Express & Star

Super Steelers seal their Premier place

Head coach Max Petitjean admitted promotion “means everything” to Sandwell Steelers after they secured Premiership football for the first time in their history.

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The Steelers will play in the top flight of British American Football next year following Sunday’s 21-3 play-off victory over Northumberland Vikings.

Having seen off East Kilbride Pirates in nail-biting fashion seven days previously, Sandwell recorded a relatively comfortable victory at Tipton Sports Academy.

It prompted emotional celebrations with the Steelers having suffered play-off heartbreak in the previous three campaigns.

Petitjean said: “It means everything. It is what everyone at the club has been working toward since it was formed six years ago.

“The whole reason the club was set up was to be the best and the only way you can do that is by being in the Premiership.

“We are ready to take on the next challenge. It’s a big step up but it is what we want.”

Victory over the Vikings also saw the Steelers take revenge against the team who had knocked them out of the play-offs in controversial fashion 12 months previously.

The visitors were the first on the board with a field goal but from then on Sandwell dominated.

Petitjean said: “We had been planning for this match for a long, long time and had their number from the start.

“For much of the season it looked as though they would be our first opponents in the play-offs.

“They do have a very good defence and they caused us a few problems. But we completely shut down their offense.

“Aside from one drive, where we gave away quite a few penalty yards, they could not get close.”

Petitjean continued: “It’s so pleasing. Missing out three years in a row makes it difficult.

“It is tough to keep bringing people back. This year we have just been so much better than before. We knew this was the best chance we had yet of going up.

“Quite a few of the guys involved on Sunday have been with the club from the very start. The celebrations were very special.”

Sandwell’s season is not finished just yet, with Sunday’s win also booking their spot in the Division One title match against Solent Thrashers in London at the end of the month.

Both teams are already guaranteed promotion but Petitjean insists the Steelers do not view it as a dead-rubber.

He explained: “At first, I did wonder how I would feel about this game.

“But now we are there, I am really looking forward to it. A lot of the guys are really up for it.”