PSS Presents: Around the Grounds

Each week, AFL Europe will take a look at some of the football highlights around the continent in Around the Grounds presented by PSS International Removals. Here are the standout performances from the weekend’s action.

 

Will Taylor – AFL Europe

 

Big wins for the young guns of the SARFL

 

Coming up against the reigning champions in the Scottish Australian Rules Football League (SARFL), the Tyne Tee Tigers showed why they are a force to be reckoned with in 2018. Playing at their home deck on in Gosforth, the Tigers started well and never looked back thumping the Greater Glasgow Giants by 79 points on Saturday. An impressive performance by the yellow and black, bouncing back after losing their opening round clash to the Edinburgh Bloods. They now sit 1-1 after two rounds.

 

 

Just as impressive however was the performance by the West Lothian Eagles ARFC in their first game as a SARFL development side. Playing in Linlithgow, the Eagles were outstanding in their 20-point victory over the Kingdom Kangaroos. In a fixture that was tight for the duration of the match, it was outstanding performances by Jason Forest (6 goals), Sammy Wood (8 goals) and Davie Fleming that helped West Lothian get over the line for a historic win. While their matches do not count for premiership points in 2018, the Eagles potential is now vividly clear across the country after this sensational display against last year’s runners-up in the SARFL competition.

Final Scores: (SARFL)

Tyne Tee Tigers 25.7 (157) defeated Greater Glasgow Giants 10.18 (78).

West Lothian Eagles ARFC 16.20 (116) defeated Kingdom Kangaroos 15.6 (96). 

 

The Lionesses get off to a winning start in Denmark

The Women’s Nordic Australian Football League for 2018 kicked off on the weekend with a big match between Swedish giants Port Malmö Lynx and the Odense Lionesses. Coming off good form in the 2018 AFL Europe Champions League, both sides put on a great display of Australian Rules football. In the end though it was Odense who got the W over the Swedes in Bolbro. Both Odense and Port Malmö will play the Farum Wildcats in their next fixture.

 

Final Scores: (Women’s Nordic Australian Football League)

Odense Lionesses 6.8 (44) defeated Port Malmö Lynx 0.1 (1)

 

 

Germany hosts a football feast!

It was a monster weekend in Germany with football games, training sessions and coaching courses on the menu in the German capital. On Saturday, the AFLG season resumed with Round 3 fixtures taking place in Berlin and Hamburg. Playing at the magnificent Berlin Olympiastadion, the Berlin Crocodiles lost their first match since the 2016 Grand Final.

 

 

In a tight affair, the Crocodiles went down to the Munich Kangaroos who left the city as the major winners from the round. With wins against Berlin and the Württemberg Giants, the Roos pushed up to third position on the AFLG ladder just behind the Crocodiles on percentage.

Top of the AFLG ladder stand the Hamburg Dockers who showed their prowess at home last weekend. Scoring 33 goals in two matches, the Dockers showed just how much of a threat they are to the rest of the competition with emphatic performances against the Frankfurt Redbacks and Dresden Wolves. Hamburg remain the only undefeated side after three rounds.

Alongside the AFLG action was an exhibition game held to help promote women’s football in Germany. With the Hamburg Dockers already making history as the first women’s football side in the country, this event helped promote the sport throughout the nation’s capital.

Sunday saw participants come to Berlin to participate in an AFL Level 1 Coaching Course. Mixing both theory and practical work, 10 participants from across Europe made their way to Berlin to become accredited Level 1 coaches. These results will ensure that significant game development continues to occur throughout the continent, with players and coaches travelling from Germany and beyond to take part in the day’s proceedings.

Final Scores: (AFLG)

Hamburg Dockers 14.14 (98) defeated Frankfurt Redbacks 2.2 (14)

Hamburg Dockers 19.12 (126) defeated Dresden Wolves 2.4 (16)

Frankfurt Redbacks 7.7 (49) defeated Dresden Wolves 5.1 (31)

Berlin Crocodiles 8.12 (60) defeated Württemberg Giants 0.3 (3)

Munich Kangaroos 11.8 (74) defeated Württemberg Giants 1.3 (9)

Munich Kangaroos 7.7 (49) defeated Berlin Crocodiles 6.6 (42)

 

Cockerels win the Parisian Derby to book their spot in the CNFA Grand Final 

It was a semi final to savour in France as the Paris Cockerels prevailed over the Paris Cockatoos in a stunning clash on Saturday.

With a spot in the big dance up for grabs, the Cockatoos got off to the better start and took a solid 14-point lead into the main break. After half time however, the Cockerels turned the game on its head. The minor premiers kicked seven goals to nil in a scintillating performance to run out 33-point victors in the first semi-final of the 2018 CNFA.

The second semi-final will be played this Saturday when the Toulouse Hawks host the Cergy Coyotes. The Grand Final will take place on Saturday May 26 in Toulouse.

Final Score: (CNFA)

Paris Cockerels 12.13 (85) defeated Paris Cockatoos 8.4 (52)

 

 

Hawks edge Dockers in Zagreb Derby

Looking flash in their Box Hill Hawks inspired jumpers, the Zagreb Hawks looked the goods against rivals the Zagreb Cvjetno Dockers in Round 2 of the Croatian league. After getting off to a great start, the Dockers made their way back into the contest against the Hawks, threatening their rivals in the third quarter. The Hawks steadied however, and eventually ran out 45 point winners in Kobilić.

Final Score: (Croatian League)

Zagreb Hawks 15.10 (100) defeated Zagreb Cvjetno Dockers 6.19 (55)