more gridiron UK

Although there wasn't the promised thunder storm yesterday in ... more here

Despite that there Facepack making it increasingly difficult to curate a photo collection we now have a flag football album.

The tragedy of yesterday's four team women's american football in Norwich was that the beer van broke down on the way and never made it.

The rain Saturday in Peterborough didn't ruin the second round of the Women's Central Division but it did dampen it a bit.  Fortunately the ... more here

Poignant last Sunday as the Ipswich Cardinals v Norwich Devils home game was the first without the management of Ralph and Jan ... more here

In Cambridge Saturday's Varsity game for the first three quarters looked like an Oxford Lancers win if not a repeat of last year's 36-00 Pythons whitewash.  In Q4 two Python break away running touchdowns and converted points after led to a 14-12 copiously supported win.  In the third quarter if the Lancers on fourth and goal had attempted and completed a field goal they would have won but they didn't know that at the time.

Our journey to the game was hindered by a 30 minute tail back at the Cambridge end of the M11.  It was still there the next day and now the A14 was closed by an accident east bound between junctions 31-35, four junctions?  Confusingly eastbound at Cambridge junction numbers jump from 26 to 31.

Sunday at a new and military looking sports facility on the Mersea side of Colchester the Ipswich Cardinals played the Colchester Gladiators. ... more here

For one day only Sunday the Ipswich Cardinals moved round the corner to train amongst the dog walkers on the Dumbarton Road Rec.  Two ... more here

The Norwich Devils Women start their season next month at the Sandwell Steelers (that's Birmingham).

Crikey!  The Norwich Devils Women have bought us a whole handful of coffees, how very kind.  Their season starts in May and they host a four team tournament in Norwich and July.

Saturday an impressive number of new faces at the Norwich Devils Women second rookies day plus enough coaches to make a Top ... more here

Very windy for UEA Pirates 08-28 Birmingham Lions today the Pirates' last home game of the season.  More than enough injuries and as noted by the ... more here

At the bottom of the page proposed age groups for under 17 flag american football.

Sarah Fuller eh?  How long before we get a woman in the UK premiership?  Soccer that is.

Oh joy, the return of outdoor sport at this lockdown end.  We do miss the socialising as well as the sport of East Anglian american football.  While we wait here's an unnumbered reason to be cheerful ♫ Hurl that spheroid down the field ♫

Saturday In Lowestoft speedy Waveney Wolves were running through multiple Iceni Spears tackles but with time the Spears started making their tackles.  A Spears trick play along the lines of It's the wrong ball worked beautifully.  We think maybe just three or four flags in all three games which were played with an outstanding spirit though heavy rain inevitably dampened the final match.

At the Ipswich Cardinals new venue in Rushmere despite steady rain with enough wind to make it uncomfortably cold an impressive near fifty players old and new turned out and just one spectator.  Some younger newbs unwisely thought shorts .. more here

Yesterday's UEA Pirates socially distanced rookies had some 15 newbs in the drizzle and a hatful of them could complete a pass.  Chatting with the ... more here

Seems unlikely but UEA in Norwich are offering american football scholarships, you need to apply before the end of the month.

Saddening but not surprisingly the Red Rooster Festival near Thetford has been postponed until next year.  Robert Stan Stamper (seen here on the Ipswich Cardinals chain crew entertaining the visiting Bury Saints sideline) at last year's Maverick Festival before dashing off to dance with his daughter told us the 2018 Roosterfest had been brilliant. ♫

What could be sisters at the Ipswich Cardinals last year added to Suffolk Ladies.

If you're a Colts supporter or interested in how a NFL team is managed then Sucking for Luck will intrigue you.

Crikey!  A non-helmet wearing backflip on roller skates in a skate park and the suspension of British american football extended to the beginning of July.

In Suffolk there were 331 coronavirus-related deaths up to the 1 May.  Yesterday 1,350 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Suffolk.  The  forty eighth reason to be cheerful is surely an anthem for all contact sports.

You win some you lose some.  The Martlesham Wickes with new safety measures has re-opened but BAFA have CANCELLED this summer's British contact american football season though there could be friendlies later on.

It's the NFL virtual draft this week but as it's in the middle of the night we probably won't bother unless Pat McAfee is announcing a Colts' pick of course.

Outside line backer for the Cambridge Pythons #36 Jack Bradbury has graduated early to practise immediately as a junior hospital doctor.  We'll be clapping for you next Thursday Jack,

Yesterday's Kent Falcons 00-17 Essex Blades was really worked over by Storm Ciara (our trousers and underpants were still soaked through when we got back to Suffolk) so everyone involved (including us) very noble people.  Surprisingly in the surging side winds the first score was an Essex field goal though a ref observed it was two yards off target before being blown back on target.  Traditionally leaving Essex third years get to share a bottle of Jim Beam ... after the coaches have had a swig.

Yesterday in Cambridge visitors the Cambs Pythons failed a field goal and the ARU Rhinos ran in a td but it was called back, probably for holding ... it's always holding, and so a nil nil result.  Lots of penalties including the unlikely defensive delay of game, slippery balls, a limping ball boy and an essentially good tempered match with thankfully just two game pausing non-serious injuries.

Regrettably we didn't make it to Brunel Burners at Essex Blades in Colchester yesterday.  The Blades won 18-15 which sounds close enough to have been exciting and involving.

Yesterday in the NFL playoffs Kansas City Chiefs tackle 72 Eric Fisher at 13:38 on YouTube celebrated a touchdown by pinching some spectators' beers and then not drinking them ... American beer so understandable:)

CORRECTION: We originally reported that the CCU Chargers' honoury captain last Sunday was Ken Matcham.  The honoury captain was in fact Joe Waller who is being treated for cancer, our apologies to both gentlemen.

Sunday we arrived in Norwich too late for the shaking of hands at UEA Pirates v CCU Chargers but not too late for a Charger to be ejected for illegal use of the helmet.  Erin Jones 51 (one the Chargers' two women players) left injured in the first half and we think we saw she'd taken her pads off but she returned later to play offensive guard and was getting close up and personal ... impressive.  A Pirates 37-00 Chargers whitewash but the Chargers stuck at it cheerfully in support of their player and honourary captain for the day Joe Waller who is being treated for cancer.

Yesterday we arrived untypically early in Cambridge for Anglia Ruskin Uni Rhinos v Essex Blades to be told it would be a late start as the key to unlock the game equipment was still on it's way.  In the event as is the way recently the medic arrived fashionably ten minutes late and the game started 20 mins late.  ARU were stalling getting their run game going and being intercepted on the pass.  Towards the match end ARU got to first and goal but penalties and finally a snap fumble ended the drive. An impressive Blades 33-02 win and perhaps disheartening for the so many Rhinos first timers but they will get better.

Major rule changes for NFL kickoffs and Sunday the Ipswich Cardinals won the re-scheduled away match against the East Essex Sabres 54-48.

Like ♫Norwegian funk♫ it would seem Chinese gridiron is a thing ... and why not?

Six hours of British American football at Colchester Rugby Club Sunday.  A very rewarding tuck stall, a scoreboard (we do find it hard keeping up with the score especially when it's not clear whether a point after at the other end was good or not) and half time entertainment from twirlers carrying as many injuries as a roller derby league.  Hosts Colchester Gladiator's defence started strongly but the very short handed team faded to a 40-00 whitewash from the Bury Saints.  In the second game Kent Exiles came from behind for a 28-14 win over Herts Cheetahs.  Enjoyed it all and thankfully no overtime.