RUGBY TEST RESULTS: Saturday 5 May

05.05.2012
Korea 21, Hong Kong 19 in Hong Kong (Asia5Nations)
Japan 106, United Arab Emirates 3 in Fukuoka (Asia5Nations)
Trinidad Tobago 32, Barbados 3 in Port of Spain (WCQ Americas; NACRA R2-South)
Sweden 31, Latvia 3 in Enkoping (ENC 2A)
Lithuania 28, Croatia 26 in Lithuania (ENC 2A)
Norway 11, Austria 6 in Oslo (ENC 2C)
Luxembourg 15, Greece 8 in Luxembourg (ENC 2D)

Briefly

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
SWEDEN	8	6	1	1	235	150	85	3	0	29
LITHUANIA	8	5	1	2	233	125	108	4	3	29
MALTA	8	4	0	4	146	135	11	2	2	20
CROATIA	8	3	0	5	162	170	-8	1	3	16
LATVIA	8	1	0	7	93	292	-199	2	1	7

Lithuania gained the vital bonus point when they scored 4 tries in a close rugby test match against Croatia. Lithuania led 28-14 at one stage before a big Croatian comeback. Croatia missed a last minute conversion which would have tied the score.

Lithuania on attack against Croatia. Image thanks to http://sportas.delfi.lt/national/lietuvos-regbininkai-palauze-kroatijos-rinktines-pasipriesinima.d?id=58654923

However Lithuania missed the promotion to 1B as Sweden defeated Latvia 31-3 at home. Sweden thus earned the right to automatic promotion to ENC 1B for 2012-14, probably replacing Netherlands.

Swedish rugby team celebrates after their win against Latvia. Image thanks to http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4070

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
ISRAEL	7	6	0	1	171	97	74	2	0	26
DENMARK	7	5	1	1	155	116	39	0	1	23
AUSTRIA	8	3	0	5	157	141	16	1	4	17
HUNGARY	7	2	0	5	102	168	-66	0	2	10
NORWAY	7	1	1	5	58	121	-63	0	1	7

Norway caused an upset defeating the more fancied Austrian side 11-6 in Bergan. ‘So to avoid automatic relegation Norway need to beat Hungary at home but winning/losing BPs may come into play as could points difference from the first head-to-head.’ Thanks to ‘Quentin’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4072

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
CYPRUS	6	6	0	0	350	41	309	6	0	30
GREECE	7	3	0	4	143	115	28	2	3	17
BULGARIA	7	4	0	3	92	252	-160	0	0	16
LUXEMB.	8	3	0	5	108	186	-78	0	1	13
FINLAND	6	1	0	5	50	149	-99	0	1	5

Luxembourg caused another upset for the weekend. They downed the visiting Greek side 15-8.


Greece on the charge against Luxembourg. Photo: Paul Ernster

In Asia test rugby news Korea caused an upset by defeating Hong Kong 21-19 in Hong Kong. Japan ran away 106-3 against UAE.

Trinidad Tobago defeated Barbados 32-3 in the first of the Americas NACRA World Cup qualifying Round 2 matches.