Wolves kit up for national assault on three fronts
3:41pm Thursday 27th March 2014 in Sport
By Alan Feldberg
Marlow Wolves have high hopes this summer
MARLOW Wolves have won national titles every year of their existence, but this time the American Football club hopes to go even further.
Already established as one of the most successful brands in the sport in the country, Wolves have challenged all three of their age-group teams to end the season as British champions.
The Cadets (U12s) should fulfil their end of the bargain – they have been British champions every year since the club was created four seasons ago.
The U17s Flag team are well-placed to match them after their staggering season last year when they won all 19 matches on their way to the BritBowl crown, setting team records for most points scored and fewest conceded plus individual records for touchdowns and yards.
However, the U17s kitted team face the sternest test.
They have never won a BritBowl although last year their young team improved steadily and will go into this season with genuine optimism after being the only side to avoid defeat against Farnham Knights.
Head coach Sam McKee said: “We want to create a Flag dynasty, winning championship after championship, and the cadets we just want to keep winning.
“But we also want a Kitted championship. We’ve been to the play-offs two years out of four but we’ve never won one.”
It will be difficult though after the sport was restructured during the close season.
Now, instead of a national league with the top four qualifying for the play-offs, the teams have been divided into north and south regions with only the winners guaranteed to make through to the BritBowl.
Second-placed teams will be relying on wild cards and McKee admits it makes life hard.
He said: “Lumping all the south teams together is going to be tough. Most of the stronger teams are in the south and London is like a football factory.
“We have a massive rivalry with London Blitz and it’s probably going to be between them and us again.”
Wolves can make a fast start on April 26 though, when the first round of Kitted fixtures takes place at Marlow RFC.
The Flag season will then get underway at Great Marlow School on May 10.
McKee said: “April 26 is a massive day for us. It will set the tone for Marlow Wolves and we want to win all three games to start the season at the top.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Kitted:
Eddie Ntahira (defensive back)
Eric Sjostedt (defensive lineman)
Dannis Burges (linebacker)
* All three have been offered football scholarships starting this autumn
Cadets:
Sebastian Herzog (running back/linebacker)
Matt Allen (quarterback)
Flag:
Jacob Few (running back/linebacker – voted the league’s Most Valuable Player for the last two years)
Will Kubicek (quarterback)
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