Saturday Elite Report

With the top game in the Elite, Enkoping welcomed Hammarby for what could be the decisive match of the series. ERK were wanting to make up for their previous result and with a more all round game, expected to win. However Hammarby were not there to make up the numbers and with what might seem to some, a more limited game, but one that has proved highly effective this season, they were determined to put their mark on the game. So an interesting match up in prospect and that is how it tuned out, providing the watching spectators with a feast of good rugby which, eventually went the way of the visitors, who now sit proudly on top of the league. Result 17-22

Stockholm Exiles made the long journey west to meet Spartacus. In what was a bruising encounter, the visitors took the game to the home team, what they probably did not expect was the ferocity of the tackling and the defensive organization in front of them. Apparently every time a player in black got the ball, he also got a hard tackle to go with it and was knocked backwards. Eventually the visitors resorted to a kicking game and from a fortuitous bounce scored the only try of the game just before half time. Evidently the second half was a similar story, with Exiles eventually running out winners by 0-14.

Goteborg took on Pintvin in the bottom of the table clash. Both sides had their strongest sides out and both were desperate for the win. The visitors were the more composed side and played to their game plan very effectively. Attacking well and ensuring that their defense was up to the task. GRF unfortunately could not handle the pressure and collapsed to a 0-23 loss. This leaves them bottom of the table with Pingvin leap frogging them.

Some interesting results this weekend, with Spartacus appearing to be closing the gap on the Northern teams, it should be a good match to be at when they take on reigning leaders Hammarby in two weeks time. Goteborg travel to Exiles and Pingvin make the long trek to Enkoping.

Elite series match round up.

Exiles welcomed Pingvin’s traveling squad of players for their fourth match of the series. However it was not going to be a good day for Pingvin as the Exiles quickly got into their stride and crossed the whitewash twice within the first five minutes to lead 14-0. There then followed a period of stability which was finally broken when Exiles again went over the line to add to their score. From then on it was almost all one way traffic with the home side launching attack after attack. With some resolute defending Pingvin managed to hold out for a while and even created some attacks. However it was not to last and they then conceded another handful of scores to leave them trailing 52-0 at halftime.
The second half saw Exiles starting half asleep, until they were galvanised back into action by the first of a hat trick of tries after 14 minutes and the half then started to resemble the first. Attack followed attack and more tries were added as Exiles ran amok. At the final whistle a relieved Pingvin managed to keep the score under 100 losing by 95-0.
It appears that Stockholm Exiles are now getting into their stride, but Pingvin could be in trouble this season.

Hammarby were the host to Goteborg and set about the visitors from the kick off. It soon became obvious that GRF were not going to be able to offer much, which is sad considering that two years ago, they were more than a match for the home side. However they were not going to trouble Hammarby on a fine day for rugby and went home after receiving a 81-3 loss. Hammarby are certainly going in the right direction and will be a tough team to beat with their game improving match upon match. Goteborg have quite a bit of work to do to become a rugby force again.

Partille was the latest stopover for Enkoping in their quest to retain their title. A match that was expected to be a formality for them was anything but that, as they found out when it became apparent that Spartacus were not going to roll over, instead they were going to battle for every ball. So began a game of attrition, with the home side giving as good as they got. Enkoping were soon into their stride and with a host of talent in their ranks appeared confident, but Spartacus had a defence that did not take a backward step and managed to turn over the ball on a number of occasions. Eventually though, ERK put together a move which enabled their fullback to score under the posts. Shortly after a yellow card was shown to one of the home side players and for the rest of the half they were down to 14 men. Enkoping could not make their player superiority count and the half time score was 0-7.
With numbers even at the start of the second half, the match continued in a similar vein as the first half for the first ten minutes and then with Spartacus starting to apply more pressure they began to create chances of their own, this eventually led to a well worked try under the posts, leveling the scores. Enkoping were stung by that and came back at the home side and from a set piece worked a well constructed try, with the extra points added they were now leading 7-14. Spartacus came back at the visitors and started to gain considerable ground and once again this led to a try in the corner, which was converted. For the last few minutes the game could have been won by either side but a draw 14-14 ,was probably a fair result.