Denmark Vikings Axios Euro Cup Champions
After a mostly cloudy and wet day of competition on October 4th at The London Irish’s Hazelwood Centre facility, an almost faultless performance throughout the tournament by the Denmark Vikings gave them the 2014 Axios Euro Cup.
Although they did not compete in last year’s edition in Bordeaux, France, the Danes were looking to avenge their one point loss in the finals two years ago in Edinburgh to Ireland. The hard-fought Grand Final against the usually dominant Croatian Knights was an offensive display from Troels Ottesen, who scored half his team’s goals.
The Vikings dominant showing was showcased by a 109-point shutout over bottom but courageous Catalunya, which included 17 goals and 7 behinds, meaning The Vikings scored once every minute during the 25-minute game. Their defense was strong as well, as only the Welsh Dragons were able to score more than 2 goals on them.
Many attribute Denmark’s dominance to their youth development. Their competitive league begun in 1991. Only two other countries, Canada and Great Britain, had competitive football before Denmark. Now 23 years later, some of Denmark’s players have been playing since their childhood, something rare for European AFL athletes. This was undoubtedly the strongest team in their history. Performances of the European Legion talents Danes Mikkel Kjoge and Aksel Bang as well as Croat Josip “Pain Train” Habljak were congratulated.
16 Men’s team participated in this year’s cup. The German Black Eagles, Swedish Elks, Scottish Clansmen, Welsh Dragons, and champion Denmark Vikings all returned to this year’s competition after missing out in Bordeaux. The Netherlands Flying Dutchmen returned for the first time since 2011. Players from Czech Republic, Finland and Iceland were represented in the Crusaders team that was topped off by additional English players. We hope those teams return to the future Euro Cups.
Scores of the 2014 Axios Euro Cup:
Prince Charles Group
Italy Azzurri 5.6 (36) – Netherlands Flying Dutchmen 1.4 (10)
Goals:
Netherlands: BGC van Schie
Italy: Denis Conte, Filippo Bolognese, Luigi Arnulfo, Andrea Lorenzi, Filippo Allosio
Best:
Netherlands: Daniel van Der Putten, MIchael van Eijk, Miguel Zuidberg Dos Martires
Italy: Daniele Gennara, Filippo Allosio, Andrea Lorenzi
France Les Coqs 4.4 (28) – German Black Eagles 5.5 (35)
Goals:
Germany: Matthias Kluseman 3, Jakob Friedman 2, Johannes Mast
France: Henry Tiefenbach 2, Loïc Besnard-Gonthier, Pierre-Etienne Dandaleix
Best:
Germany: Ruben Stricher, Simon Assmus, Gannon Borchers
France: Pierre-Etienne Dandaleix, Pierre Boscart, Loïc Besnard-Gonthier
Italy Azzurri 2.2 (14) – German Black Eagles 5.5 (35)
Goals:
Germany: Martin Schettoff 2, Jakob Friedman 2, Matthias Kluseman
Italy: Luigi Arnulfo, Federico Bernasconi
Best:
Germany: Martin Schettoff, Ruben Stricher, Florian Naumann
Italy: Federico Bernasconi, Luigi Arnulfo, Denis Conte
Netherlands Flying Dutchmen 0.0 (0) – France Les Coqs 3.2 (20)
Goals:
France: Loïc Besnard-Gonthier 2, Julien Dagois
Best:
France: Pierre–Etienne Dandaleix, Loïc Besnard-Gonthier, Alban Schieber
Netherlands: Michael van Eijk, Daniel van der Putten, BGC van Schie
German Black Eagles 7.4 (46) – Netherlands Flying Dutchmen 0.1 (1)
Goals:
Germany: Matthias Kluseman 3, Martin Schettoff 2, Ruben Stricher, Simon Assmus
Best:
Germany: Martin Schettoff, Gannon Borchers, Simon Assmus
Netherlands: Michael van Eijk, Daniel van der Putten, Renier J.M Vriend
Italy Azzurri 4.6 (30) – France Les Coqs 3.4 (22)
Goals:
Italy: Denis Conte, Christian Tiranti, Andrea Lorenzi, Daniele Gennara
France: Henry Tiefenbach, Simon Mondin, Loïc Besnard-Gonthier
Best:
Italy: Andrea Lorenzi, Christian Tiranti, Denis Conte
France: Pierre–Etienne Dandaleix, Alban Schieber, Julien Gil
Winston Churchill Group
Ireland Warriors 6.3 (39) – Scotland Clansmen 0.3 (3)
Goals:
Ireland: Gavin Murray 3, Coilin O Londrían 2, Cillian Conboy
Best:
Ireland: Gavin Murray, Declan Alder, David Miller
Scotland: N/A
Swedish Elks 7.8 (50) – Norwegian Trolls 1.3 (9)
Goals:
Norway: Jorgen Boro
Sweden: Michael Larsson 5, Johan Lantz 2
Best:
Norway: Tobias Limseth, Brage Blomdal, Jorgen Boro
Sweden: Michael Larsson, Max Larsson, Tobias Slahl
Ireland Warriors 9.8 (62) – Norwegian Trolls 1.3 (9)
Norway: Andre Michaelsen
Ireland: Cillian Conboy 2, Coilin O Londrían 2, Richard MacSweeney, Padraic O’ Connell, Ronan Moran, Declan Alder, Roch Hanmore
Best:
Norway: Anders Thomt, Andre Klaffmo, Klas Harris
Ireland: Kevin O’ Brien, Gerard Walh, Declan Alder
Swedish Elks 2.13 (25) – Scotland Clansmen 2.1 (13)
Goals:
Scotland: Cameron Goodall, Scott O’Hara
Sweden: Michael Larsson, Johan Lantz
Best:
Scotland: Ross Thomson, John McIntyre, Alexander Clark
Sweden: Max Larsson, Michael Larsson, Johan Lantz
Norwegian Trolls 0.3 (3) – Scotland Clansmen 3.8 (26)
Goals:
Scotland: Alex Young 2, John McIntyre
Best:
Scotland: Alex Young, Cameron Goodall, Daniel Connor
Norway: Anders Thomt, Haarkon Molvig, Atle Brevik
Ireland Warriors 7.7 (49) – Swedish Elks 1.2 (8)
Goals:
Ireland: Kevin O’Brien 3, Ciaran Caffrey, Roch Hanmore, Declan Alder, Cillian Conboy
Sweden: Jacob Lantz
Best:
Ireland: Kevin O’Brien, Rock Hanmore, Eoin O’Sullivan
Sweden: Max Larsson, Michael Larson, Jacob Lantz
Captain Cook Group
England Dragonslayers 11.12 (78) – Crusaders 0.0 (0)
Goals:
England: Sam Willatt 2, Luke Booth 2, Ash Swift, Graham Bickerdike, Myles Hudson, Ross Ashman, Matt Whiteley, David Hastie, Luke Murchie
Best:
England: Will Worthington, George Dibble, Dave Hastie
Crusaders: James Clayton, Tomas Nemec, Jens Lofbancica
Spanish Bulls 0.1 (1) – Welsh Dragons 13.6 (84)
Goals:
Wales: Andrew Atack 4, Chris James 3, Sam Jones 3
Best:
Wales: David Saunders, Christopher James, Liam Payne
Spain: N/A
England Dragonslayers 3.3 (21) – Welsh Dragons 2.5 (17)
Goals:
Wales: Quad Boal, Chris James
England: N/A
Best:
Wales: David Saunders, Tort Case, Quad Boal
England: N/A
Spanish Bulls 1.1 (7) – Crusaders 2.9 (21)
Goals:
Spain: Pedro Hernando
Crusaders: Joni Kinnari, Alex Overton
Best:
Spain: Pablo Màs, Juan Jose Martin de Cabo, Pedro Hernando
Crusaders: James Clayton, Alex Overton, Kristjan Blondal
Welsh Dragons 9.11 (65) – Crusaders 1.0 (6)
Goals:
Wales: Chris James
Crusaders: N/A
Best:
Wales: David Saunders, Nick Lewis, Quad Boal
Crusaders: Alex Overton, Tomas Nemec, Warmon Pliestlic
England Dragonslayers 8.12 (60) – Spanish Bulls 1.0 (6)
Goals:
Spain: Juan Palencia de Sarria
England: N/A
Best:
Spain: Juan Palencia de Sarria, Juan Jose Martin, Pablo Màs
England:N/A
Adam Goodes Group
Croatian Knights (50) – Catalunya Llops (0)
FORFEIT
Denmark Vikings 13.10 (88) – Austrian Avalanche 0.0 (0)
Goals:
Denmark: Victor Petersen 3, Jonas Nielsen 2, Morten Meroj 2, Nicolai Secher 2, Mathias Biron, Mekkel Kjoge, Troels Ottensen
Best:
Denmark: Morten Meroj, Mikkel Kjoge, Jonas Nielsen
Austria: Markus Mayer, Lukas Holzegger, Konrad Traby
Croatian Knights 4.9 (33) – Austrian Avalanche 1.4 (10)
Goals:
Austria: Markus Mayer
Croatia: David Lazanin, Tomislav Tonsetic, Josip Kravar, Zvonimir Marinovic
Best:
Austria: Martin Schittegg, Bernhard Voller, Markus Mayer
Croatia: Ivan Molnar, Zvonimir Murkovic, Josip Kravar
Denmark Vikings 17.7 (109) – Catalunya Llops 0.0 (0)
Goals:
Denmark: Victor Petersen 4, Mikkel Kjoge 3, Nicolai Secher 3, Nathan Campion 2, Morten Engsbye 2, Jakob Oversgaard, Aksel Bang, Jens Djernes
Best:
Denmark: Victor Petersen, Mathias Biron, Mikkel Kjoge
Catalunya: N/A
Austrian Avalanche 13.9 (87) – Catalunya Llops 0.0 (0)
Goals:
Austria: Erwin Shober 4, Bernhard Voller 2, Richard Claassen, Michael Jud, Lukas Holzegger, Martin Schitegg, Daniel Hansmann, Robert Greimer
Best:
Austria: Martin Schittegg, Daniel Hansmann, Erwin Shober
Catalunya: N/A
Croatian Knights 1.5 (11) – Denmark Vikings 2.5 (17)
Goals:
Denmark: Troels Ottensen, Nicolai Secher
Croatia: N/A
Best:
Denmark: Mikkel Kjoge, Troels Ottensen, Mathias Biron
Croatia: N/A
PLATE
Norwegian Trolls 3.9 (27) – Netherlands Flying Dutchmen 1.3 (9)
Goals:
Norway: Rene Jensen, Amund Lundesgaard, Anders Thomt
Netherlands: Renier J.M Vriend
Best:
Norway: Rene Jensen, Anders Thomt, Amund Lundesgaard
Netherlands: Jort Kolman, Michael van Eijk, Gerrit Blanken
Spanish Bulls 5.4 (34) – Catalunya Llops 3.6 (24)
Goals:
Spain: Jose Domingo Fernandez Diaz 3, Pedro Palencia de Sarria
Catalunya: N/A
Best:
Spain:
Jose Domingo Fernandez Diaz, P. Palencia de Sarria, J. Palencia de Sarria
Catalunya: N/A
Norwegian Trolls 8.14 (62) – Spanish Bulls 0.0 (0)
Goals:
Norway: Andreas Berge 2, Rene Damborg Jensen, Jorgen Boro, Klas Harris, Liam Hardy, Tobias Limseth, Haakon Molvig
Best:
Norway: Anders Thomt, Rene Damborg, Tobias Limseth
Spain: Juan Jose Martin de Cabo, Pablo Màs, Joaquin Campuzano Gomez
Catalunya Llops 7.8 (50) – Netherlands Flying Dutchmen 1.6 (12)
Goals:
Netherlands: Jort Kolman
Catalunya: N/A
Best:
Netherlands: Jort Kolmn, Pedro Miguel Zuidberg Dos Martires, Michael van Eijk
Catalunya: N/A
BOWL
France Les Coqs 5.5 (35) – Scotland Clansmen 1.6 (12)
Goals:
France Goal: Henry Tiefenchach 2, Jeremy Sardim 2, Clement Bouchet
Scotland: Daniel Connor
Best:
France: Jeremy Sardim, Julien Dagois, Gregoire Chatel
Scotland: Cameron Goodall, David Gramble, Michael Douglas
Austria Avalanche 9.6 (60) – Crusaders 2.3 (15)
Goals:
Austria: Erwin Shober 3, Andreas Jauk 2, Michael Jud 2, Markus Mayer, Richard Claasen, Bernhard Plank
Crusaders: Tomas Nemec 2
Best:
Austria: Bernhard Plank, Michael Jud, Andreas Jauk
Crusaders: Tomas Nemec, Dominic Meny, Alex Overton
Austria Avalanche 4.1 (25) – France Les Coqs 4.8 (32)
HT: Austria Avalanche 4.0 (24) – France Les Coqs 1.2 (8)
Goals:
Austria: Erwin Shober 2, Michael Jud, Markus Mayer
France: Julien Gil, Pierre Boscart, Gregoire Chatel
Best:
Austria: Markus Mayer, Erwin Schober, Michael Jud
France: Pierre–Etienne Dandeleix, Gregoire Chatel, Alban Schieber
Crusaders 0.1 (1) – Scottish Clansmen 8.12 (60)
Goals:
Scotland: Daniel Connor 2, Scott O’Hara 2, Ross Thomson, Alex Young, Gus Thomson
Best:
Crusaders: James Clayton, Tomas Nemec, Warmon Pliestic
Scotland: N/A
QUARTER FINALS EURO CUP
German Black Eagles 4.2 (26) – Swedish Elks 1.4 (10)
Goals:
Germany: Matthias Kluseman 3, Florian Naumann
Sweden: Jacob Nilsson
Best:
Germany: Florian Naumann, Martin Schettoff, Johannes Mast
Sweden: Hampus Olsson, SIgurd Kristisansen, Jens Ebbesson
Croatian Knights 4.1 (25) – England Dragonslayers 3.4 (22)
Goals:
Croatia: Tomislav Cvetko 2, Lovre Cudina, Josip Kravar
England: N/A
Best:
Croatia: Tomislav Cvetko, Josip Kravar, Tompa
England: N/A
Italy Azzurri 0.1 (1) – Ireland Warriors 5.10 (40)
Goals:
Ireland: David Miller, Roch Hanmore, Cillian Conboy, Gareth Carragher, Gavin Murray
Best:
Italy: Filippo Allosio, Andrea Lorenzi, Thomas Diana
Ireland: David Miller, Gareth Carragher, Ciaran Caffrey
Denmark Vikings 5.3 (33) – Welsh Dragons 3.2 (20)
Goals:
Denmark: Troels Ottesen 4, Jens Djenes
Wales: N/A
Best:
Denmark:Troels Ottesen, Jens Djenes, Thore Lauritzen
Wales: N/A
England Dragonslayers 2.5 (17) – Welsh Dragons 7.6 (48)
N/A
Swedish Elks 6.9 (45) – Italy Azzurri 2.2 (14)
N/A
SEMI AND FINALS EURO CUP
Croatian Knights 7.9 (51) – German Black Eagles 2.4 (16)
HT: Croatian Knights 4.4 (28) – German Black Eagles 1.0 (6)
Goals:
Croatia: Josip Kravar 3, Josip Habljak, Jan Dolezal, Tomislav Cvetko, Misel Lubina, Zvone Marinovic
Germany: Stefen Risse, Matthias Kluseman
Best:
Croatia: Josip Habljak, Josip Kravar, Ivan Lijovic
Germany: N/A
Ireland Warriors 2.1 (13) – Denmark Vikings 7.10 (52)
HT: Ireland Warriors 1.1 (7) – Denmark Vikings 4.4 (28)
Goals:
Ireland: Roch Hamore 2
Denmark: Mikkel Kjoge 3, Nicolai Secher 2, Troels Ottesen, Mathias Biron
Best:
Ireland: Eoin O’Sullivan, Kevin O’Brien, Roch Hanmore
Denmark: Mikkel Kjoge, Troels Ottesen, Thore Lauritzen
Ireland Warriors 7.6 (48) – German Black Eagles 2.2 (14)
HT: Ireland Warriors 2.2 (14) – German Black Eagles 1.1 (7)
Goals:
Ireland: Coilin O’Londrian 3, Roch Hanmore 2, Kevin O’Brien 2, Gerard Walls
Germany: N/A
Best:
Ireland: Gerard Walls, Coilin O’Londrain, Ciaran Caffrey
Germany: N/A
Denmark Vikings 6.4 (40) – Croatian Knights 2.4 (16)
HT: Denmark Vikings 2.3 (15) – Croatian Knights 1.1 (7)
Goals:
Denmark: Troels Ottesen 3, Nathan Campion, Mikkel Kjoge, Mathias Biron
Croatia: N/A
Best:
Denmark: Nathan Campion, Mikkel Kjoge, Mathias Biron
Croatia: N/A
