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Exiles top the table!
25 aug 2018 0 kommentarer
Exiles lost 24 - 13 down in Trelleborg and the issue was if Pingvin could avoid losing by more than 11 points away in Stockholm today. The answer is they couldn´t; in a pulsating game Exiles won 28 - 13 to clinch the playing of the second final at home in Stockholm (always assuming both teams get through the semis).
Playing into the wind, Pingvin controlled the ball for the first five minutes and got close enough for Campbell to put a penalty over. Then Exiles began getting the ball and Jack equalised from far out. Exiles were kicking regularly downfield but the Pingvin lineouts were very solid as was their defence. Finally on 17”, Daniel Nissala found space far out and crossed for the first try of the game. Jack put over the conversion and the aggregate points advantage for Pingvin had shrunk to four points. Two minutes later the Pingvin full back under intense pressure kicked the ball towards the Exiles backs and Daniel accepted it gracefully to go over again. Jack converted, Exiles led 17 - 3 and were now three points ahead on aggregate. But their joy was short-lived as Pingvin fought their way upfield and their forwards forced their way over. Campbell converted and Pingvin were back in the aggregate lead. They maintained this lead as Jack put over another penalty to which Campbell replied just before the break. Once again Exiles lost the penalty count 9 - 2 in the first half with Pingvin gratefully accepting them to clear their lines.
Pingvin took advantage of the wind and several penalties against Exiles to maintain an attacking position and Exiles feared the worst when Francesco was given a yellow card after 51”. Exiles defended bravely for most of his absence. Just before he returned, powerful tackling by the Exile´s backs turned the ball over. The ball was slipped to Daniel and he ran 50 m. to score his hattrick in the corner. Now it was Exiles turn to take the lead again with a single aggregate point (25 - 13) and 18” to play.
Pingvin had their opportunities but the penalty count was turning in Exiles´ favour and Pingvin were more and more under pressure from the Exiles backs. Obviously it could have gone either way, a penalty kick to Pingvin would have done it. Jack, however, removed that possibility by putting over a penalty from far out to make it 28 - 13. Pingvin applied final pressure but Exiles stood firm and ran out as deserving narrow winners.
Penalty count 6 - 6 in the second half with almost all of those in Exiles favour coming in the last 15 minutes. The referee this week should have been much more proactive to prevent penalties rather than waiting to blow after the event.
The packs were pretty evenly matched both at scrums and lineouts with a driving maul from Pingvin giving them their score. Their main attacking strategy was to have pods running at the Exiles backs a couple of times before setting up openings for their free-scoring backs. It works against the other Swedish teams but not against this Exile´s team. They were smashed to the ground repeatedly, often before getting over the gain line and there were very few concerted attacks against Exiles by the Pingvin backs who found it very hard to make progress. The Exiles´ backs, with less access to the ball always looked dangerous especially as the game progressed. Man of the match would have to be winger Daniel Nissala who scored all three tries. He was run close by a fine back row with Neetz, Sean and Rikus. The latter had an outstanding game in attack and defense while Neill did severe damage to the Pingvin attack. It was nice to see Matt Mitchell back on the field although he is still rationing his playing time. Exiles were short of 4 - 5 players but they have a very solid squad and were able to surmount that. Pingvin were short of their excellent scrum half. Barring accidents, we can look forward to two exciting finals in a month´s time.
Still not clear who will meet whom in the semis. Troján seem to have had something of a blackout when losing 76 - 5 to Enköping. With one game to go, Troján will meet Göteborg in Norrköping in a week´s time. At present, Göteborg and Enköping have four points and Troján two. If Göteborg win they will come third and meet Pingvin in the semi with Enköping meeting Exiles in the other.
If Troján win, all three teams will be on four points and score differentials will be calculated among them. At present it stands Troján - 64, Göteborg - 18 and Enköping + 82. If Troján win by 24 points they will push Göteborg down to fifth place. Less than 24 points and Trojan will be fifth.
The Ladies are having a terrible season in that they are winning all their games by w.o. or over 100 points. Time for a crisis meeting for the Swedish Ladies.
HM Sr
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