Result ENC 2B : Latvia 39 – 20 Cyprus
39 – 20
THE Cyprus rugby team faced their toughest challenge in six years when they took on Latvia in Riga on today , and the step up in class showed as the Cyprus Moufflons gallant run of 24 straight victories (World Record) came to a shattering end with a 39-20 defeat at the hands of Latvia.
The first defeat after six years, or if you want after 24 races saw the rugby national team of Cyprus from that of Latvia in an away match. Our National defeated 39-20, thus ending the streak of 24 wins is also transcendent world record.
The game started at a fast pace and the team of Latvia prior to the 4th minute penalty which the Cyprus reciprocate in the 12th minute made the score 3-3. The try of Latvia in the 19th minute made the score 10-3.The Cyprus responded with Markus Holden scored in the 28th minute. The half ended with Latvia to the lead with 15 to 10 but with Cyprus losing ground injured one of the players charismatikoterous Alexander Zavalli.
Latvia started the second half strongly, raising the difference 25-10. The reaction of Cyprus came to try the Michael Aspro 25-15 in the 62nd minute to give hope in the team but they lost the next 2 try Latvian felt completely of race. Try The price for Cyprus in the last minute of the match with atomic energy of John Loizou made the final score 39-20.
The President of the Cyprus Federation of Rugby Mr. Vassiliadis said “We are proud of the team regardless of yesterday’s result. The fact that Cyprus with hard work and dedication of the few players and fans of the sport has achieved so much in the short existence of the group (created in 2007) is amazing. We knew that the group to which we are is difficult.
To itteisai is never pleasant but we anasyntachtoume will roll up our sleeves and try again for the best. The record has never been one of the goals of the group but that Cyprus has a record which is won by the team with the sword. Our goal is to develop the sport in Cyprus to attract young athletes and to return to winning ways in the next race will be in March 2015 against Hungary.
The Cyprus team sheet for Latvia game 15 Nov 14
- Stavros Economou
- Alexander Ioannou
- Chritos Kasabi
- Christopher Joannou *
- Alexandros Philiots
- Daniel McFarlane
- Marko Mladenovic (captain)
- Onstantinos Constaninides
- Alexander Zavallis
- Michael Asprou
- Stevie Awah
- Marcus Holden
- Georgios Agathokleous
- Nathan Pring
- Yiannis Loizias
- Stylianos Panagiotou
- Theodoros Philiotis *
- Adam Emirali
- George Shaouna *
- Ryan Bennett
- Thomas Timotheou *
*New caps
Moufflons: we had to lose at some point
The Cyprus rugby team saw their world record winning streak of 24 games ended by Latvia over the weekend, the Moufflons going down 39-20 in freezing Riga.
“We knew that we had to lose at some point, we just couldn’t go on winning, but I am extremely proud of our boys,” said Laurence Vasiliades, president of the Cyprus Rugby Federation after the clash.
“They have achieved so much – who would have thought we would find ourselves in this position when we were first formed seven years ago?
“We didn’t even have proper shirts for our first international against Greece. Now we are on the world rugby map – they write about us in New Zealand and South Africa. The world record was never a target for us, but it is a bonus.
“Our next game is in March against Hungary and we must build for this. The future lies in our school programmes and our academies which I am proud to say are expanding on a weekly basis. Nicosia, Paphos and Limassol all have qualified coaches that give up their time every Saturday morning to train up the next generation of Moufflons.”
As a result of the defeat, Cyprus find themselves in third place in European Division 2B behind Lithuania and Latvia and above Hungary and Andorra.
Marcus Holden, a veteran player for Cyprus, and a try scorer on Saturday, said: “We need to build for the future. Commitment to training is essential, more now than ever. Let’s improve together and bounce back – we owe it to ourselves, the players from before, the players yet to come and for the future of Cyprus rugby.”
Theo Lenos, the Rugby Federation vice-president, added: “I want you to record that we all knew that this day would happen, but we have the coach, the staff, and most of all, the talent and the will to improve further in the future.”
STATS / Story Source :
http://rugbyredefined.com / http://cyprus-mail.com / story translated from http://www.nonstopjournal.com.cy
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