Britbowl XXXIV Titans 37 Warriors 7

The Manchester Titans arrival in the Championship game wasn’t just the result of a successful season, it was the culmination of a much longer journey. The club had been building to this moment for a number of years. Promotion from Division One, a Prem Play-offs semi-final appearance and years where they were knocking on the door, were all landmarks along the way. In 2022 they didn’t just step through the door they kicked it down. The city of Manchester is known for having a certain swagger and bravado, and as a programme the Titans have reflected that. Like it or not, they are now the British Champions and deservedly so.

The London Warriors passage to the final it appeared, had been the usual procession of wins. The record said 10-0, the expectation therefore was that they would retain their title and place a seventh Britbowl trophy in their cabinet.

The Titans enter the field-Image by Kyle Hemsley

There was a stark contrast between the teams as they entered the field at the New River Stadium. The Titans raced through the pyrotechnics leaping in the air with their arms pointing skyward, the Warriors took a leisurely stroll into the middle of the field, had a quick huddle and moved to their side-line. Veteran official Keith Wickham met the captains at centre-field to conduct the coin-toss, which the Warriors won and as is commonly the case now, they deferred their option, Manchester chose to receive. The stage was set, the sun was shining, and the crowd were noisy. Warriors kicker Ian Jacquet stepped forward and put his foot through the ball, the sporting drama was about to unfold.

Jacquet kicks things off-Image by J Davies Photography

Alex Eager caught the ball and returned it to the twenty. Titans quarterback Sam Bloomfield, known for his unconventional throwing style, took the shotgun snap and hit his receiver on a slant, first down. Mixing it up, he handed the ball to NFL Academy running back Tom Jones who spectacularly hurdled a would-be tackler making it third and four, but then an incomplete pass meant they had to punt.

Tom Jones goes airborne – Image by Kyle Hemsley

The Warriors would start their first possession on their own thirty-five. Back from a spell with the Leipzig Kings of the European League of Football, the imposing figure of running back Raymond Sobowale lined up in the backfield. Quarterback Nick Jacquet handed him the ball and he proceeded to eat up the yards putting London at third and one. Manchester then jumped offside, gifting the Warriors a first down. Cade Makin had been a menace on the Titans defensive line all season and he enhanced his reputation making a big sack of Jacquet, forcing London to punt. The Titans quickly returned the favour punting themselves. Back on offence the Warriors kept the ball on the ground with Sobowale reaching the Manchester thirty-one before being gang tackled.

Sobowale takes some stopping – Image by Kyle Hemsley

On second down Titans defensive back Sam Fossey made a tackle for a loss, which was followed by an incomplete pass, meaning the pattern of three and outs for both teams continued. Jones ripped off a long run, but the Warriors defence stiffened. Starting at their own twenty, London couldn’t get anything going as both defences remained dominant. For their last drive of the first quarter Bloomfield mixed it up for Manchester with a combination of hand-offs to Jones and two completions to Max Gracie-Ainscough that had the Titans in the red-zone as the first quarter closed.

After an opening period where the scoreboard didn’t see any action, the second quarter would see it burst into life! The Titans were on the Warriors ten and Bloomfield looked to find his receiver in the corner of the endzone, the pass was somewhat wayward though and ended up on the turf. Manchester called a time-out, re-calibrated and lined up again. This time receiver Adam Bamber, with a zero on his jersey, had a six on his hands, touchdown Titans! Kicker Aaron Ainsworth-Bowcott was good for the point after, and Manchester had a lead they would never surrender.

Bamber catches his first touchdown – Image by Kyle Hemsley

Luke Hegney was sat deep for the Warriors and fielded the kick-off, returning it to the twenty-two. London now had the shifty Tyrese Johnson-Fisher in the backfield and having taken the hand-off he darted for the first down. Two plays later Jacquet ran a keeper but was sacked, the ensuing punt was muffed by Eager but the Titans recovered it and had the first down on their own thirty four. Tom Jones isn’t physically imposing, but he has great vision and a tremendous burst, the Titans impressive Offensive Line sealed the left end for him and sixty-four yards later, he was in the endzone for Manchester’s second touchdown! Ainsworth-Bowcott split the uprights with the PAT, and it was now 14-0.

Johnson-Fisher cuts back for big yards – Image by Kyle Hemsley

The momentum was firmly with the Titans. Receiving the kick, the Warriors returner was deemed to have signalled for a fair catch meaning that London would start on their twenty. Their offence were struggling to find any consistency and two incomplete passes led to another punt. On Manchester’s next drive, Bloomfield, now throwing with extra confidence was almost picked off by Warriors linebacker James Armah. The Titans then went back to their effective ground game, with Jonatan Pan Gago making a first down with the help of a big push from the Line. Jones then ran for a further first down that set up Bloomfield to execute his signature play, roll-out right, pump fake to freeze the corner, then put the ball over the top. The grateful recipient was Bamber, who ran it in for his second score of the game, with another successful PAT the Titans now led 21-0, not what the viewing public or the Warriors were expecting!

Sam Bloomfield sends the ball on its way – Image by Kyle Hemsley

London needed to establish some consistency on offence to get back in the game and re-introduced Sobowale. He didn’t seem to be at full power but had enough to run for a first down, then a connection between Jacquet and Luc Benjamin Mbemba kept the chains moving. Frustratingly, a miscue with a hand-off saw them lose yards and on fourth down they had to punt. Jones and Gracie-Ainscough contributed some chunk yards for the Titans who were now at the London thirty as the two-minute warning was signalled. Bloomfield thought he had found Bamber in the endzone but an acrobatic tip by a defender dashed the Titans hopes of extending their lead. On the next play it was time for the Warriors to experience some good fortune as Bloomfield and Jones failed to execute the hand off in the backfield. The ball ended up on the ground, where Alex Haldane recovered it, giving London another chance to create something. A determined Jacquet delivered two good runs in succession, but a holding penalty negated the second gain and with time running out in the first half, he decided to go for it all. Hegney snagged the pass and sprinted seventy yards down the side-line to open London’s account! With a successful PAT the score was 21-7 Titans. With just a few seconds on the clock, Manchester took the knee to end the half. It had been an explosive second quarter! with twenty-eight points being posted, the question was, who would score next.

Luke Hegney turned on the burners! – Image by Kyle Hemsley

With the Warriors receiving the ball at the start of the second half, Manchester tried a squib kick, London recovered it though and had the first down at midfield. Having had success through the air at the end of the first half, Jacquet put the ball up again, disaster! It was picked off by Titans defensive back Jonathan Bentill. Manchester started back from their sixteen, but no gain on a jet sweep, followed by an incomplete pass on third down led to them punting.

Jacquet wasn’t afraid to air it out – Image by J Davies Photography

The Warriors were determined to narrow the gap and started to show some promise with Johnson-Fisher taking a screen pass for a big gain. Jacquet opted to keep the ball and run on the next play but was met by stand out Titans linebacker Mark Houghton, who tackled him for a loss. London then tried to go deep, but the pass was broken up by Ricardo Delva. Now on fourth down they chose to go for it rather than punt, but the pass attempt fell short, and they turned the ball over on downs. Manchester took over at their twenty-five, with Bloomfield finding Chris Winrow to move them to third and one. They couldn’t convert it though, punting the ball back to London, who went to Johnson-Fisher again for another big run, this time though, it was called back due to a holding penalty.

Haughton was resolute at the centre of the Manchester defence – Image by J Davies Photography

The Titans front seven continued to put relentless pressure on Jacquet and the Warriors quickly found themselves lining up in punt formation again. Sam Fossey returned the punt to the Titans forty, setting up Bloomfield for another drive. Four consecutive completions to Ainscough-Gracie had Manchester Knocking on the door, due in most part to some impressive yards after the catch on the second pass, to register a fifty-yard play. A short run by Jones kept the defence honest, before Bloomfield found Ben Martin for Manchester’s fourth touchdown of the game. The point after sailed through, pushing the score to 28-7. The game was now deep into the third quarter and the light was starting to fade, as were London’s chances of getting back on terms.

Ben Martin about to score! – Image by Kyle Hemsley

Runs by Sobowale and Jermaine Allen, followed by a reception from Ian Jacquet had the Warriors making progress, but a sack by Manchester’s Charles Dixon and an unsuccessful run on fourth and one saw the Titans back in possession as the third quarter ended. Having forced Manchester to punt, at the start of the final quarter London then put together their longest drive. Jacquet was distributing well, with Sobowale, Johnson-Fisher and Hegney keeping the chains moving, but just as they were getting in striking distance of the endzone, Jacquet was picked by Eager! Back behind centre, Bloomfield then found Bamber, Gracie-Ainscough, Scott Higgins and Martin to edge the Titans down the field, but the drive stalled and the reliable Ainsworth-Bowcott was sent in to attempt a field goal. He nailed the kick, and the three points moved the score to 31-7 Manchester.

Jermaine Allen was tough to bring down – Image by Kyle Hemsley

It was all but over, but that didn’t stop the Warriors from trying to get some more points on the board. Jacquet found Mbemba for a first down, but on his next attempt he was picked off by George Slade who put the icing on the cake by running it all the way back to the house! This time there were issues with the hold, meaning that the PAT attempt was unsuccessful, moving the score to 37-7 Titans. In the final seconds Johnson-Fisher made three more good runs, but as he rose from the turf after being tackled, the ball rose towards the sky in the hand of referee Wickham, and the game was over.

The Titans side line at the moment of victory! – Image by Kyle Hemsley

Manchester had claimed a famous victory, when others doubted their ability to win the “big-one” they had delivered. After the game I spoke with three of their key players to get their reactions. First up is quarterback and game MVP Sam Bloomfield.

“A dream finally realised! We knew London would be a tough challenge, they’re physical, well coached and have some of the best players in the country. We game planned effectively, and we were able to shut them out defensively aside from one big play and we were able to consistently drive the ball down field and score points. When they made adjustments, we made adjustments to target the areas they’d created through their changes. It was incredibly important for us to stay aggressive and outscore them, rather than trying to outlast them. The game plan, the mentality, the execution. We are proud of the game we played and we’re looking forward to getting our next campaign started. Forever Manchester”.

Jonathan Moorhouse is the heartbeat of the Offensive Line, directing operations from his position at Centre.

“This season and year have been filled with ups and downs, but the one thing that has remained consistent is the boys’ hunger and determination to claim what is rightfully ours. Forever an underdog and never in the discussions of being near the final, but we stuck to the game plan and executed when it really mattered”.

Moorhouse points the way forward for his teammates – Image by Kyle Hemsley

Linebacker Mark “Rio” Haughton moved to the Titans in the off-season in an effort to further his dream of being a British Champion.

“To not only make the championship game, but to also win it, is a surreal feeling that still hasn’t fully sunk in yet. It’s been a goal and dream of mine ever since I took up the sport and I came to this team because I could see the potential and determination to achieve something special. We knew the size of the task at hand. Beating the Warriors is something not many teams have accomplished, and we knew what we had to do to prepare as best we could to achieve that. We exceeded everyone else’s expectations this season, except our own. Internally we knew we had the talent to go and win it all”.

Is this the start of a new era in Britball? has the period of the London teams’ dominance finally come to an end? we’ll have to wait and see. What we can say for certain is that the Champions trophy currently has a blue glow to it, and it now lives in Manchester, at least for the next twelve months.