With 10 teams competing, the most the tournament has ever seen, and finals coverage via Sky Sport Next on the line, it was bound to be an interesting championship.
The Tamaki Lightning and Nelson Honey Badgers emerged from Pool A with the Metro Lions narrowly missing out. From Pool B, the Hawkes Bay Heat and AFC Spitfires progressed to the semi-finals.
In the first semi-final, the Tamaki Lightning swept aside the AFC Spitfires with a convincing 42-6 win. All the drama was saved for the semi-final between the Hawkes Bay Heat and Nelson Honey Badgers.
Ending 33 a piece, the finalist was decided on a count-back of points conceded, seeing the defending champions, the Heat, go through to the final.
It was the defending champions pipped against the Lightning looking to claim their first national championship, and it was the latter that struck first after a great catch from Shiraz Soysa.
However, the Heat swiftly answered back through the talents of Adam Blake to make the score 7-6.
The Lightning took the lead into the second half after some stellar play and a flurry of touchdowns.
Firstly, Anthony Stevens stepped over the endzone to add to the Lightning’s lead, 13-6. And then quickly turned over possession again to get another touchdown, this time through Dalton Coppins.
The Heat managed to weather the storm with some magic of their own, grabbing a late touchdown before the half time whistle reducing the deficit to six. Adam Blake caught a full field hail-mary that lead to a touchdown from Murray Orr. A great charge lead by Quarterback Jordan Cox.
The Lightning emerged from the break with energy and a point to prove, and once again were first on the board from a Dalton Coppins touchdown, thanks to some pinpoint passing from Quarterback Jim Hunter.
At 25-13, the Lightning looked strong favourites but the Heat’s Quarterback Jordan Cox again came calling, rushing home for the touchdown to bring the score back to 25-19.
The Lightning’s offense was proving too much for the Heat though, with Dalton Coppins completing his hattrick to make the score 31-19.
With two minutes left on the clock, they put the nail in the coffin, again through a Hunter-Coppins connection for Coppins’ fourth touchdown of the match.
The Heat’s Adam Blake had a nice defensive pick, going full field to add 2 points for the Heat, hoping to spark a late comeback.
And they did find another through Blake, his second of the game.
However they had left it too late. The scores closing at 37-27 to give the Tamaki Lightning their first national title, the 2020 Club Flag Football National Championships.
The Tamaki Lightning and Nelson Honey Badgers emerged from Pool A with the Metro Lions narrowly missing out. From Pool B, the Hawkes Bay Heat and AFC Spitfires progressed to the semi-finals.
In the first semi-final, the Tamaki Lightning swept aside the AFC Spitfires with a convincing 42-6 win. All the drama was saved for the semi-final between the Hawkes Bay Heat and Nelson Honey Badgers.
Ending 33 a piece, the finalist was decided on a count-back of points conceded, seeing the defending champions, the Heat, go through to the final.
It was the defending champions pipped against the Lightning looking to claim their first national championship, and it was the latter that struck first after a great catch from Shiraz Soysa.
However, the Heat swiftly answered back through the talents of Adam Blake to make the score 7-6.
The Lightning took the lead into the second half after some stellar play and a flurry of touchdowns.
Firstly, Anthony Stevens stepped over the endzone to add to the Lightning’s lead, 13-6. And then quickly turned over possession again to get another touchdown, this time through Dalton Coppins.
The Heat managed to weather the storm with some magic of their own, grabbing a late touchdown before the half time whistle reducing the deficit to six. Adam Blake caught a full field hail-mary that lead to a touchdown from Murray Orr. A great charge lead by Quarterback Jordan Cox.
The Lightning emerged from the break with energy and a point to prove, and once again were first on the board from a Dalton Coppins touchdown, thanks to some pinpoint passing from Quarterback Jim Hunter.
At 25-13, the Lightning looked strong favourites but the Heat’s Quarterback Jordan Cox again came calling, rushing home for the touchdown to bring the score back to 25-19.
The Lightning’s offense was proving too much for the Heat though, with Dalton Coppins completing his hattrick to make the score 31-19.
With two minutes left on the clock, they put the nail in the coffin, again through a Hunter-Coppins connection for Coppins’ fourth touchdown of the match.
The Heat’s Adam Blake had a nice defensive pick, going full field to add 2 points for the Heat, hoping to spark a late comeback.
And they did find another through Blake, his second of the game.
However they had left it too late. The scores closing at 37-27 to give the Tamaki Lightning their first national title, the 2020 Club Flag Football National Championships.
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