The Kent Phoenix took two squads to Orpington and the home of the Kent Exiles this weekend to take part in the X Bowl Flag Football tournaments.
Under 11s
Our Under 11 Cadet side took part in their first tournament of 2024 and were allocated into a league with the London Blitz and the South Coast Spitfires. It was a tough ask with so many of our players taking part in their first tournament ever, and especially since their first game was against the tournament’s eventual champions in the Spitfires.
The Spitfires went on to beat the Solent Red Storm in the X Bowl in a tight game that went to triple overtime sudden death! You can read all the X Bowl Under 11 tournament results here.
Despite three losses on the day, there were plenty of reasons for the Cadets to be positive. With a number of children joining the Phoenix since last year, we were able to put out a squad with 17 players kitted up for the tournament. Those kind of numbers bode well for the future of the team and the club.
Moreover, the whole Cadet squad worked so hard and defended well against some tough teams. As Coach Mart said afterwards:
“The numbers and commitment from the cadets was, as always, fantastic. Seventeen players is absolutely amazing! Lots to work on (players and coaches alike!) but I am so proud of each and every one of them today, they should hold their heads high.”
Under 14s
The Under 14 squad followed up their promising start at the Stinger Bowl in March with a very positive showing.
They didn’t play the South Coast Spitfires in March and this first clash of 2024 was a hard-fought and tight game. The Phoenix were unfortunate to come out on the wrong side of a 6-0 defeat in which they had chances to win and where just a solitary touchdown decided the game.
The Phoenix roared back in their second fixture with a convincing 30-6 win over the Brighton & Hove Scorpions. Unfortunately one of the original competing teams had pulled out to leave their half of the tournament one team short, and so the Phoenix played the Scorpions a second time and again won; this time by the score of 18-12. But with only the top teams in each league competing for the Bowl trophy, after their tight loss to the Spitfires the under 14s were left to rue what might have been as they fell just short of the chance to compete for the crown.
You can read all the X Bowl Under 14 tournament results here.
The Solent Red Storm beat the Spitfires in the X Bowl to claim their second Under 14 tournament crown out of two. They are clearly the team to beat so far this year and the Phoenix will be hoping to continue their progress on June 2 as Thanet play host for the Wild Bowl.
