VIDEO: Bury Saints one step from invincibility

Chris Wallis has urged his Bury Saints players to stand up to any bullying tactics in their play-off final as they look to write their names into history as ‘the invincibles’.

The town’s first ever American football team, who were only formed less than two-and-a-half years ago, originally as Bury Brewers, go into Sunday’s final with Bristol Apache at the 4,329 capacity Demontfort Park in Hinckley, near Leicester (12pm) looking to record their 13th win out of 13.

They have already ensured promotion to the second tier of Amercian football in the country, in the British Amercian Football Association (BAFA) National League Division One, by winning a thrilling play-off semi-final with Sussex Thunder at Thetford 22-20 in triple overtime on Sunday.

But one last win this weekend would ensure they top their promotion with the BAFA Southern Football Conference Division Two title and a 100 per cent season record.

Head coach Wallis, who has been conducting training in secret throughout the play-off games, instead of their usual preparation base at Thurston, to avoid opponents being able to pick up information via local contacts, said: “To go up as champions unbeaten with a perfect season would be the crowning achievement.

“For over a year we have been building towards this and it would be just reward for the hard work we have put in.”

The Saints won all 10 of their games in BAFA National League South Conference Football Two South East But Wallis is wary they will face a big challenge to end the season on a high.

“I suspect they will try and bully us out of it,” he said.

Saints will have receiver Brandon Faison back from suspension for the game.

The club are putting on a coach for supporters and players who cannot make the overnight stay, for more information contact them via their website www.burysaints.com or through social media.

n For highlights of Saints’ dramatic play-off semi-final, log on to www.buryfreepress.co.uk