Firenze Guelfi, Bolzano Giants winners as freezing weather a factor in Italy

The Guelfi Firenze and the Bolzano Giants earned the first victories in Italy’s Div. I on a weekend that saw the harsh winter weather force the postponement of the third game scheduled.

The European late winter freeze played havoc with the Italian American Football League as the field in Bergamo was unplayable according to the local authorities so the game between the Bergamo Lions and Milano Rhinos was postponed. Other teams also suffered from the weather as the UTA Pesaro were unable to practice all week with field conditions forcing fields in Pesaro to be closed down.

The Bolzano Giants traveled to Rome to face the Lazio Ducks and while the freezing cold was not a factor, the heavy rains were. In a game which saw the lead change hands three times, Bolzano scored a late touchdown in the fourth quarter to escape with a win over the Ducks.

Lazio in their new guise as the Ducks, a merger of the Lazio Marines and Roma Grizzlies, under head coach Bart Iaccarino, took the lead twice, 7-0 and 15-14 but could not hold on for the win.

In Florence, the rain was not the only factor as the Firenze Guelfi took advantage of a UTA Pesaro team that lost the services of quarterback Alex Germany (their only import) in the first quarter, defeating them 20-0. The Guelfi took a 13-0 halftime lead with the Pesaro defense playing tough football. But with a Pesaro offense that was unable to generate a score, Firenze simply wore down the UTAs.

They sealed the game with a late fourth quarter touchdown.

The league resumes next weekend with four games:

Sunday 11 March

Ancona Dolphins @Torino Giaguari

 Firenze Guelfi @Milano Rhinos

Lazio Ducks @Pesaro UTA

Bergamo Lions @Bolzano Giants