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| 08-09-2009 - Under Luxembourg team return from European championships |
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Under 20 report from European championships
Ostrava Czech Republic
The Luxembourg Under 20 rugby team returned yesterday from a demanding 4 day programme in Ostrava, where they gained third place in a regional tournament to decide the Under 20 champions for 2009.
Our pool contained Czech Republic, who are currently ranked 35th in the world on I.R.B. rankings, plus Switzerland (57th) and Latvia (58th). Luxembourg’s current seeding is 94th.
After a 16 hour bus trip on Thursday, the format saw Luxembourg play Czechs on Friday with the winner progressing directly to the final, and the two losing sides playing for third place.
Switzerland defeated Latvia 66-10 and a similar scoreline was expected by many for the Czechs. However Luxembourg played very well and despite conceding an early try after only 4 minutes, the team rallied and in the 39th minute were only trailing by 8 points. The final act of the first half saw Czech outmaneuver the defence and score in the corner for a 13-0 half time lead. All Luxembourg players were rising to the challenge, standing up very well, and for the next 26 minutes manage to keep the score the same, and in fact missed two scoring opportunities themselves. The yellow card awarded against Carl Groetzke saw sustained Czech pressure finally rewarded and two late tries inflated the score to 30-0 at the end. Luxembourg earned great respect from this encounter despite the score, and proved to all present that the development of rugby is progressing along a correct path in the Duchy. Many comments were made after the match on the quality of play, and courage of the players.
The third playoff match was a tight affair with both coaches having made the point to their players that it may be for some, the final match in the national colours. Both teams showed courage and pride, and in the enthusiasm to succeed, and maybe due a little to the fatigue of playing two games in three days, the standard of play was not as high on the Sunday.
That said, a tight, passionate game ensued, with Luxembourg opening the scoring after 15 minutes when Timmermans kicked a penalty. 3-0. On 20 minutes Latvia maintained possession for a period and out flanked the defence for a good try to the number 8, and a 3-7 lead. A booming 50 metre penalty from Goodhew was replied by Latvia, before captain Thomas Picherit scored a fine try and advantage to Luxembourg at 11-10. Latvia replied two minutes later when a chip kick was not gathered by the Luxembourg backs, and the ball bounced perfectly for the Latvian fullback to create a 11-17 halftime lead.
Luxembourg started the second half well, and assisted by an unusual refereeing error, Alex Goodhew fell on a loose ball from a lineout and with his own conversion the lead was back with Luxembourg 18-17. Luxembourg was on top and starting to look good, but a lineout error turned the ball over and Latvia then enjoyed a ten minute period of total ascendancy which was finally turned into points by the scrum half scoring, again with some referee assistance, which at least balanced the Goodhew try. Latvia back in front 18-24, but Luxembourg by now with 4 replacements on the field never ever looked like giving it away, and when Saman Rezapour crashed over with a minute to go, it was up to Goodhew to kick the winning conversion. Straight down the middle but still time for Latvia to score, unfortunately they messed up the kick off and the game was won 25-24.
After the success of the Under 18 team in April it was particularly pleasing to see the progress continue in this age group, and Luxembourg has some fine young rugby players coming through the age grades, and the federation, sponsors and supporters can all look forward with optimism for the future.
Players to stand out in the week were Picherit, Bond, Zimmer, Grimmer, Rezapour, Delvaux, Goodhew, Barnard, Deasy, Muller-Borle, Spaine with every player in the squad contributing.
We now wait to see who over time, will step up into the National team, and set about raising the IRB ranking we have today.
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