Spain have been crowned champions of the women’s Rugby Europe Championship for the ninth time on the spin after they defeated nearest challengers Netherlands in the title decider on Saturday.
Going into the much anticipated ‘winner takes all’ clash in the four-team event, Netherlands had completed good bonus point wins over Portugal (59-0) and Belgium (41-0) while Spain had also won two from two by defeated Belgium 39-0 and then Portugal 45-5.
And, at the National Rugby Center in Amsterdam at the weekend, it was the visitors who made it three wins from three and 15 points from a possible 15 with a 43-19 victory.
Spain got things off to the perfect start when Naroa Azpitarte scored a try after just four minutes converted by full-back Amalia Argudo.
They then added a second try just three minutes later, this one coming from Amaia Erbina, the centre, and it was 12-0.
The Netherlands knew that they had to score next and they did when, in the 15th minute, hooker Anoushka Beukers’ unconverted effort made it 12-5.
© Erik Den Burger
In this frantic start to the match the points continued to flow and, by the end of the first quarter, it was 19-7 to Spain with their third try coming from centre Claudia Peña and converted by Argudo.
The pace then slowed down a bit before, in the 37th minute, Spain had scrum-half Matilda Toca was yellow carded.
The player advantage allowed the Netherlands to score a second try just before half-time - centre Isa Spoler and full-back Isis Touw converting – and that made it 19-12 and ‘game on’ heading into the second half.
Just as Spain were getting back to 15 players in the 47th minute their lead extended to 10 points when Argudo kicked a penalty.
The score stayed at 22-12 until the 66th minute after that when things burst into life once again.
Argudo’s try and conversion gave Spain an important 29-12 cushion at that point and left the Netherlands with a lot to do. However, three minutes later the hosts set up an exciting finale when centre Mariet Luijken scored a try converted by Touw.
They still knew they were going to have to go some to win, but they had a glimmer of hope. Well, they did until Spain replacement Alba Sánchez went over for a try in the 76th minute. Argudo converted that one and then, to put the icing on the cake, another sub Ana Cortés scored their final try with the clock in the red and Argudo converted to make it 43-19 and spark Spanish celebrations.
Spain stand-off Naroa Azpitarte was named player of the match.
With Spain finishing top and Netherlands second, winless sides Belgium and Portugal met at the Sportcomplex Sint-Gillis in Dendermonde on the same day to see who would finish in third spot.
And, in the end, it would be Belgium who would be third and Portugal fourth after the former toughed out a 15-5 win.
The home side Belgium took the lead in this one in the 12th minute when No.8 Pauline Gernaey scored a try. The conversion was missed and Portugal then missed a penalty as it remained 5-0.
Indeed, that was the way it stayed until half-time and the next points did not arrive until the 44th minute when an unconverted try from Belgium hooker Lisa Van Der Zjipen made it 10-0.
In the 63rd minute their third unconverted try came to put them more than two scores ahead, sub Abigaël Bokonda the scorer this time.
With 12 minutes to go, Portugal did score their first try of the day to give them slight hope - back-row Maria Teixeira the scorer - but then sub Carlota Torres was yellow carded and Belgium took the win.
Cristina Pecoraro, the Belgium back-rower, was named player of the match.
© Laurent Lefebvre
Elsewhere, the men’s Rugby Europe Trophy campaign ended on Saturday at the Siauliai Rugby Academy Stadium when Lithuania hosted Croatia.
The equation in this one was simple, whoever lost would be relegated and in the end that was to be Croatia after Lithuania used home advantage to win emphatically 47-8.
Such was Lithuania’s performance they actually pushed on to finish fourth above Denmark in the standings while Croatia finished sixth out of six and will be in the Conference next term.
© Tubukas
There were also Saturday games in the men’s Rugby Europe Conference with Ukraine beating Bulgaria 46-0 and Kosovo losing out 70-5 to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbia also beat Slovenia 34-14 in this competition with Finland coming out on top 38-15 in Norway.
By Gary Heatly
