Caesars Reign In The South

NFC One South champions, play-offs bound, undefeated, it’s been an incredible season so far for Vanden Warner and the Nottingham Caesars – but they’re not done yet, far from it.

For the first time since 1995, and only the second time in their history, the Caesars have completed an undefeated, regular season; this time around, winning all ten games, and completing an impressive, five shut-outs along the way.

The worry was the Chester and Flintshire Romans, there’s always a good tussle there in recent years, but for the Caesars, those games didn’t come until the latter stages of the season. All they had to do was build some momentum.

Perhaps buoyed having missed out last time around, finishing 7-3 in the 2022 campaign, the Caesars went all out in the off-season, not only moving back into Nottingham, taking up residence at the David Ross Sports Village, but putting together a strong, powerful roster that, whichever way you look at it, blew the division away.

“We had quite a lot of new players come to us from our divisional rivals,” began Vanden looking back on what, in essence, is the first part of the season.

“There’s been a need to push for promotion and that’s how we recruited, opening the eyes of a lot of people as to the project in which we’re building in Nottingham.

“The culture, we’ve tried to change that and, if we wanted to move on from here, to the top level, that’s what was needed to happen – we needed more buy-ins, and a more professional set-up, and that’s what’s happened.

“There’s no major backer, we rely on fundraisers, players subs, and any sponsors we may be lucky to get on board.”

Having started the 2023 season later than the rest, the Caesars have managed to finish earlier as well, having a little time now before they have their first, play-off contest, not returning to action now until Sunday 27 August (opponent TBC).

It’s been seven years since this has happened for the club, and it began back in late April with a shut-out win in the first game, 38-0 over Sheffield Giants, following that up a week later with a road win, against the same opponents, this time 22-14.

By the time the Caesars had reached week four of their season, two further shut-outs had been registered, they being on course for an impressive five-from-ten; Birmingham Bulls were beaten 20-0 at home, before Sandwell Steelers were routed 50-0, on their own patch.

Come mid-June, and the second 50-point shut-out of the Steelers, in week six, the Caesars were already staring down the barrel of the play-offs and, having overcome a stern challenge from the visiting Nothants Knights, the challenge of the Chester Romans was the benchmark.

“Chester were viewed as being our main threat,” added Vanden.

“But anyone can beat anyone else in this game, and we know that; but, it was expected that, come the end of the regular season, it would be between us and them for the top two sides in the division.

“To be honest though, I wouldn’t have minded having those two games a bit more spaced out but, having lost the way did (in the opening game) last season, I didn’t need to use anything to motivate us.

“We just prepped for it like any other game, and made each one a championship game, even though that loss was in the back of my mind.”

Back-to-back wins over the Romans in early July, 21-14 away, and 21-7 at home, suddenly had the Caesars at 9-0, and looking at the perfect season, an achievement that would come about in the final game, on 23 July, when they registered their fifth shut-out, 19-0, away to the Birmingham Bulls.

Those five shut-outs in themselves are impressive in that, with that 10-0 record, the Caesars for-against scoring is 320-68, and, in those five games alone, they’ve registered more than half of their seasons total, positing 177-0 (100 of those coming against the Steelers).

The play-offs though, they were confirmed with the week eight win in Chester, but for Vanden, in his mind, there’s been something special at the club for a while now.

“I realised quite early on that something was starting to brew here,” the Caesars head coach admitted.

“There was just something about our pre-season scrimmages, our practices, and I thought that, if we could overcome Chester, we’d be unbeaten.

“So, throughout this whole regular season, we’ve had a solid defence, and a productive offence, and, putting that all together, increases my confidence in what we have.

“The concern throughout, it’s been keeping the players fit and healthy, with the games coming in blocks; having so many games like that creates a double-edged sword as we’ve now finished early, and have a gap until our play-off game.”

With around a month to wait, Vanden could scout potential opponents for their next game, set to be at home, or even take in a trip to the north-east where fellow, undefeated side, Northumberland Vikings, are causing their own stir.

The Vikings are one of the potential opponents in the not-too-distant future for the Caesars, the duo looking like they’ll be the #1 and #2 seeds, the next two rounds critical for Bryce Stevenson’s side up north.

“For us, the next few weeks will be heads down, and back into the play book,” explained Vanden.

“There’ll be a few tweaks here and there, change a few little things around, but above all, keep the players motivated, maximise our training sessions, and look to get everything nailed down.

“These guys though, they’ve worked too hard, players and coaches alike, not to get the success, the promotion.”

NOTTINGHAM CAESARS 2023 BAFA NFC1 SOUTH RESULTS

30 April, Sheffield Giants (H) W 38-0 (1-0)

7 May, Sheffield Giants (A) W 22-14 (2-0)

14 May, Birmingham Bulls (H) W 20-0 (3-0)

21 May, Sandwell Steelers (A) W 50-0 (4-0)

4 June, Northants Knights (A) 32-9 (5-0)

11 June, Sandwell Steelers (H) W 50-0 (6-0)

18 June, Northants Knights (H) W 47-27 (7-0)

2 July, Chester Romans (A) W 21-14 (8-0)

16 July, Chester Romans (H) W 21-7 (9-0)

23 July, Birmingham Bulls (A) W 19-0 (10-0)