UK BOWL 2005

The finals for the UK Bowl held this Saturday 23rd April in Woodham near Darlington brought together the cream of British junior American flag football.

Four teams had won the right to contest in the UK Bowl after winning their respective regional tournaments.

The Culloden Academy Cougars from the North of Scotland, St Mungos Mustangs from the South of Scotland, Woodham Warriors from the North of England and the Coventry Jets representing the South of England

The first semi final between the Woodham Warriors and St Mungos Mustangs showed the home side were on tremendous form and with a huge support proved to much for the visiting Mustangs.

Although putting on a very spirited display and fighting right up until the last whistle the Mustangs went out 27 points to 0.

The second semi-final proved to be a similar affair with the Culloden Academy Cougars downing the Coventry Jets 44 points to 6.

The final was a very exciting and very loud contest as the Woodham cheerleaders and supporters with drums, horns and rattles made life very difficult for the far from home visitors.

Woodham opened the scoring on their first drive after winning the coin toss and the Warriors defence managed to halt the Culloden charge only 2 yards from the endzone on their first drive, a stop which later on may have cost the Cougars the game.

Woodham`s next drive was again successful giving them a 12 point lead but the Highland team kept their heads up and drove down field to open their account with some great runs from Chris Macdonald.

The first half finished with Woodham up by 19 points to 6, early in the second half Euan Rennie intercepted a Warrior pass and returned it for a touchdown and brought new life into the Culloden team.

The second half was an exciting battle with both teams fighting for every inch, anyone who had attended the tournament either from another team or as neutral supporter soon chose sides which gave the game a fantastic atmosphere.

However as the clock ran down Culloden were left with just one last chance to win the game with a long pass down field but with no receivers open Chris Macdonald had no option but to try to run for a first down, but he was stopped just yards short leaving Woodham Warriors to run out the clock and to lift the UK Bowl winning by 31 points to 25.

At the presentation of the awards Gary Marshall, President of the British American Football Association, awarded the tournament Defensive MVP award to Euan Rennie of the Culloden Academy Cougars commenting on the “heart” he had shown throughout the game.

The Woodham Warriors now host the Czech Republic for a place in the final 8 of the European Championship.