NWFL Championship Game – London Warriors 33 Birmingham Lions 14
In their quest to be British Champions the London Warriors had been knocking on the Birmingham Lions door for a while. The last time there was a Championship Game was in 2019, covid led to there being no final in 2020 or 21. In the 2019 final the Warriors had asked some questions of the Lions, but at that time, Birmingham still had all the answers. They had met each other twice during the 2022 regular season, the Lions won both those contests, but the second time they met in July, it was by a very narrow two-point margin. The Warriors had served notice that they were determined to claim the title, and on a sunny September day at the Cheshire Sports Club, their time to lift the trophy had arrived.
Finals day wasn’t just about the Warriors and the Lions. The early session of play saw the semi-final contests and they were followed by the third-place decider. In the first semi-final London took down a talented Leeds Carnegie Chargers side 52-20. Birmingham had an easier passage against a plucky Cheshire Bears team winning 51-0. Leeds then went on to claim the victory and third place honours beating Cheshire 52-2. The stage was now set for the final showdown. Both teams were stacked with GB international players, recent teammates at the Women’s World Championships, were now to be adversaries.
The NWFL is played in a seven a side format and there are no kicking situations, point after attempts are therefore either runs or passes. There are two halves to each match as opposed to quarters and the field is smaller than a regulation pitch, that combination can lead to a fast-paced action-packed encounter, and that’s exactly what we got!
The Warriors opened the game with a promising drive but ended up turning the ball over on downs, due to some solid tackling by GB international Sydney Green. Green plays quarterback for GB, but at club level she relishes the impact that playing linebacker brings. Birmingham now had possession and a quick pitch by Lions quarterback Natalie Parker to Sophia Klair saw her race the length of the field to the endzone! Unfortunately for the Lions it was called back for a holding penalty. A completion from Parker to Oli Davies, followed by a good run by Ruth Matta kept the chains moving, but then the drive stalled, and London took over.
Oli Davies made a great catch
Warriors quarterback Angelina Fisher ran for a couple of short gains before unloading a deep pass to stand-out receiver Siobhan Walker, who wrestled her way through two tacklers before reaching out with the ball to break the plain of the endzone and open the scoring. She then ran in the conversion. 7-0 Warriors. Birmingham came straight back, when a great block by Antoinette Morgan sprung Klair for a big gain. Parker then kept the ball herself and dashed in for a score, the conversion saw Matta tack on the extra point, and it was all square at 7-7.
Walker opened the scoring for the Warriors
The action was relentless, and it was more of the same from London with Fisher pitching to Walker who scorched down the left sideline and into the endzone, the conversion was good, 14-7 Warriors. Ruth Matta rose to the occasion for Birmingham and eluded the would-be tacklers to score on a long run of her own. This time Klair ran in the conversion, and we were back level at 14-14. With little time left in the half London looked to re-instate their lead, runs from Fisher and Walker had them close, but a crunching tackle from Green stopped them at the one and the teams went in all square at the half.
Green put a stop to the Warriors scoring attempt
The Warriors had the ball at the start of the second half and drove down the field on the back of runs from Fisher and Walker, Green and Josie Symonds made the tackles to keep them at bay. London did get in the endzone, but like the Birmingham play earlier in the game, it was called back for holding. Excellent blocking by the Warriors offensive line paved the way for Fisher and she went in for the score. The exchange on the conversion attempt was fumbled, so now London led by a score of 20-14.
Fisher makes her way in for the touchdown
Parker was coming under constant pressure from the London front three but handed off to Matta and Davies for good gains, before disaster struck and a loose ball was recovered by the Warriors. One play later and Walker was in the endzone again” the conversion was good, and London now had a two-score lead at 27-14.
Npuna and the Warriors defensive line applied the pressure
The teams exchanged possessions and with the Lions looking for some quick points Parker took off on a designed run, only to be met by Delta Npuna. Parker then went deep looking for Davies but without success and on the next play she was tackled for a loss. With just over two minutes left in the game Matta broke free on a big run, but as she was tackled, the ball came loose, and Christina Ibironke recovered it for the Warriors. Birmingham used a time out to preserve the clock, but as play resumed Walker broke free down the left side line sprinting all the way to the house! It was her fourth touchdown of the game and it ended the Lions hopes of a comeback. Green and Symonds combined to stop the conversion attempt, meaning the score was now 33-14 to London. Birmingham had one more possession, but it came to nothing, giving the Warriors the ball back with seconds left on the clock. London assumed the victory formation, snapped the ball and Fisher took the knee. It was the end of the game and after six consecutive championships, an era of Birmingham Lions domination. There was a new name to write in the record books, they would read “London Warriors, Womens 2022 British Champions”.
Siobhan Walker had had a season to remember, a silver medal with the GB Lions at the World Championships, a game winning touchdown against Canada as time expired and a four-touchdown performance in the National Championship game, which earned her the MVP award. I spoke to her to get her thoughts on the win. “It's a pretty overwhelming feeling to get the title. We've been through all the emotions this season and so much hard work had been put in behind the scenes from both players and coaches to prepare us for this moment. 1% better has always been our mentality and we went out there and left everything on the field. Everyone played their part and now collectively, we get to reap the rewards and claim the title of National Champions.”
Walker receives her MVP Award from BAFA CEO Pete Ackerley
The profile of the women’s game has never been higher, with participation levels up, hopefully it won’t be too long until we move to nine a side and ultimately elevens.
Images Courtesy of J Davies Photography