Plenty of American Football in Europe!
There was plenty of American Football played all over the continent last weekend.
In the EFAF Eurobowl, the final game was played and the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes (Europe #10) assured themselves of a spot in the final by beating the Dusseldorf Panther 59-6.
The EFAF Big6 championship game will be played July 19th between the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions (Europe #1) and the Berlin Adler (Europe #2)
In the IFAF Europe Champions League, the playoffs are already set with the semi-finals slated for July 11 and the championship game July 13. The Thonon Black Panthers (Europe #6) and French champions will face the Serbian squad SBB Vukovi Belgrade (Europe #19) in one semi-final, while the Elancourt Templiers (also France) will play the Helsinki Roosters from Finland (Europe #11).
We had intended to provide a breakdown of the structure of American football in Europe but this has been delayed one week.
Here then is what happened around the continent last weekend.
Austria
In the final two games of the regular season, both the Vienna Vikings (Europe #3) and Swarco Raiders (Europe #9) were in action as first place was up for grabs. Swarco took on the fourth place Prague Black Panthers (Europe #4), a team they barely beat three weeks ago 63-62. This time, playing in Prague in what was the first of two back-to-back games for the Panthers, Prague made no mistake. They jumped out to an early 27-7 lead and went on the win 40-21. In the other game, Vienna faced the Graz Giants and defeated them handily 38-13. With this, the semi-finals will see the Raiders play the Danube Dragons July 12 and the Vikings taking on Prague on July 13.
Belgium
Belgian Bowl XXVII saw a new champion crowned as the Ghent Gators made no mistake handing the defending champion the Brussels Tigers a 38-0 pummeling. This was the first ever title win for the Gators and they did it on their first try. Read the game recap here: www.americanfootballinternational.com.
CEFL (Central European Football League)
As expected, the Ljubljana Silverhawks had an easy time of it with the Docler Wolves handing them a 55-6 thrashing. That win put them into the CEFL championship game against Vukovi Beograd (Europe #19) on July 20. The two teams met twice this year and split the series. But in the first game the Silverhawks won 15-6, while in the second meeting, Vukovi whipped them 48-20.
Czech Republic
The final game of the season between the Prague Black Panthers (Europe #4) and the Bobcats saw Prague win 34-27. The outcome did nothing to change the standings or the playoff spots. But what was remarkable about the game was that the Black Panthers had already played a game earlier in the day against the Swarco Raiders in Austrian league play. Incredible.
So the playoffs are as follows: On July 5 the Prague Lions will face the second place Pnbram Bobcats while the Prague Black Panthers play the Trnava Bulldogs the following day. The Czech championship final is set for July 15.
Denmark
Three games were played in the Danish National league. The Copenhagen Towers (Europe #17), by far the best team in Denmark, took care of the Sollerod Gold Diggers 26-0 to move to 6-0. The Towers have scored 268 points in six games and allowed only 26 against. Phenomenal numbers. They are first in Group 1 and have defeated the Triangle Razorbacks and the Gold Diggers (two and three in Denmark) by a combined total of 58-6. The Razorbacks (#2 in Group 2) pounded Aarhus (#2 in Group 1) 42-7 while the Holbaek Red Devils (#5 in Group 2) beat Odense (#4 in Group 1) 29-12.
Finland
The Finnish Maple League resumed action on Friday as the Helsinki Roosters (Europe #11) continued to assert their dominance in Finland dispatching the Porvoo Butchers 57-38. The Turkuu Trojans defeated TAFT 27-14 while the Helsinki Wolverines built a 20-0 halftime lead and then held off the Kouvola Indians to win 20-13.
France
The Thonon-les-bains Black Panthers (Europe #6) won their second straight French championship in dramatic fashion surviving a scare from Molosses D’Asnieres-sur-seine to squeak by them 35-34. The game was thrilling to say the least. Read the recap here: www.americanfootballinternational.com/last-second-pat-decides-french-championship-thonon-les-bains-defends-title
Germany
North: There were two games played in the Northern division in Germany. The Braunschweig New Yorker Lions (Europe #1) played the Dresden Monarchs (Europe #5) and looked impressive in winning 42-30. This was a battle between two of the top teams in Europe and was fun to watch. Then the Berlin Adler (Europe #2) took on the Cologne Falcons (Europe #14), again two top teams and came out with a 38-27 victory. Braunschweig still leads the North at 4-0, followed by the Berlin Adler (3-1), the Dresden Monarchs (3-2) and Kiel (3-3) with Dresden, Kiel and Cologne in second, third and fourth. But the Berlin Adler who have only played three games and are in fifth, are a factor.
South: The Schwabisch Hall Unicorns (Europe #13) are marching. They had another impressive day on offense amassing 572 yards (250 rushing of which 212 came from the legs of tailback Marcus Sims) to destroy the Rhein-Neckar Bandits 55-33. The undefeated Stuttgart Scorpions (Europe #8) also put on an offensive display rushing for a total of 402 yards and amassing 629 yards of offense to defeat the Franken Knights 55-28. The Scorpions are undefeated at 7-0 and lead the South, with the Unicorns second at 5-2. The Marburg Mercenaries and Munich Cowboys round out the top four in the South.
Great Britain
Premiership North: The division leading Tamworth Phoenix beat hosted the Birmingham Bulls shutting them out 20-0, while the Lancarshire Wolves edged Coventry 7-0. The game between East Kilbride and Yorkshire was cancelled due to low player numbers for Yorkshire. So the Tamworth Phoenix remain atop the North standings at 6-0 followed by the Pirates at 5-0. Despite the loss, Coventry still occupies third at 4-2 and Yorkshire fourth at 3-2.
Premiership South: The scores continued to remain lopsided. The division leading London Warriors embarrassed the third place Bristol Aztecs 62-0 while their cross-town rivals the London Blitz did the same to the East Kent Mavericks pummeling them 79-0. In the only close game in the South the South Wales Warriors beat the Cambridgeshire Cats 21-20. The Warriors lead the South with a 6-0 record with the Blitz advancing to second at 5-0. Bristol dropped to third (4-1) and South Wales is fourth at 3-3.
Holland
No games were played as the Alphen Eagles and Amsterdam Crusaders prepare for their championship tilt, Tulip Bowl XXX this coming weekend. This will be the third time in three years that the Eagles and the Crusaders face each other in the Dutch championship game, Tulip Bowl XXX. The only game the Crusaders lost this season was to Alphen by a 13-0 score. The Alphen Eagles are the defending champions having won the past two Tulip Bowls. But they are facing a legacy as, since 2004 the Amsterdam Crusaders have appeared in the Tulip Bowl nine times and won six titles.
Ireland
Trinity University Dublin (IAFL South) keep demonstrating that they are the best team in Ireland and this week was no exception. They remain undefeated at 8-0 with a thorough trouncing of the West Dublin Rhinos (IAFL South) 53-6. The Dublin Rebels (IAFL North), second in the northern division (6-1) had no trouble with the 1-6 Dublin Dragons beating them 41-6. Finally, the University of Limerick Vikings (IAFL South) (6-2) blanked the Waterford Wolves (IAFL South) (0-7) 27-0 to stay in second spot in the south. Four games remain in the Irish league and the wildcard playoffs start July 20. The first place teams in the North and South divisions earn a bye into the semi-finals on July 27. The Irish championship game, the Shamrock Bowl takes place August 7.
Italy
The Parma Panthers (Europe #12) will take on the Milano Seamen in the Italian championship – Super Bowl XXXIV – on July 6. The Panthers, winners of the past four Italian Super Bowls, are heavily favored, needless to say. In their only meeting this season, the opening game of the 2014 Italian season, Parma won 48-27. Parma quarterback Tommaso Monardi has started in the last three championships wins and is tough to stop. He is mobile, reads well and has a strong arm. He will be looking to a fine group of receivers including Alesandro Fontanella and Gabriela Ghirotti.
Nevertheless, the Seamen are on a roll having won a club-record 10 straight games after that opening day loss to Parma, behind the arm of quarterback Jonathan Dally.
Norway
The final two games of the regular season were played this past weekend. The Vålerenga Trolls handed Eidsvoll 1814s their first defeat of the year 28-27. The result had no bearing on the standings as the 1814s still finished first and will face the Oslo Vikings in the Norwegian semi-finals this weekend. Meanwhile, the Vikings had no problems with the Domers beating them 3914. In the other semi-final, the Kristiansand Gladiators take on the Lura Bulls.
Poland
In the only game in the Polish Topliga, the Wroclaw Panthers showed no mercy in overwhelming the Kozły Poznan 56-0. Only two games remain in the Polish regular season. This weekend the Warsaw Eagles and league leading Seahawks will clash, while the Panthers face the Sharks. Should Warsaw beat the Seahawks and Wroclaw win over the last place Sharks, there will be a three-way tie for first. In that case, the Panthers would finish first, the Seahawks second and the Eagles third.
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Serbia
Vukovi Beograd (Europe #19) made no mistakein the Serbian semi-finals, upending the ImperatoriniŠ 36-22. In the other semi-final, the Kragujevac Wild Boars edged the Novi Sad Dukes 27-26. This weekend Vukovi takes on the Wild Boars for the Serbian championship July 5.
Spain
The season has ended with the Badalona Dracs as new champions.
Sweden
Four games were played this past week and now there seems to be a gap between the top five teams and the rest of the league. The Carlstad Crusaders (Europe #15) traveled down to the south of Sweden to take on the Kristanstad Predators. It was a battle of the national team quarterbacks, Anders Hermodsson of Carlstad and Phillip Juhlin with the Predators. The Crusaders took control of the game early though and cruised to a 56-35 victory. The Orebro Black Knights whalloped the Stockholm Mean Machines 64-0 while the Tyreso Royal Crowns (Europe #16) took care of last place Limhamn 37-6. Finally the Uppsala 86ers hammered the Arlanda Jets 59-6. There is a logjam at the top of the standings with Tyreso in first at 4-0, and right behind is Uppsala at 3-0 and Carlstad also 3-0. Fourth belongs to the Black Knights who are 2-1.
Switzerland
The Swiss semi-finals are set as the first place Basel Gladiators (Europe #19) play the Zurich Renegades this Saturday July 5. Zurich took a beating in the final regular season game from the same Basel team. Meanwhile, the Calanda Broncos will host the Bern Grizzlies. Calanda and Bern have split their series this year 1-1. But in the last meeting Calanda won going away 42-13.
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 or a fan. Send your articles and we will print them. Send you articles or comments to: roger@eurosportsscouting.com or jtmckeon@americanfootballinternational.com