UCLA Renegades 24 v Fen Harriers 0

The two pre-season favourites for the BYAFA flag title duly completed their passage to the final under different circumstances. The Pathfinders found themselves with a bye to the Championship game when the Sheffield based outfit were forced to concede around four hours before kick off when a number of their players reported in with flu. UCLA on the other hand who have had key players missing for most of the season had to battle out a hard earned victory over a Harrier side who will go onto be champions next year should they maintain the improvement of this season.

The home side thought they had scored midway through the first quarter when fullback Tony Findlay went in from the eight only for the score to be ruled a fumble into the endzone and the Harriers took possession on their own twenty. With the Renegades defense dominant throughout most of the first quarter it was left to Matt Dean to force the Harriers offense into conceding a safety and give the Boston based outfit a 2 - 0 at the end of the first period.

Midway into the second quarter, following another time-consuming drive Findlay edged the home side further into the lead when he dived in from the two. Bamford connected with wide receiver Bruce Hall for the extra two to leave UCLA ahead by 10 - 0.

The third period remained scoreless with both sides moving the ball before being stopped by some resolute defense. Early in the fourth a sweep right from twelve yards out saw tailback Gordon Muddiman add to the lead. The Bamford - Hall combination again proved successful for the extra two points. The Renegades trademark reverse sealed the game when Hall took Muddiman's hand off and sped round left end into the end zone from twelve yards out. Back up fullback Jonathan Holcombe was stopped just short of the line as the Renegades again went for two.

Credit should go to both sides for a rugged, hard fought and determine game. While UCLA will meet Milton Keynes in the final, the Harriers will take on Steel City Warriors for the 3^rd - 4^th spot. Both games will take place at the Norman Green Stadium, Solihull on Sunday 25^th June