RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP: Division 2B

31.10.2015
Lithuania 49, Andorra 17 in Vilnius (REC 2B)
Latvia 39, Hungary 10 in Riga (REC 2B)

Review
Easy wins for the Baltic nations at home. Lithuania cannot be overtaken with the remaining games to play.

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	TL
LITHUANIA	6	6	0	0	230	107	123	6	30
LATVIA	5	3	0	4	110	105	5	2	14
CYPRUS	4	2	0	2	87	90	-3	1	9
ANDORRA	5	2	0	3	79	136	-57	0	8
HUNGARY	6	0	0	6	101	170	-69	4	4

To Play
07.11.2015 Cyprus v Latvia in Paphos
28.11.2015 Andorra v Cyprus in Andorra La Vela
26.03.2016 Andorra v Latvia in Andorra La Vela
09.04.2016 Cyprus v Hungary in Paphos
16.04.2016 Latvia v Lithuania in Riga
23.04.2016 Lithuania v Cyprus in Vilnius
14.05.2016 Hungary v Andorra in Hungary

RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP: Division 2B

31.10.2015
Lithuania v Andorra in Vilnius

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	TL
LITHUANIA	5	5	0	0	181	90	101	5	25
CYPRUS	4	2	0	2	87	90	-3	1	9
LATVIA	4	2	0	4	71	95	-24	1	9
ANDORRA	4	2	0	2	62	87	-25	0	8
HUNGARY	5	0	0	5	91	131	-40	4	4

  

Preview

Notwithstanding a major disaster in the Lithuanian rugby camp it is difficult not to expect that they will be promoted for the 2015-16 Rugby Championship. Playing at home to Andorra should see the locals chalk up another victory and retain their unblemished record.

Andorra has won its last two games in this competition. The win away against Latvia was most impressive.

Andorran National Rugby Team. Image thanks to http://vpcandorra.com

Previous Encounters
18.10.2014 Lithuania 34-15 in Andorra La Vela (REC 2B)
10.10.2009 Lithuania 40-12 in Siuilia (ENC 3A)
08.11.2008 Lithuania 26-10 in Andorra La Vela (WCQ Europe R2; ENC 3A)
19.10.1996 Andorra 54-24 in Andorra La Vela (WCQ Europe Pool 3, Rnd A)

Andorra Last Five P 5, W 2, L 3
12.05.2015 v Latvia W 14-5 in Riga (REC 2B)
04.04.2015 v Hungary W 23-18 in Andorra La Vela (REC 2B)
01.11.2014 v Cyprus L 10-30 in Paphos (REC 2B)
18.10.2014 v Lithuania L 15-34 in Andorra La Vela (REC 2B)
12.04.2014 v Israel L 16-20 in Netanya (ENC 2B)

Lithuania Last Five P 5, W 5
24.10.2015 v Hungary W 37-15 in Esztergom (REC 2B)
02.05.2015 v Cyprus W 26-20 in Paphoa (REC 2B)
25.04.2015 v Latvia W 46-11 in Riga (REC 2B)
25.10.2014 v Hungary W 38-29 in Siauliai (REC 2B)
18.10.2014 v Andorra W 34-15 in Andorra La vela (REC 2B)

Lithuania has won its last 6 rugby test matches.

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Lithuania 23rd, Andorra 25th

World Rugby Ranking Points
Lithuania 48.64, Andorra 43.10

Prediction: Lithuania by 20 points. Score 35-15

TEAMS

Andorra Squad

Peter Ambor
Marc Arasanz
Bruno Comas (Primera selecció)
Matt Dawson
Esteve Dolsa
Eduard Estevenet
Joan Fité
Roger Fité
Jonathan Garcia
Julien Ginesta
Edisher Jamrulidze
Liam Jordan
Kim Jordan (Primera selecció)
Tiago Macedo
Joan Martí (Primera selecció)
Gerard Menardia
Daniel Raya
Giorgii Rekhviashvili
Eric Risco
Gerard Soteras
Marc Torrent
Stefano Tosatti
Marc Vilella (Primera selecció)

http://vpcandorra.com/2015/10/27/llistat-de-seleccionats-pel-partit-dels-isards-contra-lituania-el-31102015/

Lithuania Squad not available

Latvia v Hungary in Riga

Hungary have a difficult away game against middle of the table Latvia. Hungary may face relegation back to REC 2C at the end of the season unless they can pick up a few more wins. Latvia defeated Hungary 16-14 in Hungary in round 1.

Latvia to win by 15 points. Score 31-16.

Team lists not available

RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP: Division 2B

31.10.2015
Lithuania v Andorra in Vilnius

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	TL
LITHUANIA	5	5	0	0	181	90	101	5	25
CYPRUS	4	2	0	2	87	90	-3	1	9
LATVIA	4	2	0	4	71	95	-24	1	9
ANDORRA	4	2	0	2	62	87	-25	0	8
HUNGARY	5	0	0	5	91	131	-40	4	4

  

Preview

Notwithstanding a major disaster in the Lithuanian rugby camp it is difficult not to expect that they will be promoted for the 2015-16 Rugby Championship. Playing at home to Andorra should see the locals chalk up another victory and retain their unblemished record.

Andorra has won its last two games in this competition. The win away against Latvia was most impressive.

Andorran National Rugby Team. Image thanks to http://vpcandorra.com

Previous Encounters
18.10.2014 Lithuania 34-15 in Andorra La Vela (REC 2B)
10.10.2009 Lithuania 40-12 in Siuilia (ENC 3A)
08.11.2008 Lithuania 26-10 in Andorra La Vela (WCQ Europe R2; ENC 3A)
19.10.1996 Andorra 54-24 in Andorra La Vela (WCQ Europe Pool 3, Rnd A)

Andorra Last Five P 5, W 2, L 3
12.05.2015 v Latvia W 14-5 in Riga (REC 2B)
04.04.2015 v Hungary W 23-18 in Andorra La Vela (REC 2B)
01.11.2014 v Cyprus L 10-30 in Paphos (REC 2B)
18.10.2014 v Lithuania L 15-34 in Andorra La Vela (REC 2B)
12.04.2014 v Israel L 16-20 in Netanya (ENC 2B)

Lithuania Last Five P 5, W 5
24.10.2015 v Hungary W 37-15 in Esztergom (REC 2B)
02.05.2015 v Cyprus W 26-20 in Paphoa (REC 2B)
25.04.2015 v Latvia W 46-11 in Riga (REC 2B)
25.10.2014 v Hungary W 38-29 in Siauliai (REC 2B)
18.10.2014 v Andorra W 34-15 in Andorra La vela (REC 2B)

Lithuania has won its last 6 rugby test matches.

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Lithuania 23rd, Andorra 25th

World Rugby Ranking Points
Lithuania 48.64, Andorra 43.10

Prediction: Lithuania by 20 points. Score 35-15

TEAMS

Andorra Squad

Peter Ambor
Marc Arasanz
Bruno Comas (Primera selecció)
Matt Dawson
Esteve Dolsa
Eduard Estevenet
Joan Fité
Roger Fité
Jonathan Garcia
Julien Ginesta
Edisher Jamrulidze
Liam Jordan
Kim Jordan (Primera selecció)
Tiago Macedo
Joan Martí (Primera selecció)
Gerard Menardia
Daniel Raya
Giorgii Rekhviashvili
Eric Risco
Gerard Soteras
Marc Torrent
Stefano Tosatti
Marc Vilella (Primera selecció)

http://vpcandorra.com/2015/10/27/llistat-de-seleccionats-pel-partit-dels-isards-contra-lituania-el-31102015/

Lithuania Squad not available

TEST RUGBY RESULTS SATURDAY 2 MAY

02.05.2015
Japan 41, Hong Kong 0 in Tokyo (ARC Top 3)
Andorra 14, Latvia 5 in Riga (REC 2B)
Lithuania 26, Cyprus 20 in Paphos (REC 2B)
British Virgin Is v Curacao in New Town (NACRA Carib.Cup, Sth)-Result to come

REC 2B: ANDORRA v LATVIA

02.05.2015

Image thanks to https://www.facebook.com/RugbiAndorra

Venue: Daugavas Stadium, Riga

Referee: Sergey Poplavski (Ukraine)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	TL
LITHUANIA	3	3	0	0	118	55	63	3	15
LATVIA	3	2	0	1	66	81	-15	1	9
CYPRUS	3	2	0	1	67	64	3	0	8
ANDORRA	3	1	0	2	48	82	-34	0	4
HUNGARY	4	0	0	4	76	94	-18	4	4

Preview
Previously undefeated Latvia went down away to competition leaders Lithuania last weekend. Playing at home against the traveling Andorrans I’d expect them to perform better.

Andorra has the advantage of winning here in October 2013 so winning away is not foreign to the rugby players from the Pyrenees.

Previous Encounters
26.10.2013 Andorra 22-19 in Riga (REC 2B)
30.03.2013 Latvia 22-11 in Andorra La Vela (WCQ Europe R2; ENC 2B)
24.11.2007 Latvia 20-9 in Riga (ENC 2B)
04.11.2006 Latvia 31-24 in Andorra La Vela (ENC 2B)

In the last two tests these sides have played they have gone against the trend of test rugby at this level by winning away.

Andorra Last Five P 5, W 2, L 3
04.04.2015 v Hungary W 23-18 in Andorra La Vela (REC 2B)
01.11.2014 v Cyprus L 10-30 in Paphos (REC 2B)
18.10.2014 v Lithuania L 15-34 in Andorra La Vela (REC 2B)
12.04.2014 v Israel L 16-20 in Netanya (ENC 2B)
29.03.2014 v Serbia W 23-13 in Andorra La vela (ENC 2B)

Latvia Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
25.04.2015 v Lithuania L 11-46 in Siaulai (REC 2B)
15.11.2014 v Cyprus W 39-20 in Riga (REC 2B)
02.11.2014 v Hungary W 16-14 in Ezstergom (REC 2B)
21,06,2014 v Croatia L 10-16 in Riga (ENC 2A-2B Playoff)
03.05.2014 v Denmark W 16-9 in Odense (ENC 2B)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Latvia 25th, Andorra 27th

World Rugby Ranking Points
Latvia 42.73, Andorra 41.70

Prediction: Latvia by 4 points. Score 15-11

TEAMS

Latvia Squad

Sandris Jauntēvs (1964) 13 spēles izlasē (test caps)
Elmārs Imbrass (1964) 12
Kārlis Dzenis (Miesnieki) 4
Jānis Šveds (Eži) 4
Ingus Aivars (Eži) 12
Guntis Cirša (Miesnieki) 39
Santis Podāns (Ovāls) 14
Emīls Balodis (Miesnieki) 5
Māris Streikišs (Eži) 16
Viktors Silvoniks (Miesnieki) 26
Leno Bramanis (Miesnieki) 29
Artūrs Kisle (Livonia) 1
Ainārs Bērziņš (Livonia) 3
Andrejs Borisovs (Ovāls) 9
Norberts Bekmanis (Livonia) 7
Vigo Valdavs (Livonia) 10
Ruslans Kotļevs (Eži) 32
Andris Andersons (Miesnieki) 10
Matīss Zalcmanis (Ovāls) 14
Kristaps Bērziņš (Livonia) 28
Valters Raņķis (Livonia) 47
Raivis Kokins (Miesnieki) 2
Mikus Ozols (Sigulda) 7
Gundars Grieķis (Livonia) 0
Mārtiņš Rundāns (Livonia) 4
Dāvis Gauja (Livonia) 1
Mārtiņš Bokišs (Eži) 0
Kārlis Garokalns (Miesnieki) 3
Toms Asējevs (Miesnieki) 0

Head Coach: Sergey Liska

http://rugbylatvia.com/?p=9179

Andorra Squad not available

RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP 2B

04.04.2015
Andorra 23, Hungary 18 in Andorra La Vela (REC 2B)

TEST RUGBY RESULTS SATURDAY 28 MARCH

28.03.2015
Belgium 71, Sweden 10 in Brussels (REC 1B)
Cyprus 17, Hungary 15 in Szazhalombatta (REC 2B)

Briefly
A huge win, as predicted, by Belgium over Sweden. Not a happy start for new Swedish coach former England test prop Tim Payne.

Cyprus again found Hungary a tough nut to crack in Hungary.

Next Game
04.04-Hungary v Andorra in Andorra La Vela

TEST RUGBY RESULTS: ENC 2B, 2C & 2D

18.10.2014
Lithuania 34, Andorra 15 in Andorra La Vela (ENC 2B)
Slovenia 48, Serbia 3 in Ljubliana (ENC 2C)
Norway 20, Finland 12 in Oslo (ENC 2D)

Reviews
Lithuania were too strong for Andorra away. They led 20-8 at halftime. This was a good start to Lithuania’s campaign to regain their place in ENC 2A.

Slovenia caused a major upset by defeating Serbia 48-3. They led 22-0 at halftime. Serbia had just been relegated from ENC 2B and were expected to be one of the stronger teams in this division.

Norway turned the tables on Finland and avenged their earlier defeat to the Fins. Strangely this was a Round Two ENC 2D match for the 2015-16 season!

TEST RUGBY RESULTS 12 APRIL ENC 2B & 2C

12.04.2014
Israel 20, Andorra 16 in Netanya (ENC 2B)
Denmark 33, Serbia 19 in Belgrade (ENC 2B)
Hungary 23, Austria 12 in Esztergom (ENC 2C)
Slovenia 43, Bulgaria 17 in Ljubliana (ENC 2C)

Reviews

Israel scored 3 tries to 1 but goal kicking kept the visiting Andorran side in the match right to the end.

Denmark defeated Serbia in a pulsating see-sawing match in Belgrade. The visitors raced out to an 18-0 lead (11-0 halftime) before Serbia clawed their way back 14-18 in the second half. Serbia scored next and led 19-18 before Denmark went ahead late in the second half to finally win 33-19. This result sees Serbia automatically relegated to ENC 2C for 2014-2016 FIRA-AER European Nations Cup.

Denmark’s win gives them a chance to gain the crucial second place in this competition which will mean they have a chance to play off against a 2A side placed 4th. Latvia would need to lose both its remaining games including what could be a crucial last game against Denmark!

ENC 2B Points Table

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	TL
ISRAEL	7	7	0	0	196	80	110	3	0	31
ANDORRA	8	4	1	3	136	140	-4	1	2	17
LATVIA	6	3	0	3	129	115	11	3	2	17
DENMARK	7	2	1	4	119	135	-16	2	1	13
SERBIA	8	1	0	7	136	242	-96	1	1	6

Remaining Games
26/04 Israel v Latvia in Riga
03/05 Latvia v Denmark in Odense

Hungary defeated Austria 23-12 at home in the first of the ENC 2C this weekend. They slipped away from Austria earlier in the match to build a 13-0 lead. The Austrians, as they have in each game this season, came back strongly in the second half but their slow start cost them dearly. They now face automatic relegation The Hungarians scored 2 tries to nil.

Slovenia ran away with their game against Bulgaria played at the The stadium ŽŠD in Ljubljana, the venue being different to the usual. Played in front of an enthusiastic home crowd the Slovenians were just too strong. A world record was set as all five Skofic brothers; Jack, Max, Archie, George and Frankie, were on the field at the same time during the test match.

Cyprus should gain automatic promotion short of a major disaster whilst Hungary holds second place and the playoff position. Bulgaria and Austria will be fighting to save themselves from automatic relegation whilst one of them will have to be in the playoff. The Slovenia-Austria game on the 3rd May will be crucial to Austria’s position.

ENC 2C Points Table

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
CYPRUS	6	6	0	0	154	65	189	4	0	28
HUNGARY	7	5	0	2	186	77	109	2	2	24
SLOVENIA	7	3	0	4	101	182	-81	2	1	15
BULGARIA	7	2	0	5	101	296	-195	1	0	9
AUSTRIA	7	1	0	6	136	158	-22	1	3	8

Remaining Games
26/04 Cyprus v Bulgaria in Sofia
03/05 Slovenia v Austria in Vienna
17/05 Hungary v Cyprus in Paphos