European Shield - 2008

[Spider]

Czech Republic 18-38 Italy

As I heard Czechs didn't train so hard and Italians are not so convincing as the first match made me think.

[si]

Would be interesting to see the Italy line up. Cannot find it anywhere! Wonder if Australasians Andrew Kaleopa, Chris Borgese and Dan Wilson played, as can not see them in the scoring of points.

[Druzik]

Hey all, I am back from Drubojevice nr Prague.

So first of all lerts get the team lists out as I see that people want to see those.

Czech Republic
1. Marcin Paukner
2. David Dolak
3. David Safranov
4. Standa Kvapil
5. Tomas Ciporanov
6. Machal Kucera
7. Milan Jirman
8. Premek Bradle
9. Machal Priputen (c)
10. Jan Sluka
11. Marcel Mana
12. Tomas Kurka
13. Jarda Stribny
14. Andrew Mullhall
15. Tomas Heller
16. Tomas Rybcik
17. Jan Buben

Italy
1. Eduardo Lerna
2. Riccardo Faccia
3. Jason Dubas-Fisher
4. Daniele Moro
5. Matthew Saids
6. Filipo Vetonese
7. Jonathon Marczincziak
8. Nicola Bressanin
9. Franciesco Michael
10. Angelo Ricci
11. Tiziano Franchini (c)
12. Marco Ferrazzanno
13. Andrea Zucchia
14. Marko Pellegrini
15. Enrico Pescante
16. Davide Paoan
17. Francesco Vadori

Match Officials
Referee: Jason Craughwell (Ireland)
Touch Judges: Jakob Harbac (Czech), Peter Dobremysl (Czech)
Reserve official: Lukas Marianek

So you can see none of the Aussies were there, but a 5 of the englisg based players like Lerna and Feerrazanno did come down.

[Druzik]

Match Report
Czech Republic 18 (10) - 38 (22) Italy
FC Drubojevice, Drubojevice Czech Republic

Saturday 12 July saw the second match of the 2008 European Shield match in Drubojevice just south of Prague. This match saw the Czech's open their 2008 match account against and in form Itlay who came to the Czech without their two Australian playerts, Captain Andrew Kaleopa and MoM from Padua Dan Wilson. It was obvious the weather was going to play a major role in the match as it there was a constant light rain and the ground quite soft.

From the kickoff it was was obvious that this was going to be a very physical match with some hard tackles comming in from the Czechs. However the Italians went in off their first set of six with Angelo Rici. From there it was almost a constant run of points by the Italians till the 25 minute mark with Marco Ferrezanno bagging a hat-trick of tries in 12 minutes, after 25 minutes the Italians were ahead 22-0. The Czechs from there managed to post two tries at the back end of the 1st half through Safranek and Kucera. At half time it was 22-10 to the Italians.

The second half started off with some great battles in defence. Both teams literally threw their bodies at each other in some great defensive work. The czechs improved imenseley and kept the Italians scoreless for 20 minutes despite some great work by their forwards, the Itlains hit the czech line constantly but the defensive line held. Unfortunately though despite the Czechs needing to be the forst to score their line was eventually broken by Italian Fullback Eduardo Lerna right on the 60 minute mark. However the best response any team can have is to hit right back and the Czechs manages this 3 minutes later through their substitute Tomas Rybcik. Then it became a tit-for-tat try fest with the italians Dubas-Fisher going in, then Czechs Rydcic for his second and finally marco Ferrezanno for his 4th try of the day and with it sealing the man of the match.

After the match the italins celebrated in true italian style by singing and dancing their way through the night, Italys captain and president Tiziano Franchini was very happy and proud of the boys and hopes that this win will be the start of great things in Italina Rugby League in Itlay.

Czech Republic - Trys: Safranek(3), Kicera (30), Rybcik (63, 76). Goals: Kucera (1/4)

Italy - Trys: Ricci(3), Ferrezanno (12, 15, 24, 72), Lerna (60), Dubas-Fisher (69). Goals: Vetonese (5/7)

[kuwaitikev]

Will you be posting photos again Druzik?
Would be good if you could identify players in the photos too

[Druzik]

Yes as soon as I can get some time to get things up I will. Maybe later today or tomorrow... See how they came out If I can make out who is who then I will try and remember everyones names.

[Druzik]

OK the photos are up on the website.

and

The you tube highlights video is up as well

[Druzik]

A few Pics.

Some Action shots


The winning Captain Tiziano Franchini


The medal the members of the winning team recieved.

[Druzik]

[Spider]

I hope some of lacrosse fans will stay there to watch RL match. Full day program, like in USA.

[Druzik]

Its smart marketing by the termans I think, as Heidelberg has amny Americans who appreciate physical sports and lacross is a a fast physical sport as well, so I think they shoudl end up having a few stay on.

However I will be in Riga for the Euro bowl games.

[Spider]

Well, be sure before you head for Riga if those games are going to be played, because I heard some rumors that Latvian embassy denied visas for Ukrainians. I'm not 100% sure, but it is pretty possible that had happened. It is well-known that fresh EU members train asperity on non-EU members, especially former Soviet Union states from EU to former USSR states which are not yet in EU.

Maybe, going to Karlsruhe is better option for next weekend for you. Check this info and decide.

[Druzik]

mmmm not heard anything and I am in contact with the estoniand and latvians often. I hope not as everything has been booked!

[Druzik]

Just heard... it is true. it was confirmed last night that the Ukranians would not be comming... Estonia had Visa issues as well to go to Kharkov originally.

There will be a second Latvia v Estonia match on the sunday. I am not sure what the deal with the tournie is, if its postponed to a further time, abandoned or Latvia rewarded the trophy.

Either way I have booked and made commitments to go to Latvis and so will be going. Its too short notice for me to change things round for Karlsruhe now.

[Kiwi fan]

Will the European Shield continue next year and if so will it have the same teams? Or is it too early to say.