News
Baia Mare take Pool A with easy win
2009-11-15 00:23Baia Mare exploded against Bulldogok in a game that was previously expected to be a closer matchup. The Romanian champions exerted their will on the home team in a one-sided 12-57 victory.
Fast and furious
Százhalombatta was the venue for the first ever meeting between the reigning Hungarian and Romanian champions. Baia Mare finished their season in September with a dramatic win in the final, while Bulldogok have already started their 2009/10 campaign as they try to defend their title. The Romanians travelled to Hungary knowing that a victory would guarantee them first place in Pool A and a favourable fixture in the quarter finals, whereas Bulldogok were hoping to continue their outstanding international form which already provided them with upset victories over Czech opposition, Dragon Brno last season and Ricany this season, and a close defeat in last season’s final game against Timisoara.
The Hungarians hit the ground running and with barely one minute gone, they were already on the board with an excellent three-quarters combination resulting in a mazy run from Gábor Garin and a try. Although Hungarian fans were secretly hoping that the seven point deficit would stun Baia Mare, this was not the case. The Romanian reply came 3 minutes later with a well taken try and conversion and from then on, they never looked back. The physical difference between the two teams quickly resulted in points as the Batta scrum was unable to hold, all three-quarters opportunities were stifled by the faster and more powerful Romanians and the Baia Mare centres and wingers flourished as they continually needed more than one tackle to go to ground.
With the half time score at 7-33 the match was over as a contest. This and the cooling weather contributed to a lower tempo in the second half which provided “only” 29 points. The fans, however, were extremely vocal throughout as home and away supporters matched each other with chants and cheers to help the teams keep on fighting until the final whistle. It is worth mentioning, that the away fans travelled hundreds of kilometres to see their team play, which is a rare, but all the more welcome spectacle in the world of Central European rugby. Hopefully we can see more and more occasions of travelling fans in the play-offs in the spring.
Baia Mare cemented their place in this year’s CEE Rugby Cup as favourites and go into the play-off stage hand-in-hand with defending champions Timisoara as the two unbeaten teams. Bulldogok, however, will be hoping for the tide to turn as they travel to Brno for the last game of Pool A which might turn out to be the most important international game of the season for both teams as they look to secure a good position for the quarter-finals draw.
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2010-06-04 10:25Poll
CEE Rugby Cup III Pool A
| No. | Team | M | W | D | L | B | P |
| 1 | Timisoara | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Bulldogok | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Donau Wien | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Dragon Brno | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
CEE Rugby Cup III Pool B
| No. | Team | M | W | D | L | B | P |
| 1 | Baia Mare | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Ricany | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Vitézek | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | KEC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |