The Bristol Aztecs claimed their first national title with a thrilling 27-24 victory over the London Warriors in Britbowl XXXVII.
An explosive weekend of action at Coventry’s Butts Park Arena saw the Solent Thrashers crowned 2025 NWFL Premiership champions and the London Blitz take their tenth U19 National Championship.
Expectations were high heading into the weekend as a repeat of last year’s Britbowl match-up was set for Sunday. Bristol and London traded blows with quarterbacks Dee Williams and Ethan Gretzinger driving two high-powered offenses up and down the Butts Park field.
It would be Bristol’s defense that secured their first national championship title, forcing fumbles on back-to-back drive in the fourth quarter and allowing Gretzinger, the eventual MVP, to kneel out the season.
In the NWFL Premiership Final, the Solent Thrashers also claimed their first national championship, defeating the Birmingham Lions 21-20. Coming in as defending champions the Lions looked their typical dynamic selves, running away with a 20-6 lead at the half after rushing scores from Grace John, Ruth Matta and Sophia Klair.
It would be Solent receiver and MVP Tuva Strom who gave life to the Thrashers, powering through the Birmingham defense on three occasions, one of which a 45 yard breakaway reception, to bring the Britbowl newcomers level. In a league which has only featured special teams for the last three seasons, it would be a successful extra point from Thrashers offensive talisman Eilidh Currie that brought the Women’s contact crown to the South Coast for the first time.
In the U19 National Championship it was trophy number ten on the line for the Blitz with the Edinburgh Napier Knights standing in their way. With the incoming and outgoing GBU19 quarterbacks facing off and two stout defenses shaping up, the Coventry crowd were treated to a tense opener as Edinburgh finished the first quarter up 13-12.
London would flex their historical prowess as the final went on, running away with a 54-19 victory as running back Owayne Montaque took MVP honours.