FARNHAM Knights are heading back to the Premier Division and top-flight American football. They sealed promotion with a convincing victory over long-time rivals Solent Thrashers in the Southern Conference Division 1 Bowl final.

In front of great travelling support at Leicester Road Stadium, Knights won by an 11-point margin, having led 32-6 before a valiant fightback by the Solent side.

Thrashers had the first possession of the game and on third down threw the ball to Joe Pascoe who had plagued Farnham with three touchdowns and several long gains in the regular season 33-33 tie.

This time, Knights corner-back Ash-Lee James set the tone for the day with a brilliant defensive play, and this pattern was to continue throughout the game with zero pass completions for Solent.

The Knights defense would also go on to record three turnovers (two fumbles and an interception) and they sacked the Thrashers QB no fewer than six times.

Farnham opened the scoring on their second possession as star running-back Gareth Davies broke clear for a 50-yard scoring run behind the dependable blocking of his full-backs and the offensive line. John Symons added the extra point and the lead was 7-0.

The next Solent drive started badly as rookie defensive end Luke Bridcutt beat his blocker. Thrashers went aerial, but only found linebacker Dan Hatcher who picked off the pass.

Leading scorer Nick Roope, who had shaken off a migraine to play, took over from Davies and moved the ball deep into opposing territory with some elusive running. With the ball at the three-yard line, Davies completed the drive with his second touchdown. Knights led 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Defenses dominated the second quarter, but with just seconds to go, Symons kicked a 20-yard attempt to stretch the lead to 16-0 at half-time.

Solent were not going to lie down, however, and a Symons punt was picked up and returned 65 yards by dangerman Josh Amis (16-6). Knights knew they had to hit back quickly and Davies, later selected as the league’s Most Valuable Player, broke clear on an amazing 75-yard run to complete his TD hat-trick. Roope ran in the two-point conversion and Knights led 24-6

Amis put Solent back in scoring range, but Bridcutt equalled the club record with his eighth sack of the season. Thrashers went deep with a pass towards the end zone and this time Ally Reid won the ball back for Farnham.

QB Oli De Ruyter then led Knights on a smooth drive which involved passes to Aaron Hayes and Stealey-J Wills. Roope finished with a 12-yard burst into the end zone and then ran in the two-point conversion; 32-6.

Credit to Solent, they refused to buckle and QB Dayle Greenfield ran 57 yards for the touchdown.

As the fourth quarter began, Thrashers drove again and Lloyd Scott ran the ball in from the four- line. The extra-point kick was tipped, but still went over and now it was 32-20.

Another slip could have proved costly for Farnham, but then a game-changing moment. After another big gain by Greenfield, the ball was handed to Amis, but up stepped defensive captain Steve Price who forced a fumble.

Knights then embarked on a long time-consuming drive and then turned to Kingsley Ejiogu who ran five times for 15 yards, completing the drive and effectively sealing the win with a five-yard scoring run.

The defiant Thrashers mounted one last scoring drive, but the Knights were home and dry.

Steve Rains, Farnham’s head coach, said: “We’re absolutely delighted. Everyone at the club has worked so hard for this. We came well prepared, thanks to the hard work put in by my staff and the players and the unsung heroes in our team management.

“We look forward to the new challenge next year. There is a lot more work to do.”