The small semi-final games for 5th-8th started this weekend. place where three Latvian teams are involved. In the first small semi-final game, the third place winners of group B “Livonia/Sporta punkts” fought against the fourth team of group A “Lāči/Mūku sala”, while on Sunday in Šiauliai “Fēnikss” will play against the hosts “Citma RV Transport brothers of Cleanliness”.
“Livonia/Sporta punkts” and “Lāči/Mūku sala” met twice this year, both times playing within the Latvian championship. First, on the eve of the Ligo holiday in June, in the regular tournament of the Latvian Championship, the Livonians convincingly won with the result 45:17, but in August, in the quarter-final game, the second team of RK “Livonia” faced an injury to two first-line players and this time recognized the superiority of the very well-rounded Rāmava team with 7:29. Therefore, the balance was 1:1.
Yevgeniis Mikulovs opened the score with a touchdown in the 8th minute, but five minutes later, Uldis Bundzinieks doubled the advantage of “Livonia/Sporta punkts” with a touchdown – 10:0. This made the guests active, who also landed the ball in the 17th minute, but before the referee declared the game forward, so the result did not change. The offensive of the bears continued for a few more minutes, but it did not yield a result.
In the 27th minute, Gedrovics made the third touchdown for the Livonians, Pluškevics marked the first accurate realization, and the result became 17-0 in favor of the home team. In the 35th minute, Livonians were very close to the fourth touchdown, but “Lāči/Mūku Sala” did not allow it and immediately went on the attack, Adrian Volkov made a good breakthrough and landed the ball in the scoring zone. The conversion shot was also accurate – 17:7. This was the result of the first half, in which “Livonia/Sporta punkts” dominated, but the result was only ten points in favor of the home team.
In the 8th minute of the second half, after a tricky play from the sideline, “Bears” scored the second touchdown, which was accomplished by Rusko and increased the intrigue – 17:12. In the 18th minute, “Lāči” made a touchdown, but a violation was detected before that, and the result did not change. However, an even and tense game continued.
For a long time, both teams fought similarly and selflessly, without scoring opportunities, until in the 35th minute, skier and biathlete from Madona, Ernests Plotka, brought the team’s third touchdown, equalizing the score 17:17. Pelecis missed the conversion, as well as a penalty kick a few minutes later, missing the opportunity to put the Bears in the lead. In the last seconds, the Livonians started a good attack, but Vimba made a mistake in the pass. Therefore, the regular time ended in a draw, and to determine the winners, extra time had to be played, which is two times of ten minutes.
“Bears” player Pelečas scored the only points with a touchdown and conversion in the first part of extra time, therefore “Bears/Mūku Sala” celebrated the victory with 24:17 and secured the meeting for 5th place. On the other hand, “Livonia/Sporta punkts”, which showed good chances to win in the first half, will play for the 7th place for the second year in a row.
2024-09-29 14:29:22