The two teams had played against each other once this year, having played a mutual match a month ago. The game turned out to be very similar and intense, with a one-point advantage or 32:31 victory for “Batlic XL/Livonia” led by Neil Johnson. If it wasn’t for the controversial loss given to “Šiauliai” by the Livonians, both Sunday’s opponents would fight in the top four, but instead they now have to play for 5th place. By the way, in 2023, “Livonia” fought with “Geležinis Vilkas” in the small final for the bronze of the Baltic Top League, winning the Lithuanian club 27:20 in a similar game.
It was the first game for the Lithuanian team in the fight for 5th-7th place. place, on the other hand, “Baltic XL/Livonia” had already played one game, playing very well last Sunday in Upesciems and very convincingly beating the principal opponents “Miesniekus” with 56:3. A victory in today’s game would allow the Livonians to take fifth place, which they did, but in a very exciting and equal game.
Except for the second half of the first half, when “Baltic XL/Livonia” gained an 11-point lead, the rest of the game was point by point. Livonians were the first to take the lead with a touchdown and conversion – 7:0. By the middle of the half, “wolves” scored ten points and took the lead 7:10. Then, with two touchdowns, “Baltic XL/Livonia” reached 21:10, which was the biggest advantage in the game and with which result the team went to rest.
Soon after the break, the hosts were active, scoring 14 points with two touchdowns and the same number of conversions. Thus, the Lithuanians were ahead again 21:24. However, a moment later the Latvian rugby club scored three points with a penalty kick, the result becoming a draw 24:24.
In the middle of the second half, the teams exchanged touchdowns and field goals, with the score remaining tied and also exceeding the thirty-point mark in this game, 31:31. In the last ten minutes, both teams managed to score one more touchdown each, but without accurate conversion shots, and still no one was ahead – 36:36. At the very top, “Baltic XL/Livonia” rugby players controlled the ball more and earned a penalty kick from a good position. Jack Tatu, the leading scorer of the Livonians, was infallible, achieving a three-point advantage and the end result of the game – 39:36.
Therefore, “Baltic XL/Livonia” once again beat the “Iron Wolves” of Lithuania in a game worthy of a thriller and finished the season on a good note with a well-deserved victory. Ruslan Sosnar was chosen as the best player in the Livonian ranks.
2024-10-08 15:58:52