The AFBN Second Division also gets underway this week. The four teams building this division will face each other during the opening round. The Alphen Eagles travel to the Eindhoven Raptors, while the Nijmegen Pirates visit the Hague Raiders ’99. The Second Division was created especially for rookie and startup teams.

The start of the Second Division follows a very intense round of play in the Gridiron Eredivisie and First Division. The Amsterdam Crusaders had to do everything possible to hold off the Utrecht Dominators. After a very energetic first half, however, the Dominators had to let go of the Amsterdamers. The reigning Tulip Bowl champion therefore now holds the lead, which they must share with the 1-0 Lightning Leiden.

In the First Division, West Frisian Outlaws surprised by putting a shutout on the mat against Rotterdam Trojans. The Trojans traveled to Blokker with a lot of confidence, but saw a stingy defense make short work of the South Holland ambitions. Due in part to a safety, the final score was 16-0, further proof that anything can happen in this league. Hilversum Hurricanes made grateful use of Rotterdam's slip by winning against the Maastricht Wildcats. This gives the Hurricanes the lead in the First Division.

Photos Iona Photography