BASINGSTOKE American Football players Bruin White and Adam Potts helped the Solent Thrashers youth team to fifth place at the Brit Bowl.

The former Fort Hill pupils travelled to the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster for the event and played a big part in their side’s success.

Finishing fifth was a great achievement for a side that failed to win a game in 2013. Just two years later, they are the fifth best side in the nation.

The Thrashers, based in Southampton, faced a tough draw in the quarter-finals as they faced second seeds Woodham Warriors, a traditional youth football powerhouse and winners of the North East division.

Solent went into the event ranked seventh after qualifying through the wild-card playoffs held in Cornwall.

The game started very evenly, with both teams’ defences holding firm before the Warriors took a 12-0 lead. Running back Potts got Solent on the board, but in the end they lost 36-6.

Next up for the Thrashers was a game against North Western Division winners the Chorley Buccaneers.

On the very first play, the Buccaneers scored with a long run and soon led 13-0.

However, Solent hit back as they took an interception into the end zone and then, after the break, Solent quarterback White hit his two wide receivers for touchdowns.

Potts then added another score before another interception sealed a 28-19 win.

This set up a game for fifth place against Leeds Academy Assassins and Potts scored two touchdowns as the Thrashers led 18-6 at half-time.

After the break, Leeds mounted a short-lived comeback, before Potts completed a hat-trick of touchdowns as the Thrashers won 36-24.

Before Doncaster, the two Basingstoke players had been instrumental in getting their team to the finals for the first time in their history.

Quarterback White and running back Potts were a big part of the team’s offence, which scored 340 points in 15 games.

To reach the final eight, the Thrashers travelled to Cornwall for the Southern play-off finals and recorded victories over Essex Spartans, Farnham Knights and the London Warriors.

Potts won the MVP on the day as he ran in five touchdowns to take his season’s total to 20, while quarterback White added two more passing touchdowns to take his tally to 29.

The Thrashers finished their regular season with a record of seven wins and five losses, but for the second year running they enjoyed a 100 per cent record in their home series of three games at the end of May.

Recruitment now starts for the 2016 season, when the Thrashers will look to build on the success of the last two seasons.

The club is on the lookout for anyone interested in playing the sport. The academy is open to both boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 18.

It does not matter if you have no experience and all kit is supplied by the club. All you need is a gum shield, football boots and suitable clothing.

If you are interested, visit solentthrashers.co.uk or look for the club on Facebook.