[tps_title]Around the Continent[/tps_title]
Our Around the Continent feature is back with so many leagues back in action. We intend to keep you abreast of all the news from around the European continent so make sure to check it out every week.
So far Spain, Portugal, France, Holland, Ireland, Belgium, Italy, Austria and Poland have kicked off their seasons. The Serbian, Hungarian and Swiss seasons get started this coming weekend. The Turkish league resumes this weekend after a three month hiatus.
We do everything we can to stay on top of developments in each country but cannot always keep up with it so this is where we need your help. Keep us informed of events when they happen in your country. Don’t hesitate to let us know if we have missed something or made a mistake. If you have a tournament write to us.
Austria
Holly Kellner/ Gridiron Photography
In a game billed as a must win for both teams, the opening game of the Austrian season between the defending champion Vienna Vikings and arch rivals the Swarco Raiders did not disappoint. The Vikings prevailed 26-21 to set the tone for the season.
Belgium
The Belgian season is in full swing. In the Flemish league the Ghent Gators are firmly entrenched in first with a 4-0 record. In fact, in those four games the Gators have scored 144 points while giving up a mere six points. Their latest victims were the Antwerp Diamonds who were blanked 22-0 by the Gators. In the French conference, the Brussels Tigers, finalists in the Belgian Bowl in 2014, are undefeated at 3-0 in Group 1.
[tps_title]Around the Continent[/tps_title]
CEFL
The Central European Football League kicks off its schedule on April 11. The four-team league involves teams from Serbia, Slovenia and Austria.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic season gets underway on April 11. Defending champions, the Prague Black Panthers will travel to Pribram to face the Bobcats on April 11.
Denmark
The 2015 Schedule is pending.
Finland
The Maple League starts in early June. The schedule is pending.
France
The French league – FFFA has started and after five games the biggest surprise has been the Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône Cougars who knocked off the defending champion Thonon black Panthers 45-37 on the weekend to gain top spot in the Elite league. With a 4-0-1 record, and wins over heavy favorites the Black Panthers and the Flash, the Cougars have a leg up on the rest of last year’s playoff teams.
[tps_title]Around the Continent[/tps_title]
Germany
The GFL season start on April 18 will see defending champs the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions host the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes, quarterfinalists in 2014. The bad news heading into the season is the folding of the Cologne Falcons after losing their main sponsor.
Great Britain
The premiership of the British American Football League gets underway on April 5 as defending champions the London Warriors travel to Bristol to take on the Aztecs.
Holland
The defending champion Alphen Eagles remain undefeated in Group A at 3-0 but the Arnhem Falcons are also undefeated at 4-0 and at this point lead the group. The Amsterdam Crusaders are first in Group B also at 3-0.
Hungary
The Hungarian season gets underway this weekend as the Budapest Wolves take on the Styrian Bears.
Ireland
The University of Limerick Vikings have taken the lead in the South conference with two wins beating both 2014 finalists Dublin University College and also Dublin Trinity College. The Belfast Trojans have only played one game so far in the North conference beating the South Dublin Panthers last week.
[tps_title]Around the Continent[/tps_title]
Italy
North
After the third weekend of action a new favorite has emerged in the North as the Bolzano Giants are now 3-0 after knocking off Parma last weekend decisively 32-20. Parma dropped to second followed closely by the Milano Seamen.
South
Both the Lazio Marines and Ancona Dolphins have opened the season in strong fashion and both are 3-0. They face each other this weekend in a battle for first place.
Norway
The Norwegian season gets underway on April 11.
Poland
The Polish season kicked off this past weekend and it did not take long for the favorites to establish themselves. The Wroclaw Panthers, led by the top rusher in Germany last year, Marcus Sims, showed no mercy dumping the Lowlanders 49-0. Reigning champions the Gdynia Seahawks whipped Kozly 55-20 and the Warsaw Eagles beat the Sharks 29-6.
[tps_title]Around the Continent[/tps_title]
Portugal
South
The Lisboa Navigators have been unstoppable in the Portuguese league’s South conference racking up 347 points in seven games with an undefeated 7-0 record. The only team to have challenged them was the Lisbon Crusaders who they beat 18-15 in January. The Crusaders are in second with a 4-2 record.
North
The Porto Mutts have been almost as dominant in the North conference reeling off six straight victories without a defeat. They have averaged 32.5 points per game while allowing only 4.5 per game. The Maximinos Warriors sit in second with a 4-2 record, their two defeats suffered at the hands of the Mutts.
Romania
So far only one game has been played in the two conference league. The Timisoara 89ers beat the Resita Locomotives 49-0 in the North/West conference.
Russia
The Russian league does not start until May.
Serbia
The Serbian league kicks off this weekend. Look for a league preview.
[tps_title]Around the Continent[/tps_title]
Spain
In Spain, the Valencia Firebats, finalists in 2014 have been impossible to beat and sit atop the standings at 5-0. The handed the Badalona Dracs a 28-25 loss to avenge their loss to the Dracs in the 2014 title game. Badalona, for its part are tied in second with both Osos Rivas and the Valencia Giants all at 3-2.
Sweden
The Swedish season gets underway on May 2 this year.
Switzerland
The Swiss season opens next weekend.
Turkey
The Turkish season resumes this weekend. The eight team league played the first four to five games in November and December and then took a three month break. They are back in action on March 28 as the league-leading and undefeated Koc Rams take on the Gazi Warriors. The Rams have the stingiest defense in the league allowing a mere three points a game so far.
Ukraine
The Ukrainian season starts April 18 when the Lviv Lions tangle with the Kiev Bandits.