Turn of the Tide?

So, following the results of Saturday in the Men's Elite Series, there are some interesting questions arising from the matches that took place.


Hammarby duly completed a demolition job on a traveling Pingvin, who despite taking a full squad in terms of numbers, could not trouble the scoreboard. Whilst the hosts continues on the merry way with yet another win and look to be a formidable squad this season. With this 56-0 win under the belt, the questions regarding Hammarby, are they the real deal? can they maintain this run and ultimately gain gold ? Time will obviously tell, but not a bad start. With Pingvin, there really is only one question at this early stage, can they survive the drop this season?

Enkoping carried on with their winning ways against Exiles at their home fortress. With Exiles removing the captaincy from the enigmatic and inspirational leader of last year and handing it to one of the newcomers from the Southern Hemisphere, there is word that all may not be well in the visitors camp. However Exiles managed to run ERK close and indeed had the lead for a while. However some individual brilliance and a well worked move saw two fine tries by the home side, which enabled them to record yet another win against Exiles by 20-16. Our questions regarding Enkoping are, can they improve as the season progresses and can they hold off a resurgent Hammarby? As for Exiles, is the tide turning against them, despite the imports ?

Goteborg managed a first win of the season at home by a very narrow margin. Fielding their strongest side, they managed to come from behind to record a 15-12 win. We understand that the referee had a very poor game and appeared to be biased against the visitors. However as we were not at the match, (we can only post the information supplied to us) this is difficult to put into perspective. Despite being continually penalised Spartacus managed to take the lead with a well worked try, even though they were missing at least 5 of their more senior players through injury. In the 45th minute GRF managed to score a try, bringing them back ino the game. The second half was much the same as the first, with the visitors being guilty of offences that apparently were strange to say the least. Eventually GRF managed to score again with a try and conversion. This was eventually added to by a penalty and the home side looked safe. Spartacus came back at them in the last few minutes and once again scored a try to close the gap, but too late as the referee blew for time. An interesting side note to this game. Apparently GRF played a player who was not cleared to play, despite their coaches being informed of this. If this is true? It's ironic that this is the club,  who are always quoting the rules to others, but choose to ignore them when it suits. Questions here for GRF, can they carry on winning? or have they achieved their goal for this year? For Spartacus, can they come back from this setback and finish in a play off position?

Let's hope the next round has some great rugby, without any controversies.

Round 3

Another interesting weekend of matches coming up in the Elite series this weekend. With a local derby in the west and a couple of tough games up north.

First up must be the derby between GRF and Spartacus. Obviously there will be some special match up's in this game and presumably some players out to prove a point or two. So a firm but sympathetic referee will be needed for this one. With Spartacus determined to keep their club moving forward they still remain underdogs, in our view, but we feel they will overcome their adversaries.

Hammarby against Pingvin may turn out to be a good match to watch. Although in the past Pingvin have not been the best of travellers, they turned up with a strong side in their previous away match and played some enterprising rugby. Hammarby will be full of confidence having overcome Exiles last time out and will see this game as an easy win. They could be surprised but we feel that they will run out winners in this battle.

Enkoping welcome Exiles in what could prove to be the tie of the round. Exiles will be simmering following their loss in the previous round and Enkoping will be missing their talismanic captain. This is going to be difficult to predict and with some new faces apparently making their debuts for the visitors, it might just be those players who make the difference. However we are going for a home win on this one, but it could be very close.

Let's hope for some great games and that the spectators are rewarded with some exciting rugby.

Elite Series 2nd Round

An interesting weekend with all six elite teams competing for the first time this season.

Hammarby faced Exiles and somewhat surprisingly managed to defeat the team that for many are the favourites for gold this year. Exiles had the advantage of playing a couple of weeks earlier and by all reports did not need to field their strongest side to overcome that opposition, perhaps in hindsight that was to prove to be a sorry mistake. With the newly exiled coach from Exiles encouraging Hammarby, was that their second second mistake? Time will tell, but Hammarby will obviously be delighted with the win and it will leave Exiles with some serious deliberations. Result Stockholm Exiles 13, Hammarby 21.

Spartacus made their debut in this season's competition with a home match against Pingvin. The home side were without one or two of their new signings, but despite this managed to overcome the opposition . With a powerful pack and some new additions to their back line they apparently were good value for the win and scored a couple of excellent tries. Against a team that they had not beaten for some considerable time, this will be an encouraging sign for the boys from Partille. From all accounts a good match with Pingvin fielding their strongest available side. Result Spartacus 27, Pingvin 14.

Finally GRF made the long haul to Enkoping for both teams second match this year. Enkoping fielding a side shorn of a lot of their first team stars, still proved to be far too strong for a full strength Goteborg side. Although the away side managed to score some points they were simply overwhelmed by the home side. It seems that it will take a very good side to overcome ERK who when they have their full side out, will take some stopping. Let's hope that the player who suffered a broken leg will recover soon. Result ERK 66, GRF 18.

Things are now warming up nicely in the Elite and we are looking forward to the next round of matches.

Sweden 17 - Croatia 14

A test match result to be enjoyed and perhaps prove how close the earlier matches had been? Had the fates decided otherwise Sweden, could have been at least mid table if not challenging for the top spot. It has to be noted that prior to this match, Croatia had won 7 matches in a row, which included the scalp of the league champions, Holland. So no mean feat by the boys in blue and yellow.

Sweden took to the park in their brand new kit and looked a determined and professional outfit. Whilst they may have lost the contest in the singing of the national anthems, the Croats singing with much fervour, it was the only time on the day that Sweden were going to be second.
A referee that was officiating in only his second international match got matters under way and within a couple of minutes awarded a scrum to the visitors. However undeterred the Swedish pack met this challenge head on and more than matched the bigger unit and succeeded in winning the first engagement. This resulted in Sweden dominating the first ten minutes and after being awarded a penalty, which was successfully kicked, the home side took the game to the opposition. With some incisive running from the back row and the backs Sweden worked a position where a sublime crossfield kick from the Swedish captain saw the whitewash crossed for the first time and with the extra points added, it meant that the home side were 10-0 up.
Croatia, although losing some key players through injuries, (such was the intensity of the tackles), upped their game, began to attack the fringes and started to make inroads into the home sides territory. Eventually earning them a penalty, which thankfully from the home side supporters view was missed. This did not deter them however and with continued pressure they forced the ball over the line and made the conversion. With the pressure mounting, a brave take under a high ball allowed the Swedish full back to take the ball into touch and the referee blew for half time, with the score at 10-7
The opening salvo of the second half was dominated by the away team and it took some time for the home team to settle into their game plan, however this they did and the game became a tense and hard fought contest. So hard in fact that after a try saving tackle, (where did he come from?) the Swedish hooker had to go off with a severe injury to his shoulder. As luck would have it, his replacement after a short period of play, injured his shoulder and was also replaced. During his time on the field Sweden were awarded another penalty, which was unsuccessful. Following a kick downfield by the visitors, the catching full back went on a dazzling run to evade some desperate and bemused opposition players. This was supported by the backs and back row players which led to a tremendous try, lifting not only the team, but the crowd and one could almost see a smile on the faces of the Swedish coaches. The full back converted the score and Sweden were now back in the driving seat.
All credit to the Croatian side they kept playing and applying pressure which eventually led to the referee awarding a penalty try for a shoulder barge against the opposition winger, by the home side's fullback. They also kicked the conversion and brought the score back to 17-14 with about 1 minute to play. It was probably one of the longest minutes that the Swede's had to contend with, but eventually they manged to turn the ball over and were awarded a penalty, which they kicked to touch and that resulted in the final whistle being blown. A hard fought win and much relief was evident throughout the ground.

Squad for Croatia

Looks like Mike Tatu has decided to keep faith with the players from the last squad, except for one major surprise and a further change in the pack. Magnus Macdonald makes way for a returning Robert Tibell  with Daniel Legge called up from the home reserves in place of Eric Lundquist.

                    Matthias Thor Hard                                       Hammarby

                    Matt Youngman                                            Enkoping

                    Robert Tibell                                                 Enkoping

                    Viktor Pettersson                                          Enkoping

                    Daniel Legge                                                Cambridge

                    Ivar Bengtsson                                             Hammarby

                   Andrew Daish                                               Nuneaton

                   Sebastian Taylor                                           Old Haberdashers

                   Lee Sandberg                                               North Walsham

                  Tim Johansson                                               Enkoping

                   Bobby Nave                                                 Enkoping

                  Alex Taylor  (Captain)                                   Nuneaton

                  Paul Sullivan                                                  Stockholm Exiles

                  Tobias Borg                                                  Enkoping

                  Ian Gowland                                                 Stockholm Exiles

                  Richard Johansson                                        Hammarby

                  Richard Örnberg                                           Vanersborg

                  Stefan Obradovic                                          Atilla

                  Thomas Ardvisson                                        Bordeaux

                  Ricky Opuko                                                Enkoping

                  Jim Wetterström                                           Enkoping

                  Peter Wiklund                                              Vanersborg

After all the trials and tribulations of Latvia, lets hope for a win against Croatia in Enkoping next Saturday.

Off and Running

Yesterday saw the start of the Men's Elite Series and after all the debate, the big two declared their intentions.

Stockholm Exiles took a depleted squad to GRF and comprehensively demolished the home side even with their reported 4 imports. By all accounts the score would have been a great deal more, had it not been for some strange refereeing decisions. But winning 53-13 would have given the visitors plenty to smile about.  GRF on the other hand will need to have some hard training sessions over the next two weeks, as they face Enkoping away in their next match and that may prove to be even tougher.

Enkoping made the long trip to Trelleborg to face Pingvin and despite leaving some of their celebrated stars at home, they still managed to rack up another convincing win 6-28. Ominous signs for some of the other contenders in the Elite as ERK  prevented the opposition from crossing the whitewash. Two penalties being the home sides only reward. The visiting coach was probably annoyed about that as well?

The other match in the series was postponed as Hammarby had no suitable pitch available to take on Spartacus. So we will have to look at those two teams in the next round.

Elsewhere in Division 1, what could prove to be the deciding match of that series, (although no doubt some of the other clubs will argue their case) Vanerborg entertained Attila. This was always going to be a fierce contest and as such a strict referee was brought in to control the proceedings. Despite their young age and with all home grown talent taking the field, Vanersborg gave the visitors, who included a few imports, a tough game, which was entertaining as well.  However, according to reports, lack of discipline cost them the game, which eventually went to the visitors 22-23.

We cannot wait for the next round of matches, let's hope for some good rugby.

Latvia 31 Sweden 27

We thought that we would let the dust settle, not the volcanic type, but the fallout from a disappointing loss away under exceptional circumstances. Before reporting on the trip and match.

It was important to get the facts and we have done that by contacting a member of the management staff and some players.

Facts are as follows,

1. Two players pulled out at the beginning of the week due to exams and an injury which led to replacements from the home reserves being called up.

2. The air space around Skavasta was closed minutes before the the players were due to board the plane.
3. Following a dramatic dash to Stockholm the players managed to board a boat to Riga.
4. The air space around the UK was not closed until Thursday, again just before the flights were due to be boarded. The English players rebooked for Friday morning and looked at alternative ways of getting to Riga. Unfortunately they had to admit defeat on Friday.
5. The management and certain Board members attempted to get extra players from Sweden on Friday's boat to Riga. Unfortunately only one player could make it.

So Sweden took the pitch with a squad of 19 players rather than the 22 permitted and although fired up and playing well, a turnover on the half way line saw the Latvian's winger race away to score a try that was successfully converted. This did not deter Sweden and they came back to score a fine try, with the extra points  that brought the score to 7-7. There then followed a penalty to the Swedes allowing them to take the lead only for the home side to force the way over the line from a series of pick and go's. Once again the visitors came back and scored a dazzling try to once again force their way in front. Despite some missed penalties, Sweden led 12-15 at half time.
The start of the second half saw another turnover benefiting the Latvian's in front, a position that they were going to maintain for the rest of the match. With two more missed penalties, Sweden were unable to reduce the score before Latvia scored again giving them a lead of 26-15. Some good fortune eventually came their way and Sweden eventually scored out wide . However some more close quarter play allowed the Latvians back in for yet another score.There then followed a period of intense pressure which resulted in a superb try by the captain, this being converted reduced the deficit to 4 points. Despite the amount of pressure and even with two men off the park, (1 injured in the last minute and 1 very harsh sin bin) Sweden kept pushing and had one pass stuck, when the player was in the clear...who knows.
A pretty good performance from most of the players on the pitch, let us hope that Sweden get some good fortune for the next game.