RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP

07.11.2015

Division 1B

Moldova 25, Sweden 7 in Malmo

Sweden were considerably weakened by the decision of a number of leading players to represent Sweden in a sevens tournament. Even so they did well to hold the much respected Moldovan side who seriously underperforms away from home, usually because a number of top players are usually unavailable.

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
BELGIUM	7	6	0	1	146	112	134	4	28
UKRAINE	7	5	0	2	155	111	44	2	22
MOLDOVA	6	4	0	2	180	90	90	4	20
POLAND	7	3	0	4	146	187	-41	2	15
NETHERLANDS	5	2	0	3	81	74	3	2	10
SWEDEN	8	0	0	8	87	319	-211	0	0

Division 2A

Croatia 26, Israel 21 in Netanya

Israel failed to take advantage of their home ground against Croatia although they did get a bonus point.

Israel’s next game is a very tough one away to Switzerland. They’ll be hoping for a repeat performance against front contender Czech Republic when they drew 26-26 in Prague. Croatia will host Malta next weekend.

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
SWITZ.	5	4	0	1	126	99	27	2	18
CZECH REP	5	3	1	1	106	82	26	3	17
CROATIA	5	4	0	3	112	124	-12	4	12
MALTA	4	2	0	2	80	89	-9	1	9
ISRAEL	5	0	1	4	98	129	-31	2	4

Division 2B

Latvia 31, Cyprus 3 in Paphos

The once invincible Cyprus team, and world record holder of the most consecutive test rugby wins, has fallen on hard times in this division. They were promoted last season but have failed to fire against the stronger opposition in this division.

Neither team is playing next weekend.

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	TL
LITHUANIA	6	6	0	0	230	107	123	6	30
LATVIA	6	4	0	2	141	108	33	3	19
CYPRUS	5	2	0	3	90	121	-25	1	9
ANDORRA	5	2	0	3	79	136	-57	0	8
HUNGARY	6	0	0	6	101	170	-69	4	4

Division 2C

Slovenia 33, Serbia 17 in Belgrade

This was the third match in the REC games this weekend in which the home side lost. Serbia were outplayed by their northern rugby rivals despite nearly scoring a fourth (and bonus) try towards the end.

The Serbs will have a tough away game against Luxembourg next weekend whilst Slovenia hosts Denmark at home.

CYPRUS v LATVIA: REC 2B

07.11.2015

Venue: Paphiako Stadium, Paphos

Referee: Nicolas Vandecauter (Belgium)

	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

Preview

Neither side will be able to challenge Lithuania for the title of this division. Cyprus will need the win to avoid the relegation end of the competition.

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Latvia 26th, Cyprus 27th

World Rugby Rankings do not apply. Cyprus is not a full member.

Prediction: Cyprus by 6 points. Score 29-23

TEAMS

Latvia

Two changes - Raimond Krūmiņa and Davis Bajārs are replaced by Valters Rankis and Andris Andersons.

1 Guntis Cirša
2 Gundars Grieķis
3 Sandris Jauntēvs
4 Santis Podāns
5 Māris Streikišs
6 Mārtiņš Bērziņš
7 Viktors Silvoniks, (Capt.)
8 Leno Bramanis
9 Norberts Bekmanis
10 Ruslans Kotļevs
11 Vigo Valdavs
12 Krists Krūskops
13 Dāvis Jansons
14 Mārtiņš Bokišs
15 Roberts Davidsons

16 Emīls Balodis
17 Ingus Aivars
18 Elmārs Imbrass
19 Toms Asejevs
20 Kārlis Garokalns
21 Valters Raņķis
22 Andris Andersons
23 Nauris Bērziņš

http://rugbylatvia.com/?p=11281

Cyprus Squad

15. Marcus Holden
14. Steve Awah
13. Alex Zavallis-Roebuck
12. George Agathocleous
11. Phillip Tsangari
10. Michael Asprou
9. Burhan Torgut
1. Stylianos Theoklitou-Panagiotou
2. Marios Zakakiotis
3. Christos Kasabi
4. Frank Stavrou
5. Alexandros Philiotis
6. Jack Bilton
7. Marko Mladenovic (c)
8. Demetris Christopher
16. Demetris Gregoriou
17. Alexandros Ioannou
18. Solomone Tuipulotu
19. Dan McFarlane
20. Constantinos Constantinides
21. George Shaouna
22. Panagiotis Nikolaidis
23. Costas Pavlou

https://www.facebook.com/CyprusRugby/

TEST RUGBY THIS WEEKEND

07.11.2015
Sweden v Moldova in Malmo (REC 1B)
Israel v Croatia in Netanya (REC 2A)
Cyprus v Latvia in Paphos (REC 2B)
Serbia v Slovenia in Beograd (REC 2C)

08.11.2015
Colombia v Ecuador in Lima (CONSUR B)
Venezuela v Peru in Lima (CONSUR B)

Briefly
As the dust settles on the 2015 Rugby World Cup final last weekend the test rugby elsewhere continues. This month you wont be seeing the Southern Hemisphere teams touring north as they need a good rest after the tournament.

The Rugby Europe Championship continues with four tests on Saturday. On Sunday sees the start of CONSUR B, or South American Championship, Division B. That tournament, being held in Lima, Peru, is the second tier of South American rugby behind Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil and Paraguay.

Later in November Germany will visit Brazil for a test match. December will be busy with CONSUR C being held in San Salvador whilst in early December Germany will play their second test in Brazil.

This weekend
Sweden faces front runner Moldova in an attempt to improve on its earlier results this season against Belgium and Poland. It wont be enough to avoid relegation.

Israel and Croatia will battle to avoid the relegation area. Israel drew with Czech Republic away in their last match and are beginning to adjust to this new level of European test rugby. Croatia won the first leg match against Israel but could struggle playing away. Croatia warmed up with a 5-39 loss to Oxford University last weekend.

Cyprus and Latvia clash in Cyprus in a Division 2B test match. Cyprus, holder of the world record of 24 consecutive test match wins up to 2014, were promoted from Division 2C the same season. Their results at this level have been mixed. Latvia has also had a mixed season, have played one more test than Cyprus. Neither team fared well against competition Lithuania who are unassailable at the top of this division.

Balkan rugby rivals Slovenia and Serbia clash in Beograd. Serbia had a disastrous start to the 2014-15 season but a change of management after Christmas has seen them win against Denmark and Austria.Slovenia is tucked just behind the undefeated Luxembourg ( to whom they lost to in the first leg) but has a game in hand. I expect this to be a close result.

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: Divisions 2A & 2B

24.10.2015
Switzerland 20, Czech Republic 14 in Prague (REC 2A)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
SWITZ.	5	4	0	1	126	99	27	2	18
CZECH REP	5	3	1	1	106	82	26	3	17
MALTA	4	2	0	2	80	89	-9	1	9
CROATIA	4	1	0	3	86	103	-17	4	8
ISRAEL	4	0	1	3	77	103	-26	1	3

Review
Switzerland caused a major upset by defeating the Czech Republic in Prague to sneak ahead on the points table.

‘14-20 to the Swiss. A good result for them and a reversal of the win the Czechs got over them in the last round. I guess this must put them as favourites for promotion after the Czechs drew against Israel.

The Czechs had the upper hand in the forwards, but the Swiss pack worked hard as a unit and the backs took their chances. The Czechs were however missing a few big names such as the prop Strastny, the hooker Kutil, the lock Voves and back row Manak.

I don't think the Poles or Dutch will be too worried looking at this top of the table clash if they have an eye on who the newcomer to their division will be next year and if it will mean they will become the most likely candidate for the drop. Neither will the Swedes, who will look to bounce back after the new 1 year season format.

The pace of this game was definitely slower than the Ukraine-Poland game we saw last week, and even the physique of the players looked to be more like serious amateurs than semi-professionals.’

Thanks to ‘Polter’ at http://t2rugby.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=699

Lithuania 37, Hungary 15 in Esztergom (REC 2B)

	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

Review
As expected Lithuania, the table leaders, were too strong for bottom placed Hungary. Lithuania look good for promotion back into REC 2A for next season whilst for Hungary they look like being relegated back to REC 2C.