The Kent Exiles reached the division 2 championship game of the British American Football League (BAFL), with an emphatic victory over the South West Conference champion Oxford Saints on Sunday.

The Exiles are now crowned Southern Champions, and will take on the Northern Champion Coventry Jets in the final, which is to be held in Sheffield’s Don Valley Stadium on Sunday 25th September.

The Exiles scored all of their 35 points in the first half, as they dominated the Saints on both sides of the ball, allowing them to try some new plays and players during the second half in order to prepare for the final.

The Exiles first touchdown came on their first possession, the Exiles marched downfield behind the running of Garry ‘yards a million’ Dillon and Stewart Muir, only for Matt Duncan to hit Grahame Warby from 23-yards out for the score. Mat Tompsett hit the first of his 5 extra points and it was 7-0 Exiles.

Standout linebackers Paul Samartin and Aaron Alexis led the way for the Exiles defence on Oxfords first possession, and easily repelled the threat, thus allowing the offence to immediately score again on their first play. This time Duncan hit Exiles youth team graduate Sean Starwind in full flight and the fleet footed receiver raced 87-yards for the score.

A huge sack by Gary Ead ended Oxfords next attempt, and the Exiles offence once again made them pay by making it three scores from three drives. This time it was Muir from 6-yards out, capping a great day for the GB running back, as he scampered for 128-yards on his 16 carries.

The tone for the first half (and the game) was by now well and truly set, and the Exiles racked up two more touchdowns on consecutive drives making them a perfect five from five to open the game. The first came via Warby and Duncans second link up, this time from 32-yards out, and then Dillon scored from 8-yards.

The only thing that was able to stop the Exiles offence was the half-time whistle which saw their sixth drive ended, and the score was a resounding 35-0. The Exiles had outgained the Saints by 201-yards to 40 and again showed that they can dominate any opponent.

The second half saw the Exiles use the full depth of their large squad, and try out some new formations and plays in preparation for the final, and they were unlucky not to lengthen their lead further when Muir had a 72-yard score called back on a penalty.

The Saints scored a consolation touchdown late in the fourth quarter on a 16-yard pass from Wayne Mayers to Eric Watts for the final 35-6 score.