Having waited four years to again prove themselves on the international stage, Great Britain triumphed at the IFAF European Flag Football Championships, winning gold in a nail-biting 26-19 victory over reigning champions Spain at the University of Limerick in Ireland.
“A lot of years, a lot of hard work, a lot of years of waiting has just paid off,” said MVP quarterback Brittany Botterill, who threw four touchdowns in the win. “It was a complete team effort from offense to defense. We have playmakers and when in doubt you throw it up and one of them is going to go up and get it.
“We’ll enjoy this and then we’ll go home and regroup and then we’ll work towards the World Championships in Finland next year.”
Great Britain WR Phoebe Schecter stretching for yardage Photo: Ian Humes
Early on, Botterill hit Marta Mathews, who had been the MVP back in 2019 when GB lost to Spain in the European final to open a 6-0 lead. Olga Sotillo Val raced beyond defensive coverage to draw level on Spain’s first possession in reply and a successful extra point earned a narrow lead. Botterill was then intercepted in the end zone as Britain’s reply was stifled.
The GB defense also stepped up as Emma Dedicoat broke up a pass to stop Spain on fourth down, and the response was a spectacular Botterill connection with a diving Phoebe Schecter a yard from the end zone, followed by an Amy Wells scoring catch and Mathews extra point to open a 13-7 lead. Sotillo Val’s touchdown grab then leveled things again and the finely poised contest stood at 13-13 at halftime.
Botterill managed to get a pinpoint pass off to Mathews while under pressure then after a Schecter end zone catch had been called back for an illegal forward pass, Kate Bruinvels scored to open a 19-13 lead.
Emma Garcia Trueba scored to level the score at 19-19, but Great Britain managed the clock inside the final two minutes and secured victory. Wells reeled in a crucial fourth down catch then with 14 seconds to play Schecter caught the winning touchdown and the point after.