 for the Bulldog teams was the first round of the BFFL Cup where they were able to select their own line-ups to face their opponents.

THE BFFL CUP

The first round of the inaugural BFFL Cup saw teams from levels 3 to 6 compete (BFA, BFU, BFO and British Bulldog), to see who would make it through to Round 2 when the BFFL and BFC teams would join.

Out of the 64 teams who went head-to-head the numbers to make it through were as follows:

BFA - 9

BFU - 9

BFO - 8

British Bulldog - 6

The tie of the round was "The Riney Bowl", West Coast Mariners (BFU) against the Gibraltar Macaques (BFO). Two brothers but ultimately just one winner. It would be the Macaques who would progress into Round 2 and keep the bragging rights for the year.

The draw for Round 2 was made yesterday and here are the match-ups:

Manchester Hornets (BFFL) v Uttoxeter Colts (BFO)

Swindon Steam (BFFL) v Haverhill Griffins (BFO)

Jurassic Coast Jackrabbits (BFA) v Norwich Predators (BFFL)

Croydon Wildcats (BFFL) v Bonnyrigg Huskies (BFU)

Wessex Monarchs (BFC) v Hamilton Demon Cats (Bulldog)

Deal Broncos (BFA) v Leeds Zebras (BFU)

Peterborough Warhawks (BFO) v Leith Pirates (BFC)

Essex Wolverines (BFFL) v Birmingham Reapers (BFA)

Dover Harlequins (BFU) v Redditch Raptors (BFC)

Hartlepool Heathens (BFC) v Brighton Sharks (BFFL)

Cambridge Dragons (BFFL) v Cardiff Hydra (BFC)

Worcester Warlocks (BFFL) v Medway Tigers (BFFL)

Sussex Packers (Bulldog) v Bristol Trojans (BFFL)

Gorebridge Gorillaz (BFO) v Rochdale Rams (BFC)

Colchester Knights (BFC) v Sheffield Steel Hawks (BFU)

Stevenage Sabres (BFA) v Chorlton Bees (BFC)

London Jets (BFFL) v Quantock Blue Jays (Bulldog)

Edinburgh Cobras (BFFL) v Airdrie Kraken (BFC)

Yorkshire Panthers (BFFL) v Newcastle Lions (BFFL)

Dudley Scorpions (BFFL) v Wakefield Marauders (BFU)

Hebburn Defenders (BFC) v Dundee Crocodiles (BFO)

London Hawks (BFFL) v Solihull Spartans (BFC)

North Devon Vikings (BFO) v Bedfordshire Gladiators (BFC)

Walsall Guardians (BFC) v Greenwich Galaxy (Bulldog)

Jersey Devils (BFU) v South Yorkshire Jaguars (BFA)

Weston Renegades (BFA) v Stockport Outlaws (Bulldog)

Merseyside Rhinos (BFC) v Sheffield Falcons (Bulldog)

Glasgow Claymores (BFA) v Tyne Hellraisers (BFO)

Durham Destroyers (BFA) v Oldham Talons (BFU)

Suffolk Eagles (BFC) v Herne Bay Jedi (BFU)

Southampton Clippers (BFU) v Gibraltar Macaques (BFO)

Derry Venom (BFA) v Somerset Sea Kings (BFFL)

There are some mouth-watering ties in Round 2 and lots of scope for potential "giant killings".

This all comes in Week 4 of the Brit Towers universe.

That was your Week 3 update, we head into Week 4, kicking, screaming and for some teams a bit of cheering.

Take care.

The Commish

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