Too Close to Call?

So, as predicted the two games provided a contrast in styles but provided some drama in both matches. With rain in the North and the weather mainly dry in the West, all four teams played some commendable rugby.
Enkoping lost to their visitors 23-25, a much closer margin than perhaps expected and the gave the Exiles something to think about during the next week. In pouring rain, both teams produced some exciting rugby and showed the watching spectators that these two sides are the best teams in Sweden,(although Hammarby may argue this point).
The visitors started the stronger and were soon into their stride, with Enkoping having to defend, but a number of indiscretions led to a series of penalties allowing the home side to advance into the opposition's half and from yet another penalty take the lead.
Exiles dominated the game for the first 20 minutes, then a yellow card to the visitors fullback allowed Erk to get back into the game and score a fine converted try. With a 10-0 lead the home side looked set to dominate but Exiles took the game back to the home side and through a well worked maul managed to score a converted try, bringing them right back into the match and at half time the score was 10-7.
From the restart the men in black applied enormous pressure through their forwards and soon added to their score through a try, thus taking the lead for the first time in the match. It wasn't long before they added to that score through an individual effort which was converted, between theses scores, the only response was 3 points from a penalty to the home side.
With less than 20 minutes to go the hosts started to get their illustrious backs going and scored two fine tries which was answered by a penalty from Exiles, leaving the score at 23-25 with just a few minutes to go. There were no further scores and the match ended with the visitors happy with the win and the hosts knowing that there is all to play for next week.

In the West, Hammarby, the league winners visited the team that finished 4th in the Elite, Spartacus. The rain ceased for most of the afternoon, but the pitch was wet and slippery underfoot. This was a match that the visitors were expecting to win but the hosts have been difficult to beat at home this season, so it was not going to be an easy match for them. Within a few minutes of the kick off, the visitors conceded a penalty just outside their 22m and the points were eagerly taken by the hosts. The game then developed into a battle for supremacy and in the forwards Spartacus were gaining the upper hand. The visitors managed to get a foot on a loose ball though and with the ball sliding into the home side's goal area and the fullback taking too much time over grounding it, a Hammarby back slid in to touch down and give them the lead. That was to be their only score of the half as the hosts flew back at the opposition applying pressure and from a series of rucks moved the ball out wide for a first class try which was converted. The half time score 10-5
Hammarby were soon back on the scoreboard after the break and reduced the deficit by 3 from a penalty in front of the posts. This seemed to galvanise the visitors and they launched a series of attacks, all of which were stemmed by some outstanding defence. The hits were coming in hard from the all the Spartacus players and as a result, several of the visiting team were replaced. Spartacus were also doing their fair share of attacking in their own inimitable style and from one of these attacks were awarded a penalty, giving them back the 5 points advantage they previuosly enjoyed. This was soon knocked back again following a mistake in the home sides half and  a fine penalty kick once again saw the lead reduced. By now though, the Hammarby team were starting to tire and with the hosts bringing on fresh legs, they continued to be driven backwards towards their own line only desperate defending kept the host's from getting over the whitewash. In the last minute of play they conceded a penalty, and the points were taken to give Spartacus a fine win by 16-11.
The return match will make interesting viewing and although Hammarby will expect to win this one, if Spartacus play as well as they can, they could cause an upset.