The Solent Thrashers became the first team to be confirmed as division champions. In the SFC 1 Central the Thrashers reaffirmed their superiority by edging the Sussex Thunder 17-14 despite the Thunder taking a 14-10 lead into the final quarter.
With three games left to play, the Solent Thrashers 2018 results:
Oxford Saints 17-29 Solent Thrashers
Solent Thrashers 50-3 Bristol Apache
Solent Thrashers 25-13 Oxford Saints
Solent Thrashers 25-7 Berkshire Renegades
Solent Thrashers 20-9 Sussex Thunder
Ouse Valley Eagles 0-20 Solent Thrashers
Sussex Thunder 14-17 Solent Thrashers
The Tamworth Phoenix’s long journey north of the border reaped its reward when they sunk the East Kilbride Pirates 46-0 in the Premiership North to maintain their two-game advantage over the Manchester Titans.
In the Premiership South, the top two London teams continue to dominate their opponents with the Warriors overwhelming the Farnham Knights 84-0 and the Blitz also registering a shut out with their 47-0 victory over the London Olympians.
With another shut out, the Northumberland Vikings overcame the Yorkshire Rams to stay top of NFC 1 North with a 27-0 win, while the Lancashire Wolverines stay in touch with their 37-0 win over the Glasgow Tigers.
The opportunity for the Sandwell Steelers to make progress in the NFC 1 South was lost when their game was called off through lack of medical cover. The cover had been arranged, but external forces meant it didn’t arrive for the game. The Doncaster Mustangs have graciously agreed to rearrange the game, but the logistics including officials need to be organised. It would be a shame if the Steelers miss the playoffs for reasons other than their record on the field.
In the same division the Coventry Jets forfeited their games against the Leicester Falcons who moved to (6-0).
In the NFC 2 Central the (5-0) Chester Romans were on a bye so the Halton Spartans 52-18 triumph over the Morecambe Bay Storm moved them closer (5-1).
The London Hornets moved to the top of the SFC 1 East with their 28-20 defeat of the Cambridgeshire Cats while the Wembley Stallions overcame the Kent Exiles 17-7.
The shut out theme for the day continued in the SFC 2 West with the Torbay Trojans and the South Wales Warriors enjoying 64-0 and 48-0 victories over the Cornish Sharks and Worcestershire Black Knights respectively. Next Sunday will see the (5-0) Warriors travel to the (5-0) Trojans with the return game two weeks later.
In the same division, the Somerset Wyverns moved to (3-3) after defeating the Jurassic Coast Raptors 28-7. This is a great performance for a team in their first year in the National league.
In the SFC 2 East division the unbeaten London Blitz B were behind for most of their game away to the Ipswich Cardinals but forged a late 21-10 win to keep their (5-0) lead at the top of the division.
In the same division, the Norwich Devils who returned to the National League this season after a few years absence are also battling for the division title. In our April preview the team acknowledged they were ready for the challenge ahead and at (4-1) have proved their point.
Next weekend, the (5-0) Hertfordshire Cheetahs could move to the top of the SFC 2 South if they defeat the (2-3) Bournemouth Bobcats with the Portsmouth Dreadnoughts on another bye week.
Two unbeaten teams in the NFC 2 South will face each other when the (5-0) Birmingham Bulls travel to the (6-0) Staffordshire Surge.