• National success for Bay’s new American Football club

National success for Bay’s new American Football club

Careful planning and great execution were the keys to success for Hawke’s Bay’s only American Football club at this year’s National Invitational American Flag Football Tournament.

The Hawke's Bay Heat American Flag Football team won the five-team National Invitational Tournament at Sinclair Park in Wellington last month. Despite only being a new club formed in June last year, Hawke's Bay Heat, won the title with a 39-31 win against the Nelson Honey Badgers in the final.

The Hawke's Bay team, captained by quarterback Jordan Cox, opened the two-day tournament with a tough, 32-29 loss to the Tamaki Hornets of Auckland on Saturday. In their second outing the Heat beat the Turangi Titans 45-19 and their third game of the day was a convincing win against the Wellington Wolves.

In their final match on Saturday they took on the defending champion Nelson Honey Badgers and lost 39-38.

A 2-2 record pitted them against the Hornets, for the second time, in the semi-final. Learning a few lessons from the mistakes made in Game 1, the Heat were able to come out on top 32-25 and secure their spot in the Final.

Heat Centre Murray Orr described the final as "an epic game" which saw the Heat's defensive group hold the Honey Badgers scoreless in the first drive. Points flowed from then on for both teams and Hawke's Bay had a one-point lead at halftime.

In the second half Hawke's Bay were more clinical on offence and defence, stretched the lead and, despite losing Receiver Joel Cox to injury, held on for the win.

As the score suggests the match was an offensive onslaught with almost every drive ending in a touchdown.

Two of the Heat players, Havelock North premier club rugby player and former Hawke's Bay under-20s utility back Adam Blake and fellow Karamu High School product Reuben Hinton, a 2010 Hastings West Wakely Shield rugby rep, were both selected in the tournament team.

Hinton and Blake and fellow Receiver Joel Cox were joined by Centre Murray Orr and Captain Jordan Cox to form the Heat's offensive contingent. The defensive team was captained by Jason Muir and included Chris Treacher, Chris Jablonski, Cameron Orr, Harvey Godwin and Adam Russell.

The Heat now turn their attention to their local tournament which will be hosted in Hawke’s Bay over Labour Weekend.