Wildcats Bare Claws To Take AFL London Premiership
- Sunday, August 07 2016 @ 09:41 pm ACST
- Contributed by: Wesley Hull
- Views: 2,433
After one of the most evenly contested seasons by two clubs heading to the Grand Final, the West London Wildcats asserted their authority on Grand Final day to claim the flag they wanted so much and prove they were the best team in the AFL London competition for 2016.
The Wildcats won every quarter as they continued to build their lead over the Wandsworth Demons, always able to find the extra gear needed to halt every Demon charge or consolidate their own good work.
After finishing the season locked on top of the ladder, the Wildcats adjusted to the demands and pressures of grand final footy just a little better than the Demons. After leading by 12 points at Quarter Time and jumping to a 26 point lead by the main break, warning bells would have been sounding within the Demon’s camp.
The third quarter would have to be the Demons chance to turn their fortunes, but the Wildcats resisted their challenges and moved on to a 32 point lead. The game wasn’t over but the Wildcats had all the answers. The final stanza saw them slam home four goals to two to run away to a commanding and joyful (for them) 51 point premiership victory.
The West London Wildcats had stewed on their upset defeat at the hands of the North London Lions since last year and were determined that this year they would leave nothing to chance. They can now celebrate winning their ninth flag in style before resting and looking ahead to next season.
The Wandsworth demons may have lost the Premiership Division flag, but their fortunes were brighter in the Conference Division where the Clapham Demons 8 2 50 downed the Shepherds Bush Raiders 7 5 47 in a thriller. Their South London Demons defeated the Reading Roos in the Social Division also with the final score 8 10 58 to 3 2 20.
To complete a grand day, the Wimbledon Hawks women’s team downed the North London Lions to take out the Women’s Division premiership, winning comprehensively 10 5 65 to no score.
With the AFL London season now done, attention will turn to the upcoming national teams for the Euro Cup in Portugal amongst other endeavours and all clubs will begin to make their plans for 2017.