South Gloucestershire and Stroud College’s American Football team, SGS Pride, demonstrated their championship ambition with a commanding 28-6 victory over Portsmouth Destroyers, booking their place in the National Vase Cup final organized by British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).
The decisive semi-final clash took place at Langstone Sports Village, where SGS Pride delivered a confident and controlled performance on the road. They will now travel to Loughborough University to face the Brunel Burners in the highly anticipated final.
Adam Deverill, who was named quarterfinals MVP for his standout performance against the Northumbria Mustangs, continued his fine form by scoring another touchdown and playing a crucial role in the team’s success. His leadership and skill were instrumental in keeping Pride’s momentum alive throughout the match.
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Despite a lengthy journey to Langstone, the team showed no signs of fatigue. Head coach Ben Herod’s squad quickly took charge, with Owayne Montaque breaking through Portsmouth’s defense to open the scoring with a six-point touchdown. Deverill extended the lead with an impressive touchdown of his own, pushing Pride ahead 14-0.
While Pride maintained control, a costly fumble on the snap gave Portsmouth an opening. DeShawn Afilaka capitalized by scoring a touchdown, followed by a successful conversion from Nebechi Abana, narrowing the gap to 14-8.
SGS Pride responded by tightening their defense and steadily adding yardage on the ground. Key plays from Kacper Salik and a touchdown run by Corben Menton extended the lead to 28 points, securing the convincing victory despite Portsmouth’s efforts to rally during the third quarter.
With this win, SGS Pride advance to face the Brunel Burners in the final – a rematch of their previous encounter in mid-November, where the Burners emerged victorious. Pride will be determined to reverse that result and claim the National Vase Cup title.
The upcoming final will be a highlight of BUCS Big Wednesday, an event that showcases top collegiate talent from across the country. As over 120 teams compete in 60 fixtures across 16 sports, SGS Pride aims to bring home the trophy and cement their status among the nation’s best.