A hat trick from Jan Buben – the first three tries of the game – enabled West to beat East 36-24 in the opening representative match in the Czech Republic. The West, made up of players from Prague, current champions and league leaders Beroun Black Panthers and Churdim Angels, looked as though they would dominate the contest after Buben’s explosive start, however, CZRLA East featuring players from the Pardubice Jets and Vrchlabi Mad Squirrels, hit back with three unconverted tries of their own before half-time.
The difference at the break was a late try for West by Beroun captain-coach David Dolak and two conversions from Buben. The second half showcased some of the best domestic rugby league ever played in the Republic, with over 500 fans in Vrchlabi, absorbed by a contest containing some bruising defence and complimented with marvelous ball movement from both teams. East skipper Victor Leeuw was dazzling as he repeatedly weaved his magic while prop Ales Trcka continually plowed up-field with no concern for his own wellbeing and second rowers Roman Nedomlel and Marcel Novak continued the rich vein of form they have been enjoying for their respective clubs during the 2011 domestic season.
For West, apart from leaders Dolak, Buben and Ben Grimwade, Jamie Sherrington showed several touches of class, Michal Hora in only his second game of the season after off-season shoulder surgery was impressive in the unfamiliar centre position, Vlada Sapar a constant menace from the wing and Patrik Nekut magnificent with some huge hits in defence and an ability to time his runs into gaps which gained plenty of field position. Tries from Hora, Sherrington, Dolak, and Matej Pecina, many set up by impressive Angels young gun in his debut season Marek Pluhar, was enough to secure victory; Nedomlel and an impressive jinking effort from the slick Standa Kosar, East’s reply.
The CZRLA domestic season now takes a break in the lead-up to the historic international against Hungary in July. RLEF Czech Development Manager and National Team Coach, Andrew Mulhall, is looking forward to that test. “The European Bowl clash with our near neighbours is a unique opportunity to measure the level of Rugby League development taking place not only in the Czech Republic but in central Europe generally,” he said. “The Czech national team is made up of players who play in a domestic rugby league competition which runs over a seven month period with breaks only for the extremes of summer and winter. The side which will play against Hungary are almost all young men who have only ever played League and are truly in the vanguard of a new era in European Rugby League development.”
CZRLA West: 36 (Jan Buben 3, David Dolak 2, Matěj Pecina, Michal Hora, Jamie Sherrington tries, Jan Buben 2 goals)
CZRLA East: 24 (Radek Mejznar, Tomáš Kynský, Martin Kulhánek, Roman Nedomlel, Standa KosaÅ™, Victor Leeuw 2 goals)