This Sunday will see the first ever women’s flag American Football match to be staged in the UK take place at the University of Warwick.

Last month nine sporty students from the University came together to set up the UK’s first ever women’s American Football team and now they are challenging their counterparts at Coventry University.

The two pioneering teams will battle it out on Sunday at 12.30pm on the Tarkett sports pitch in the Westwood campus at Warwick.

Coventry Jets Academy and Plymouth Pirates have thrown their weight behind the event and will be fielding mixed and men’s teams in unofficial matches against the girl’s teams.

Andrew Gambrill, who helped organise and coaches both the Warwick and Coventry sides, said:  “I’m immensely proud of the job my coaching staff have done. Taking complete novices and turning them into teams that will put on excellent games. But the real praise has to go to the girls who have embraced the challenge and worked so very hard.”

Wolverines’ coach Tikisha Mccook added: “It’s a big deal for the girls to get known, and for people to come see them play, not just the lads. It has been great coaching the Wolverines; they take a genuine interest and have a real passion for the sport. I’m so happy to see it has taken another step and I think this event could be very successful.”

The match is being officially recognised by the British Universities American Football League (BUFAL), with all participants receiving a commemorative medal at the end of play.

Andy Fuller, head of BUAFL commented: “This will be a landmark game in British university football and the launch pad for the further development of our sport across the education sector. The British American Football Association has been impressed with the efforts which have gone into reaching this milestone and would like to thank all the players and coaches involved.”

Sports fans are encouraged to come along and watch the action for free on Sunday. Anyone interesting in the competition should park in Car Park 12, on Kirby Corner Road.

Sunday’s rainy affair between the Leicester Longhorns and Warwick Wolves had much more than alliteration going for it.

Three days of miserable weather created a sloppy, muddy field that would play host to a true football match, with everything from Special Team’s touchdowns, to long drives and exciting plays. The Wolves entered the match with lots to play for; a win would see them take a top four position in their conference, and their focus could be shifted to achieving a post-season spot. As such, the Wolves were fierce in their resolve, hopes not dampened by the bucketing rain.

An outstanding display on the first play of the game saw the Wolves score on a well executed kickoff return, pouring both figurative and literal rain on the Leicester parade. However, as would be tale of the first half, the game was not that easy. As is typical of Longhorn play, the Leicester side came out firing on all cylinders and only a couple plays into their opening drive were within Warwick territory courtesy of a well executed motion run and missed tackles. A few short plays later, trickeration led Leicester into the end zone; a score soon to be converted by a two-point try. 8-7 was the first quarter score.

With continuing rain, the match became physical with Warwick running behind the consistently improving offensive-line. Multiple times, the home side were able to drive the length of the field multiple times, finally punching in a touchdown, courtesy of Tinodiwa Charamba. Warwick’s special teams came through as Ben Nagle-Taylor skillfully returned a punt behind prototypical blocking.

Leicester were not done yet though. Despite Warwick’s defense being consistent all season, the first half showed some serious lacking in their tackling, which , on top of 40yards worth of penalties, saw Warwick pinned back in their redzone. Behind some well-executed QB sneaks, and powerful short running Leicester were able to break through and rustle up a second touchdown, keeping the scores close at the half: 14-21.

The second half, however, was all Warwick. The defense were given some stern words by coach and captains, and, after taking a deep breath, returned to their previous form, forcing fumbles, sacks and tackles for loss – culiminating in one drive which pushed Leicester back 20yards in three plays.

The offensise continued their stellar performance and brought in two more running touchdowns. Tino’s running caused Leicester trouble all day long, but praise has to fall especially on the offensive line. In particular, Demi Omisakin who’s powerful blocking saw him continually open massive lanes for Tino, and, on the final touchdown, saw him shield Tino from multiple hits, driving Leicester players back for a 20yard run-in. With three point-afters converted by Pete Coppenhall, and a two-point conversion, Warwick took the final score to 35-14.

Behind the best offensive performance of the season, the second half gave the Wolves their most prolific game of the past two seasons and affirmed that progress that has been made. In fact, with a 35-14 fourth quarter lead, Warwick was able to get some much-needed game time for its second string players. Experience will be key as the two remaining games of the season are vital if the Wolves are to progress to post-season ball. Nottingham Trent and Staffordshire stand in the way of the Wolves’ best season for six years, and whilst both matches are away from home, Warwick will surely enter each fight with a resolve built on a season of tough, gritty football.

Sunday’s away fixture to the Lincoln Colonials was Warwick’s farthest away fixture of the season but proved to be a welcomed one as the Wolves went over .500 in the second half of a season for the first time in the season for four years.

The match, however, was a nail-biter as the some mistakes on offense kept the game a lot closer than perhaps it should have been. But strong first quarter drives led by running back Tinodiwa Charamba built on successes of the Wolves’ Varsity victory two weeks before. Consistently finding the right running lanes and dodging through Lincoln tacklers, Tino racked up an impressive number of yards before scoring early in the second quarter. Although the Wolves had to wait for their well-deserved points, kicker Pete Coppenhall kept the game tense hitting both uprights whilst converting the score.

On defense, the Wolves were just as successful. Lincoln was almost exclusively kept to thee-and-outs after the first drive. A blocked punt late in the first quarter gave the Colonial’s offense strong field position, but the always brutal run blocking by the Wolves’ defensive line and linebackers stuffed Lincoln in the red zone.

The second half played out much the same. With the Wolves’ special teams unit giving the offense solid field position throughout the game, it was surprising that they did not score more in the second half. A goal-line stand by the Lincoln defense kept the Wolves out, but served as little consolation as Lincoln failed to muster an attack of their own after halftime. Outstanding defense and special teams play pinned Lincoln in their own half, and the ever-present team captain Alex Marsden summed the game up with a sack for loss that left the Colonials on 4th and 25.

The strong advancements made by the offense over the last two games should serve the team well as they look to beat Leicester this week in an attempt to end the season above .500 for the first time in four years.