Highland Wildcats are going back to the Britbowl finals after making it through the first stage of the British American Football Association play-offs.

At the north section in Edinburgh, the Inverness-based side took on the Chorley Buccaneers in their first knockout game, and prevailed 30-19 in what was a back and forth game.

The next challenge came in the form of the Manchester Titans, who defeated the Wildcats in last year’s play-offs.

It was an even closer game that pushed the Highlanders to their limits, but again they managed to come through, winning 16-14.

Those victories mean the Wildcats will move on to the Britbowl finals at Sheffield Hallam University at the end of this month, already securing their spot as one of the best four teams in the UK this year and looking to win the Britbowl title for the first time since 2015.

Club head coach Ben Senior was delighted not just to book their place in Sheffield, but also with the manner of how they did it and the teamwork on show between players and coaches alike.

“I’m absolutely on top of the world,” Senior said.

“I’m lost for words on this one – it was such a performance of incredible heart and tenacity and resilience and teamwork.

“We knew that Chorley were going to be a good opponent, and we also knew that Manchester were going to be a big team. They outmanned and outmuscled us in terms of physicality, but our technical play was superb.

“Those are the games we want to play to give our guys a bit of experience in overcoming adversity.

“I have to give massive credit to our co-ordinators Ally Gibson and Colin Hamilton during the game.

“They played a masterful game of chess against the opposition coaches all game long, and they were in constant communication with the guys to make sure they were talking to each other on the field and make sure they know they have our support.

“If we all work together and do our jobs, results will come from that, and that’s testament to the organisation as a whole to keep us at a level where we were at this level for three years in-a-row, which is a difficult thing to do.”

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