Norway’s Oslo Vikings make the long trek from Oslo to Tamworth, England June 9 to take on the Tamworth Phoenix in final game of the Northern European Football League (NEFL).
Oslo has dropped both games in the NEFL so far, losing to Sweden’s Carlstad Crusaders 56-17 and the Copenhagen Towers from Denmark, 21-10. Meanwhile, the Phoenix were trounced by the Towers, 50-7 and beaten by Carlstad in Tamworth, 34-14.
The Vikings lead the Norwegian league with a 4-1 record, the only blemish coming in the second game of the season against the Asane Seahawks. They had beaten the Seahawks 52-7 the week before and inexplicably lost to them 31-28. Since then, they have overwhelmed the other teams in Norway. Oslo quarterback Robert Mehmet Sezer has improved this year and along with running back Vegard Tysse can give Tamworth problems.
The Tamworth Phoenix, defending British champions, have posted a 3-0 record in the British Premiership North division outscoring their first three opponents 178-26. So, the losses against European teams have served as a wake up call.
Tamworth head coach Jason Scott:
“We learned a lot from both of those games and hopefully that learning curve will carry over into this game. Losing is learning. We played better in the second game against Carlstad. In this game, we will try to play our game and try not to beat ourselves.”
Scott says they have scouted Oslo and what he has seen is size:
“The Scandinavians know how to grow their players big. Oslo has a huge offensive line and a big running back. We will have to find a way to stop him and also establish our own running game. We can’t give them short fields either. Special teams has to play better. Carlstad executed well on special teams and that hurt us.”
Watch the game live here. Oslo Vikings (Norway) @Tamworth Phoenix (England), June 9, 3p (4p CEST, 10a EST)
