World Footy News

The AFL competition across Central and Northern England has finished off the home and away season for 2015, but not in the circumstances expected. Rather than having three matches which may help teams tune up for finals action or allow for last minute upsets from lower teams seeking to create havoc, the round saw two games forfeited and another decided by such a large margin that it is likely neither side gained what they needed from the hitout.

With Huddersfield Rams already a spectator this round due to their bye, they were joined by Sheffield Thunder and Tyne Tees Tigers with both clubs receiving the four default points when Nottingham Scorpions and Birmingham Bears respectively failed in their attempts to field a side. For Thunder the result simply reinforced their second place finish. The Tigers, however, would have been delighted with the result as it gave them a fourth win for the season and dragged them off the bottom of the ladder, avoiding the wooded spoon.

(Left: 2014 Premiers - Manchester Mosquitoes - Which team will take the 2015 flag?)
In fact, the Tyne Tees Tigers have possibly built a tremendous platform for the future, winning four of their final six matches to finish the season as one of the competitions form sides.

The Manchester Mosquitoes got any amount of goalkicking practice in their final round match, but arguably not the pressurised, high intensity tune-up they would have preferred going into the finals. Their whopping score of 48 28 316 to the Wolverhampton Wolverines 6 11 47 may have set new records for a team score but did little to aid their premiership preparation other than skill drills. For the Wolverines ths loss consigned them to last place and the 2015 wooden spoon.

Next weekend the finals battles begin. The semi-finals will be held in Manchester with the Mozzies (1) taking on the Rams (4) and the Thunder (2) playing the Bears (3).

The grand-final will be held between the two winning semi-finalists in Sheffield the following week. But from now on the pressure will build for all teams as the Mozzies will seek to continue their competition dominance whilst the Thunder, Rams and Bears do all they can to prevent that dominance continuing.

Weekend Results:

Manchester Mosquitoes 48.28 (316) def. Wolverhampton Wolverines 6.11 (47) at Manchester
Birmingham Bears def. by Tyne Tees Tigers by default (Birmingham unable to field a team)
Sheffield Thunder def. Nottingham Scorpions by default (Nottingham unable to field a team)

Round 14 Ladder:

Manchester Mosquitoes 44
Sheffield Thunder 36
Birmingham Bears 24
Huddersfield Rams 20
Nottingham Scorpions 16
Tyne Tees Tigers 16
Wolverhampton Wolverines 12