Report: SGS Pride vs. Northumbria Mustangs
Report by Eddie Koszler on 05 March 2026
This was the game to watch as SGS Pride and Northumbria Mustangs took it to overtime, with Pride’s Coach labelling it “one of the most exciting games I’ve been a part of!”
It was a pleasantly bright afternoon in Stoke Gifford as SGS Pride and Northumbria Mustangs took to the field and played for a spot in the semifinals of the BUCS Premier League. The teams locked horns and began their fight to stay in the standings for the championship at the end of the month.
SGS Pride were first to get points on the board, with Linebacker Ashon McKale taking possession and rushing short range to get the touchdown for the Filton-based team. This wouldn’t be his only touchdown as he’d do exactly the same thing during the second half and securing 12 for SGS.
Next up was Ellis Phillips who had a similar stroke of luck to his teammate McKale, and turned over possession and got the ball to the endzone for another touchdown to the Pride.
Northumbria weren’t far behind as they would make a run past Pride’s defense to get the touchdown and then follow up with a field kick from Kicker Harry Bowers to get Northumbria 7 points. The teams would both push for another opportunity but couldn’t get one before the whistle sounded for the end of the first half.
Onto the second half where the intensity ramped up, and so did the scores. It would be Pride’s Ashon McKale that would once again do the honours with another short range rushing touchdown to get the Filton-based team another 6 points. Northumbria weren't far behind, getting themselves a touchdown from Wide Receiver Julian Abrams and a surprising yet welcomed fumble recovery that was scored by Defensive Lineman Isiah Shebioba.
Harry Bowers would once again do the honours on the field kick to get Northumbria the extra point and their Quarterback Jake Day would get his own 2-point conversion for the team, as well as provide clean passes to Julian Abrams for the touchdowns.
Pride wouldn’t go down without a fight, with a massive 65-yard rushing touchdown from Owanye Montaque to even it up for the Filton team, tying it up at the end of the second half and taking it to overtime.
After a long and much-needed break, the teams were ready to battle for a spot in the semifinals. The Northumbria Mustangs would attack first and try to get extra points and keep a lead, but would only manage a field kick from Harry Bowers and get themselves a total of 31 points. SGS Pride would need something massive in order to get the win, and massive it was.
It was the final push for SGS, with a beautiful touchdown run from Adam Deverill to secure Pride the spot in the semifinals and a chance to become BUCS Premier champions with a final score of 34-31 for Pride.
Pride head coach Ben Herod loved the intensity of the game and reflected on arguably Pride’s hardest game this year: “One of the most exciting games I’ve been a part of. For the first time all year our defense struggled and for a change our offense was able to carry us over the line. Hats off to Northumbria in nearly twenty years there have only been a handful of teams to ever put up more than two scores against us.”
Herod also shouted out player Adam Deverill, talking about the bittersweet moment of him scoring and his journey at SGS: “A real nail biter and for Adam to score the game winner in his last home game for us was special. He started his football journey with us as a sixth-former and this year will graduate with a degree.”
SGS Pride will be back in action on March 15th, for their semifinal match against the Portsmouth Destroyers. Pride will be travelling to the Langstone Sports Village, where they’ll kick off at 2pm!