NFFL South West Division 1 Preview

This division features 4 teams who attended Division 1 Finals Day in 2022 and an ex National Division 1 Champion dropping from the Premiership. Our predicted final table looks like this after the 16 game season:

1. Weston Supers (z)

2. Swansea Hammerheads (y)

3. Keynsham Kings (x)

4. Exeter Falcons (x)

5. Cardiff Bay Coyotes

6. Gwent Gators

z – automatic promotion and qualification for national finals

y – promotion playoff and qualification for national finals

x - qualification for national finals

Weston Supers

The Supers were in the super-competitive Southern Premiership last year and picked up a couple of wins and a draw. We expect this experience to leave them well placed to compete as they drop to Division 1. A 16-game season, which sees them at the centre of the region, should benefit them this time around. Only time will tell if Weston have added to their squad depth. We believe their small squad will still be potent on offense, with Matt Keyse and Sam Matthews leading the charge.

Predicted position: 1st

Swansea Hammerheads

Last year the Hammerheads closed out the year with a rich run of form. The final weekend of the regular season saw them blow-out their key divisional rivals. They would eventually end-up as the National Division 1 Runners-up after defeating the no. 2 and no. 1 seeds on the way to the final. Availability as ever will be Swansea’s Achilles heel. With Ashley Lewis calling the shots from QB, we expect the Hammerheads to continue their progress on offense. Only the Reading Devils scored more points than the Hammerheads in 2022.

Predicted position: 2nd

Keynsham Kings

The Kings have progressed well since their formation and now rate as genuine divisional contenders. Offensively strong, they scored the 3rd highest points total after the Hammerheads and Devils. We expect their key tandem of Jay Ballamy and Chris Green to be as potent in 2023. The Kings ended the year with a strong performance in the national finals, losing in the quarter-finals to the London Flash in a heart-breaking fashion. If Keynsham can convert the close games that they lost in 2022, then we expect to see them in the mix at the end of the season.

Predicted position: 3rd

Exeter Falcons

It is odd to predict last years’ divisional champions at so low a placing in 2023. An oddity of the BAFA competition rules saw Exeter not finish high enough regionally to gain an automatic promotion spot. Key injuries saw them head to the national finals in Manchester on the back a few losses and they were knocked out in their first game by the Salford Scorpions. The Falcons are built to defend with Ed Mckenna leading one of the stingier D’s in the division and Lewis Phillips marshalling a ball-control offense who score enough points to stay ahead. Against the top teams in Division 1 this isn’t enough, and we believe they will need to find another gear in 2023.

Predicted position: 4th

Cardiff Bay Coyotes

The Coyotes are a team that continues to grow, in performance and squad quality. They also bring a lot to the side-line. In 2022 Cardiff Bay got to an 8-10 record, which was a couple of wins off qualification for the Finals. Matt Tynan has cemented his position as QB 1, when he travels, and on both sides of the ball the team has progressed. We expect them to fare well in the cross-conference games, but struggle in this stacked division. We predict a similar haul for the Coyotes this year, finishing a few games off qualification for the Finals.

Predicted position: 5th

Gwent Gators

The Gators reached the Finals last year and progressed to the second round, but that was with their talismanic receiver Matt Bourke, who led the nation in receiving TDs. Matt has moved on to the Hurricanes and it remains to be seen who can fill his shoes. As with the Coyotes, we expect the Gators to pick-up wins in the cross-conference games, but struggle in this division. Their experienced defense, featuring Chris Bartlett-Legge and Andy Giboney, can contain teams, but can they score enough to challenge the top teams. We believe the Gators will need to revitalise their offense to avoid propping up the division.

Predicted position: 6th