Championships, more championships and more great football!
Two major championships were decided on the weekend. One may end up deciding who the top team is Europe is in 2014. The Berlin Adler battled the Braunschweig New Yorker finally edging them 20-17 to claim the title of winner of Eurobowl XXVIII in Berlin. Read the full story HERE!The Kiel Baltic Hurricanes (Europe #4) hosted the Badalona Dracs from Spain in the European Football League championship game, beating them soundly 40-0. In all fairness, the timing for Badalona is difficult as they had not played a game since winning the Spanish championship one month ago. But Kiel is truly hitting their stride and could very well contend for European supremacy.
The Serbian team Vukovi Belgrade (Europe #11) completed a wonderfully successful 19 game season winning the Central European Football League title by downing the Ljubjana Silverhawks 27-17. Vukovi has appeared in the championship final every year since its inception in 2006 and won it four times. Coupled with winning the Serbian title and going the the finals of the IFAF Europe Champions League tournament Vukovi has truly put Serbia on the American football map. Look for a story on this remarkable team in AFI!
Finally, the Prague Black Panthers (Europe #10) put a cap to their incredibly long season by winning the Czech League championship, overwhelming the Pnbram Bobcats 40-0. They played 19 games in total in 2014, some of them back-to-back weekend games in the Austrian and Czech leagues and once playing two games the same day.
Here then is what happened around the rest of the continent last weekend.
Austria
The Austrian final, Austrian Bowl XXX will be held this coming weekend July 26 between two bitter rivals – the Vienna Vikings (Europe #1) and the Swarco Raiders (Europe #7) – facing each other again for the ninth time in Austrian Bowl history. These two teams have combined for 32 (including this year) appearances in the Austrian final. The Vikings hold the edge with 21 appearances and 12 wins. Swarco has played in the championship final 10 times coming away with three victories, all against Vienna. This will be the fourth year in a row these two have faced each other in the Austrian Bowl. The game will be streamed. Watch for a preview coming tomorrow on AFI.
Belgium
Belgian Bowl XXVII saw a new champion crowned earlier this month as the Ghent Gators made no mistake handing the defending champion the Brussels tigers a 38-0 pummeling. This was the first ever title win for the Gators and they did it on their first try. Read the game recap HERE!
CEFL (Central European Football League)
Vukvoi Belgrade (Europe #11) capped a grueling yet highly successful season by beating the Ljubjana Silverhawks 27-17 to win their second title of the year. Vukovi reached three championship finals winning two of them. A remarkable achievement.
Czech Republic
The Czech championship ended, as expected, with the Prague Black Panthers (Europe #10) taking the title beating the Pnbram Bobcats 40-0. With that, Prague finishes a great season with a record of 13-6. They played more games than any other team in Europe other than Vukovi.
Denmark
No games were played as the Danish league is taking a break. Action returns on August 9. The Copenhagen Towers lead the entire league and have scored 268 points in six games while allowing only 26 against. Phenomenal numbers. They are first in Group 1 and have defeated the Triangle Razorbacks and the Gold Diggers (two and three in Denmark) by a combined total of 58-6.
Finland
In Finland, the Helsinki Roosters (Europe #9) were back in action, fresh off their championship run in the IFAF Europe Champions league. Facing the Turkuu Trojans, the Roosters found themselves in a battle. Falling behind 27-17 at the half, Helsinki had to dig deep to finally outlast Turkuu 48-41. The Senaijoki Crocodiles used a big second half against the Helsinki 69ers, forcing three turnovers in the red zone, to win 31-0. Finally, the Porvoo Butchers were merciless in pounding the hapless Helsinki Wolverines 69-18. The Crocodiles and Roosters are both 4-0 with the Crocodiles claiming first with a better scoring differential. Turkuu is third and the 69ers are clinging on to fourth with a 2-2 record.
The French champion Thonon Black Panthers (Europe #14) lost in the semi-finals of the inaugural IFAF Europe Champions League tournament to Vukovi Belgrade 19-7.
Germany
North: There were no games played in Germany this past weekend. Play resumes on July 26 with seven games on tap. The feature game will be the Berlin Adler (Europe #3) Braunschweig New Yorker Lions (Europe #2) rematch as these two are coming off that tough Eurobowl final. Braunschweig still leads the North at 5-0, followed by Kiel (Europe #4) at 5-3, Dresden (Europe #5) (4-2) and the Berlin Adler at 3-2.
South: The Stuttgart Scorpions (Europe #6) are still undefeated at 8-0 and lead the South, with the Unicorns second at 7-2. The Marburg Mercenaries and Munich Cowboys round out the top four in the South.
Great Britain
Premiership North: The second place East Kilbride Pirates made short work of the Birmingham Bulls beating them 51-0. Then the Yorkshire Rams defeated Doncaster at Doncaster 30-6. Sheffield beat Nottingham 24-12. So the Tamworth Phoenix remain atop the North standings at 7-0 followed by the Pirates, at 6-0. Coventry is third at 5-2 while Yorkshire advanced to fourth with their win, at 4-3.
Premiership South: The London Blitz annihilated the Berkshire Renegades 68-0. The London Warriors did the same to the South Wales Warriors upending them 70-0.Then the Bristol Aztecs whipped the Cambridgeshire Cats 41-7. The London Warriors lead the South with a 7-0 record with the Blitz in second at 6-0. Bristol is solidly in third at 5-1 while the South Wales Warriors still occupy fourth at 3-4.
Holland
Three weeks ago, the Alphen Eagles won Tulip Bowl XXX in a nail biter, beating arch rival the Amsterdam Crusaders 14-12. This was the third Tulip Bowl victory in a row for the Eagles.
Ireland
The Irish semi-finals are set. In the wildcard playoffs, the University of Limerick Vikings, who finished second in the South, took care of the West Dublin Rhinos (third in the South) with a 20-6 win. In the other semi, the Dublin Rebels (second in the north) had no trouble with the Carrickfergus Knights blanking them 24-0. So the Rebels will travel across town in Dublin to play Trinity College Dublin in one semi-final this weekend. Then the Belfast Trojans (first in the north) will host the University of Limerick Vikings in the other semi-final. The Irish championship game, the Shamrock Bowl takes place August 7.
Italy
The Milano Seamen (Europe #15) won their first-ever Italian championship – Super Bowl XXXIV earlier this month beating four-time champion the Parma Panthers handily 33-3.
Norway
The Norwegian championship was decided two weeks ago as the Kristiansand Gladiators beat heavy favorite the Eidsvoll 1814s 22-21 on the last second hail mary pass.
Poland
In the Polish semi-finals, the Gdynia Seahawks avenged a loss to the Warsaw Eagles two weeks ago to edge them 31-28 in Gdynia to advance to the Polish final – on August 2. The Wroclaw Panthers had an easier time of it against Kozly beating them 32-0. Look for a complete preview of the Polish Super Final game next week on AFI.
Serbia
Vukovi Belgrade (Europe #11) made no mistake in the Serbian championship game beating rivals the Kragujevac Wild Boars 27-17, to cap a highly successful season. The Serbian squad also reached the finals of the the IFAF Europe Champions League tournament losing in a close one to Helsinki 36-27.
Spain
The season has ended with the Badalona Dracs as new champions.
Sweden
The Tyreso Royal Crowns remain in first place in the Swedish standings beating a tough Orebro Black Knights squad 34-28. The Carlstad Crusaders dominated the Uppsala 86ers 49-10 and advanced past them into second place in the standings. The STU Northside Bulls, with quarterback Barney O’Donnell back in the lineup, posted their second win of the season defeating the Arlanda Jets 48-14. Finally, the Limhamn Griffins enjoyed their first win of the year beating up on the Stockholm Mean Machines 56-13. There is a log jam at the top of the standings still with Tyreso in first at 6-1, followed by the Carlstad Crusaders (Europe #11 ) second undefeated at 5-0, Uppsala at 4-2 in third and the Orebro Black Knights occupying fourth with a 3-2 record.
Switzerland
The Basel Gladiators (Europe #15) won the Swiss Bowl two weeks ago for the first time in their history.
We do our utmost to keep up with all the American football being played throughout Europe. In fact, nowhere else can you find more comprehensive information. But we are bound to miss something. Please let us know if we do and also give us ideas and comments on how to improve. We also are looking for contributions, whether you are a coach or player or a fan. Send your articles and we will print them. Send you articles or comments to: roger@eurosportsscouting.com or jtmckeon@americanfootballinternational.com