Over the weekend, the Bombers and Havoc had a lot at stake. The Bombers aimed to secure promotion back to NSL 1, while Havoc hoped to qualify for Nationals. The Bombers were relegated the previous year from NSL 1 and needed to finish either first or second to secure promotion. Going into the weekend, they were tied for second with LNZ, one game behind the league-leading Mob. Meanwhile, Havoc chased their first NSL 2 Nationals qualification since 2018 but at the same time worked to avoid relegation, only being two games ahead of MK Diamonds in the drop zone.
Saturday
The Bombers started strong with two consecutive wins against the Ninos and Honey Badgers. However, they lost their next two games to the Ducks and the Warriors. In the end, they managed a win over the Mavericks, which helped Havoc in their quest for Nationals. This sadly meant they missed out on the title to the Mob however, they still remained in the hunt for promotion, with LNZ finishing the day just ahead of them.
On the other hand, Havoc started poorly, losing to Terriers, which put them in a difficult position. However, they bounced back with an emphatic 23-4 win over MK Diamonds, their first win over the team. They finished the day with one win, one loss, and one tie, including a tense 21-17 win over the Ducks.
Sunday
Sunday started with the Blitz derby, where both teams needed the win. The Bombers eventually won 7-3, in a low-scoring game, setting them up for a winner-takes-all game with LNZ for second place and promotion to NSL 1. Meanwhile, the loss to the Bombers meant that Havoc needed to beat the newly crowned NSL 2 champs, The Mob, and hope that the Ducks beat the Mavericks in their final game. The Mavericks had the head-to-head on Havoc going into the last game for the 8th and final spot for Nationals.
The Mob got off to a strong start going 5-1 up, after an inning and a half. However, Havoc were not done and dug deep, knowing their season was on the line. They managed to score 15 runs while shutting them out with 3 scoreless innings. Havoc had done their job but still needed the Ducks to win in order to secure the final Nationals spot. The Ducks beat the Mavericks 21-17, ensuring Havoc's qualification. Faster than anyone had seen him run all season, Captain GB ran the length of Franham with the news that everyone wanted to hear. The Ducks had beaten Mavericks which meant Havoc had secured the final spot.
In the other critical game, the Bombers faced LNZ, with the winner securing second place and promotion to NSL 1. A lot could be said about this game. I'm not sure as to what as not much has been said about it so far. But I am sure a lot could be said. The Bombers emerged victorious with a 13-11 win and with it secured their promotion back to NSL 1.
And with that, the NSL 2 season had come to a close. Both teams achieved their goals that they set out at the beginning of the season. They will face each other again at NSL Nationals on the 2nd of September.
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