Opening Game win for Switzerland at U20 European Championship
U20 European Championship, Match Day 1
23.08.2015, Brno, CZE
Switzerland 37 – 12 Moldova
The second match of the U20 championship saw Switzerland face Moldova. Despite a fairly balanced first 60 minutes, Switzerland finally imposed itself in the last 20 minutes with a final score of 37 to 12.
Switzerland came out strong right off the kick-off, and its pressure paid dividends early on with a penalty kick scored by Number 13 Alexander Caviezel-Cox in the 2nd minute of the game. After some even-handed play and a spirited exchange of pleasantries, Swiss fullback Henry Greenhalgh reached the end-zone again for a try in the 22nd minute, making the score 8-0.
Switzerland continued to play for territory, playing most of the 1st half in the opposition’s side of the field. However, Switzerland missed two opportunities to score a try, thereby helping Moldova settle themselves back into the game.
After a period of intense pressure by Moldova, they went over for two tries in quick succession at the 36th and 39th minute, the first one scored by number 3 Ion Spatari on a long series of forward-phases on the Swiss try-line, and the second one on a quick break all the way down the left wing by fullback Adrian Adam. The teams went into the halftime break on a score of 8-12.
Going into the 2nd stanza, Switzerland managed to get back to its more controlled game, playing consistently up in Moldavian territory. After a pair of missed penalties in the 44th and the 46th minute, Switzerland advanced once again onto the opposition’s half of the field off a well-taken scrum at center-field. The continued Swiss pressure resulted in a penalty transformed once more by Caviezel-Cox, to make the score 11-12 with 30 minutes left to play.
The Moldovan’s occasional lack of discipline became very costly to them when, after a yellow card at the 57th minute to number 14 Simion Goncearuc, the Swiss Team scored 3 tries before the opposition had their 15th man back. It was Winger Thorin, Fullback Greenhalgh, and replacement Scrum-half Gaetan Hirsch who contributed to the try-count. This onslaught, paired with one more converted try scored by Switzerland when it had its own 10 short-handed minutes (Number 10 Erwan Meudic-Brun was yellow-carded in the 68th minute), gave Switzerland a final decisive victory at 37-12.
Find the Game sheet from the match in PDF form below.
Switzerland's next match will be on Wednesday, August 26th, at 13h30 against Luxembourg.
