Back to back away wins take Titans to 4-0
By: Timothy Foster
Since the CEFL Quarter Final learning experience, benchmarking themselves against one of Europe’s finest, our Manchester Titans have played and convincingly won two away games at Nottingham Caesars (7-45) and Coventry Phoenix (7-40). At the halfway point of the regular season of the BAFA Premiership North Titans stand at 4-0 with three wins on the road.
Boris Gavin (LB, #55) with the tackle (30 May 2026). Photo by Jude Armitage.
First came a trip to Nottingham on May 30th, with Titans playing in White and Blue. Cade Makin (DL, #94) scooped up a fumble and rumbled over from short range, sparking riotous celebrations. Djoss Balela (DB, #0) ran in a pick-six, and great end-zone catches by Connor Greenhalgh (WR, #11) and Brad Temple (WR, #1) kept the scoreboard moving. A five yard burst from Matt Kinsey (RB, #26) found a seam for a TD and ‘twinkle-toes’ Sam Penfold (WR, #10) somehow found his way down the Titans’ sideline, at pace, to run in another score [“it’s ‘cos I have small feet” he explained], and the immaculate boot of Alex Lenkowski saw all extra point conversions and a Field Goal. The only response from Nottingham was from a great catch (and then missed tackle) in the third quarter. Otherwise, [Defensive Coordinator] JD’s defence were impenetrable.
Celebrations for Sam Penfold (WR, #10) and the Titans (30 May 2026). Photo by Jude Armitage.
The trip to Coventry was a more daunting proposition on paper (so it’s a good job we play on 4G!). Coventry took to the field bristling with confidence in an Aztecs-like all-orange kit (Titans were in Blue and White). As we have seen in the past three seasons, the first quarter arm-wrestle was tough. Alex Lenkowski settles the nerves with a Field Goal, but two personal fouls marched Titans back into their own redzone and Phoenix converted that advantage with a great catch and extra point to go 7-3 up. That was the last seen of any Phoenix threat and JD’s defence held strong throughout. Josh Mills (QB, #3) ran in a ‘keeper’ to put Titans up by 10 at the end of the first quarter.
Phoenix Offence smothered by Titans Defence (14 June 2026). Photo by Kieran Grant.
The second quarter was surreal. Brad Temple took a catch at pace to run in a TD and Kristian Dean (WR, #15) scored his first TD for the Manchester Titans in the Adult Contact League with a good catch in the endzone. Inside the two-minute warning FJ (DB, #13) ran in two identical pick-sixes with Titans heading into the half at 7-37! The second half saw fantastic squad rotation, with everyone stepping up repaying the faith shown by [Offensive Coordinator] Alex Challands, JD and rest of the coaching squad. The final play saw Sam Jones (DL, #59) take down the Phoenix QB for his first sack as a D-Lineman.
Kristian Dean defying gravity vs Coventry Phoenix (14 June 2026). Photo by Kieran Grant.
Author’s note: This is the first match report written by this author since 2007 (and the first for American Football), so apologies for any (slight) inaccuracies and artistic licence!
Djoss Balela with the tackle (14 June 2026). Photo by Kieran Grant.
The Titans’ next game is at home against the East Kilbride Pirates on Saturday 20 June.