Around the Continent: Roger’s Corner
The European American Football Championships were a fantastic spectacle! League and tournament play now resumes!
[su_dropcap]I[/su_dropcap]n Big6 action, the Swarco Raiders (Europe #1) take on the Berlin Adler from Germany (Europe #7) at home in Innsbruck. The game will be streamed via www.raiderstv.at with kickoff at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. EST 11 a.m. PST). The Vienna Vikings (Europe #2) face the Dresden Monarchs (Europe #5), that game also in Vienna, Austria.
One game will be played in Eurobowl competition with the Cologne Falcons (Europe #6) hosting the Dusseldorf Panthers.
In IFAF Europe Champions League play, the playoffs are already set with the semifinals slated for July 11 and the championship game July 13.
Let’s take a look at the action from around Europe this past week. Many of the top teams in our Top 20 will be in action. We will try to let you know games that can be viewed.
Austria
The league will start play again this weekend as the Danube Dragons (Europe #13) face the Prague Black Panthers (Europe #8) in a crucial clash for third and fourth, on June 14.
CEFL (Central European Football League)
No games are scheduled this week, but there will be a full slate on June 21st.
Czech Republic
The league was idle this past weekend. The Prague Black Panthers (Europe #8) will play the Danube Dragons June 14th in Austrian league action, and on Sunday, June 15th will take on the last place Brno Alligators in Czech league play. Two games in two days! And they are still ranked in the Top 20.
Denmark
Denmark participated in the 2014 European American Football Championships and Danish league play was halted for two weeks. The action resumes this Saturday, June 14 as three games are on tap.
Finland
The Finnish season kicks off Friday night, June 13th with the Helsinki Wolverines taking on the Seinajoki Crocodiles.
Germany
The league gets back to play this Saturday, June 14th, after Germany’s terrific win over Austria in the European American Football Championships. In perhaps the feature game of the weekend, the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions (Europe #4) will be at home to face the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes (Europe #3).
Great Britain
In Premiership North, the East Kilbride Pirates beat the Lancashire Wolverines 38-6 to remain in second place while Coventry defeated the Yorkshire Rams 24-6. The Birmingham Bulls thrashed Gateshead 30-0. The Tamworth Phoenix still leads the North at 4-0 with East Kilbride second followed by Coventry and Yorkshire.
In Premiership South, the London Warriors dispatched Colchester 62-0. Elsewhere, the London Blitz destroyed the London Olympians 52-26 while the South Wales Warriors edged East Kent 17-14. The London Warriors lead the South with a perfect 4-0 record, followed by Bristol (3-0) and the London Blitz, also at 3-0. Fourth place belongs to the London Olympians who are 2-2.
Holland
The Alphen Eagles (first in Group A) knocked off the Amsterdam Crusaders (first in Group B) 13-0 and now leads A group with 14 points while the Crusaders still are at the top of Group B with 12. This was important for the playoffs, which take place on June 22. Alphen will face the Arnhem Falcons, who finished second in the B while Amsterdam will play the Nijmegen Pirates, second in A.
Ireland
The Belfast Trojans, who lead the IAFL North, showed no mercy, beating up on the last-place Dublin Dragons 35-0. Meanwhile, in the south, Trinity College Dublin, number one team in the south demolished the North Kildare Reapers 52-21. With four weeks left in the season, the Belfast Trojans have advanced past the Dublin Rebels to lead the north with a 5-1 record while Trinity College Dublin top the south, at 6-0.
Italy
The Parma Panthers (Europe #12) made short work of the Ancona Dolphins beating them 58-6 in Ancona and are still undefeated in Italy. The second-place Milano Seamen handed Ferrara an embarrassing 58-12 defeat. In a battle between the third and fourth teams, Balzano edged the Bergamo Lions 17-14. Three games are left in the Italian league and the playoff spots are set. Parma will finish first, the Seamen second, Bolzano third and Bergamo fourth.
Norway
The second place Lura Bulls were surprised by theVålerenga Trolls, who were last, 26-12. Meanwhile, the Kristiandstad Gladiators beat the Oslo Vikings 41-23. Top ranked Eidsvoll (Europe #20) was idle this weekend. With the win, the 1814s remain undefeated in Norway and in first while Lura drops to second with a 4-1 record.
Poland
No games were played in the Topliga this past weekend. The Seahawks remain in first with an undefeated 7-0 record. The Wroclaw Panthers are in second at 5-2 while Warsaw is third, also at 5-2. Kozly is fourth (3-4).
Serbia
Having some problems with the Serbian website, hopefully resovled soon so we can catch up on scores.
Spain
The Valencia Firebats and Badalona Dracs earned their berths in the LNFA Bowl, the Spanish final two weeks ago. They play will face each other for the championship – The LNFA Bowl – on June 15.
Sweden
No games were played in Sweden as Sweden played in the European American Football Championships in Austria, finishing fifth. The league will resume play this June 13.
Switzerland
The Calanda Broncos and Basel Gladiators continue on a course to meet in the Swiss final July 12 as the Broncos thrashed the Zurich Renegades 49-20 while Basel walloped Bern 44-0. Winterthur then edged Lausanne 25-20. The Swiss standings list Basel first and Calanda second with identical records.
PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!
We do our utmost to keep up with all the American football being played throughout Europe. In fact, nowhere else can you find more comprehensive information. But we are bound to miss something. Please let us know if we do and also give us ideas and comments on how to improve. We also are looking for contributions whether you are a coach or player. Send your articles and we will print them. Send you articles or comments to: [email protected] or [email protected]
