The Konektor Cup Is Again Moving to Switzerland

On Sunday, 29 June 2014, the third match was played for the Konektor Cup, continuing the traditional rivalry between the Czech women’s rugby team and their Swiss counterparts. This time, however, it was also a qualifying round for the European Trophy, which is the oldest world competition in women’s rugby, the roots of which date back to 1988.

The match was refereed by American referee Dana Teagarden, one of world rugby’s top referees who has refereed World Cups in both classical and sevens rugby, and was also the first woman to referee a men’s international match.

Heavy rain fell shortly before kickoff, which made it difficult for the squads to play too technical a game. This of course played to the strengths of the more experienced Swiss team. The game’s two halves paradoxically did not at all reflect the score. After a promising start, the Czechs were soon on the defensive and played almost the whole first half on their own side of the pitch. They defended carefully and the Swiss team’s only two touchdowns came with the help of the whole pack. They were scored by Angela Diener and Sarah McNamara, although the Swiss side did not make the conversion kick even once. To the contrary, right before halftime the Czechs went on the offensive, got a penalty in Swiss territory and Barbora Bendová kicked for three points. At halftime, the score was 3 : 10.

In the second half, the reinvigorated Czech team evened up the game in the scrum, easily got outs and attempted offensive combinations, although unfortunately the ball was often dropped due to the wet conditions.  This time, the Swiss team put up a model defence and eliminated the Czech attacks one after the next. In the counterattacks, the unstoppable Carole Casparis, no. 15, made life difficult for the Czech team. Despite the fact that the Czechs had got up to speed with their rivals, it was the Swiss who scored. First, centre Simone Haymoz sprinted across half the pitch for try and fullback Casparis made the conversion kick, and the whole thing was repeated a quarter of an hour later as if by template with Haymoz try and Casparis’ conversion. And after another three minutes Casparis herself went in for a try. The Czechs regrouped and attempted a turnaround, but did not manage to score even in the last moments of the match. After the final whistle, the Swiss players broke into unrestrained revelry. Their victory meant not only that the Konektor Cup would again return to Switzerland, but also that they would advance to the final round of the European Trophy tournament in Brussels, where they will face the Russian, Dutch and Belgian teams.

The match’s MVP was Carole Casparis, and the honour of best player on the Czech side was awarded to flanker Věra Samková.

Czech Republic – Switzerland 3 : 32 (halftime 3 : 10)

rugby pitch RC Slavia at Eden, Prague

29 June 2014

Head Referee: Dana Teagarden (USA)

297 spectators

 

Points:

Czech Republic

Barbora Bendová 3 (penalty kick)

Switzerland

Angela Diener 5 (try)
Sarah McNamara 5 (try)
Simone Haymoz 10 (2 try)
Carole Casparis 9 (try, 2 conversion kicks)
Selina Fux 3 (penalty kick)

Lineups:

Czech Republic

1 Petra Morávková, RK Petrovice
2 Dominika Havelková, RC Přelouč
3 Karolina Filsáková, RC Havířo
4 Hana Schlangerová, RC Sparta
5 Lucie Svobodová, RK Petrovice
6 Věra Samková, RC Sparta
7 Hanka Erika Radochová, RK Petrovice
8 Kateřina Vrbacká, RC Vyškov
9 Kamila Rousová, captain, RC Dragon Brno
10 Barbora Bendová, RK Petrovice
11 Petra Morávková, RC Sparta
12 Alexandra Zítková, RC Dragon Brno
13 Pavlína Čuprová, RC Vyškov
14 Adriana Krütznerová, RK Petrovice
15 Šárka Šimánková, RC Sparta Praha

16 Květa Kottková, RC Slavia
17 Zuzana Skokanová, RC Vyškov
18 Aneta Šmejdová, RC Sparta
19 Natálie Malinovská, RC Plzeň
20 Barbora Světlíková, RC Slavia
21 Kateřina Nováková, RC Plzeň
22 Kristýna Volfová, RK Petrovice
23 Zuzana Steppanová, RC Slavia

Head Coach: Richard Krützner
Assistant Coaches: Vlastimil Bažant, Zdeněk Albrecht
Physiotherapist: Iveta Pokorná
Manager: Martin Charvát

Switzerland

1 Katja Dick
2 Angela Diener
3 Patricia Mancini
4 Anuschka Buobo
5 Cyntia Munsterman
6 Sarah McNamara
7 Carolin Reischauer
8 Judith Martinot-Prébandier, captain
9 Fabienne Ullman
10 Ester Duss
11 Selina Fux
12 Rahel Bosshardt
13 Simone Haymoz
14 Isabella Bauer
15 Carole Casparis

16 Rebecca Ellis
17 Lea Strohm
18 Anita Gander
19 Henriette Thole
20 Laurianne Mbalikada
21 Holly Shearer
22 Leonie Robert
23 Carole Gachet

Head Coach: Veronika Muehlhofer
Assistants: John Douglas, Vincent Prébandier
Physiotherapist Ingris Suter, Michele Hürlimann
Manager: Carolin Reischauer

Report by Martin Charvat