Winning the NFC 2 title this weekend would crown a remarkable season for the Aberdeen Roughnecks as they prepare for promotion.
Victory against ghe Birmingham Bulls in the semi-finals a fortnight ago ensured they would be promoted to Division 1 next season, two years ahead of schedule for head coach Ruari Collinson.
Chester Romans stand in their way this weekend at Newcastle’s Druid’s Park, with the chance to cap an undefeated campaign with victory in the Bowl against their NFC 2 Central foes.
Something has to give tomorrow, with the Romans also coming off an undefeated season, albeit with a tied game in their record compared to Aberdeen’s 100% run.
Collinson lays the credit at the door of his players, who have bought into the philosophies brought in by himself and defensive co-ordinator Bryce Stevenson. They finished three games ahead of Dumfries Saints in their division, NFC 2 North, and swept aside Furness Phantoms 61-0 in the post-season quarter-final at the Rig.
Collinson said: “We’ve had new offensive and defensive schemes that boys have bought into.
“The turnout to training and film sessions have been good; we said to the players what they put into it is what they’ll get out of it.
“To a certain extent this season has surpassed our expectations. We wanted to improve each year as a team and when we found out our division, we wanted to go and win it. We aimed to get to the Bowl within three seasons, and to do that in year one is unbelievable.
“It’s huge for us to be promoted. We want to be playing more competitively and it’s a big stepping stone for the club.”
As yet they do not know the make-up of NFC 1 North but Collinson expects to have two teams from Glasgow in the division, which would ease some of the burden on travel costs.
He added: “There are bigger squads and better prepared teams in Division 1. We’re under no illusions that we’ll walk it and get promoted again – we want to sustain ourselves as a Division 1 team.”
The Romans won seven of their eight divisional games, with their only tie coming in a 6-6 stalemate with Halton Spartans.
Collinson said: “Their offence will be the best we’ve faced. They’re really good at spreading the ball quickly at a high-tempo.
“On defence they do the simple things well and play everything in front of them. But they’re certainly a team that’s beatable.”
