Review : Belarus 2022 Women’s Premier League – Week 2

March 25, 26 & 27, 2022

The Belarus Women’s Premier League season has started, but without much of a fanfare, and two rounds of fixtures have already been completed.

The most disappointing news prior to the start of the season was the announcement of the disbandment of Neman Grodno’s side, who finished 4^th in 2021, and were the only side to take a point off Dinamo BGU Minsk in 2020. Presumably part of this outcome revolved around star player/coach Ekaterina Dudko’s decision to move to Dinamo BGU Minsk to persue aspirations to earn a first cap for the national side at the age of 30, and in the wake of Neman’s closure, their players have been spread far and wide amongst the other sides in the league.

In addition to Dudko, Dinamo have signed international goal-keeper Ekaterina Kovalchuk and midfielder Daria Tatarin.

Movements of other members of the Neman squad include talented youngsters Karolina Zhitko & Viktoria Belmach joining Dnepr Mogilev, veteran ex international playmaker Tatiana Loginova re-joined Bobruichanka, and Ukrainian forward Polina Dolmatova joined Russian side Rubak Kazan. The whereabouts of Cameroonian wing-back Moussa Zouwairatou and Burkinabe winger Juliette Nana are currently unknown.

Despite a series of lop-sides-sided mis-matches last season, the Belarus FA have decided to maintain a 10 team Premier League, and Smorgon have replaced Neman.  Several of Neman’s squad have joined Smorgon, including Konda, Bartoshevich, Khartitonchik and Kachan. Zorka’s veteran playmaker Liana Miarshnichenko, who has been regularly towards the top of the league scoring charts, has also signed for Smorgon, which at least gives some comfort they will not be the “whipping boys” like Gomel and Dinamo Brest last season.

Despite the signing of three players from Neman, the Dinamo squad for this season looked on paper to be weaker that the one won that won all 27 matches in 2021, and achieved 26 wins and one draw in 2020. International striker Karina Alkhovik has joined Italian Serie B side Chievo Verona and three other players had signed for arch-rivals FK Minsk, namely international regulars Anastasia Novikova & Viktoria Kazakevich, and fringe goal-keeper Elizaveta Sevko. On the positive side, international midfielder Anastasia Shuppo had reportedly re-signed after a season at Zenit St Petersburg, but is still to make an appearance.

After their financial problems at the end of 2020 that lead to the departure of just about their entire squad, FK Minsk appear to be gradually strengthening. Whilst still being built around some of the key under 19 talents from 2020, in particular the outstanding 18 year-old Anastasia Pobegaylo, already a regular Belarus international, they have gradually been rebuilding, and in addition to the three important signings from Dinamo, they have also added 19 year old Miroslava Zhbko from Zorka, and Kenyan striker Wafula Nekesa. International keeper Marina Svidunovich has also joined from Dnepr. In the debit column, they have lost ex ABFF U19 striker Tatiana Shereshovets to Zorka-BGU, and 18 year old international Anna Sas has joined German Bundesliga side Jena.

Zorka BGU finished a distant third in 2021 but were capable of some outstanding performances on their day. The activity around their squad looks mixed, having lost Zhbko to Minsk, Bololyanova to ABFF U19 ( despite being 22 ! ) and Scherbo to Dnepr. On the other hand, they have signed one of the best teenagers in Belarus, namely Yana Artishevskaya from Dnepr, as well as Viktoria Plisyuk from Dnepr and Shereshovets from Minsk. Also adding to their ranks is experienced defender Otuwe Gift from Bobruichanka and striker Yana Ray, who represented ABFF U19 and Vitebsk in 2021.

On paper, last season fifth placed Dnepr Mogilev look to be weaker this season, having lost 5 top players, with goal-scoring full-back Lyubov Gudchenko joining Russian side Zvezda Perm, Artishevskaya and Plisyuk joining Zorka, stylish young defender Arina Sitnikova joining Dinamo and first choice keeper Svidunovich joining Minsk. In their place, as mentioned above Zhitko and Belmach have signed from Neman, Scherbo joined from Zorka, and ABFF U19 keeper Maria Tolstyma has also been added to the squad.

ABFF U19 looked to have retained nearly all of last season’s squad, and so another season’s experience under their belts could prove beneficial, whilst Vitebsk didn’t appear to have any significant changes to their squad, so could also be expected to improve after their first season in the WPL.

However, Gomel and Dinamo Brest look to be as weak as last season, and so can be expected to be the back-markers again, and on the receiving end of some heavy defeats.

Dinamo and Minsk have already met twice this season, starting with the traditional Super Cup pre-season opener at the FK Minsk stadium. Dinamo took a 6^th minute lead when veteran Anna Pilipenko intercepted a poor pass out from Minsk keeper Sevko to roll the ball into the empty net. Dinamo doubled their lead in the 26^th minute when a flowing first touch move cut open the Minsk defence to leave Markushevskaya a simple side-footed finish. Minsk set-up a potential tense finale when Pobegaylo’s surging run down the right and pin-point cross gave Nekesa an open goal from 6 yards, but Minsk were unable to create any serious chances and Dinamo held on to claim the Super Cup.

The two sides met again in round 2 in the league, after both had recorded emphatic victories in the opening round, at Dinamo’s Yuni stadium in front of a crowd of 150. This time it was Minsk’s turn to take an early lead, with Nekesa capitalizing on an awful mis-kick by South African centre-back Ramalepe to send a chip over the keeper. It wasn’t looking good for Dinamo when Slesarchik and Nikolaenko both had to leave the field with injuries in the opening 30 minutes, and Minsk were dominating the game. However, after being on the pitch for less than a minute, Viktoria Valyuk levelled the scores with a deft header from Linnik’s cross, wrong-footing keeper Svidunovich.

Dinamo then looked the better side and took the lead with 15 minutes to go, when Markushevskaya’s shot from the angle of the penalty area crept into the far corner, although to use the cliché “Svidunovich would have been disappointed to have let that one in”. Dinamo looked to have sealed victory 10 minutes from time when Linnik’s cross took a deflection off Novikova to beat the keeper at the near post, and although Surovtseva pulled one back in added on time with a delicate finish, it was merely a consolation.

Despite Dinamo having come out on top in the two encounters, the margins were narrow and Minsk will probably at the same time be both disappointed and encouraged by how close they have been, and will feel Dinamo are beatable.

Zorka led the table on goal difference after 2 matches. After an opening 9-0 win over Gomel they left it late to overcome Bobruichanka. After being frustrated for over 80 minutes, they finally took the lead from an outstanding finish by Ray, after a weaving run had taken her past 4 defenders before shooting left footed from 20 yards across the goal into the far corner. Kiyanka added a second a minute from time from a couple feet after a defender and the keeper had fallen over trying to prevent the ball from reaching her.

Joining Zorka and Dinamo with a 100% record were ABFF U19, who followed up a 4-1 home win over Bobruichanka with a 3-0 victory in the dome at Dnepr Mogilev. Nestyukovich reacted the quickest to tap home after Pashkovskaya’s effort rebounded back of the bar after which Bololyanova doubled their lead with a close range snap-shot after Dnepr keeper Korbut had fumbled a cross.

For Dnepr, Kapustina came close on three occasions, striking the bar from long range in the first half, and twice putting left footed shots across the face of the goal but a fraction wide of the post. ABFF U19 put the game beyond their reach with just under 10 minutes left as the lively Evzrezova robbed a dozing defender to run clear and score.

Smorgon began their campaign with a respectable 0-2 loss at Dnepr, falling to two late goals, but opened their account by outclassing Dinamo Brest 6-0 at home. Liana Miarshnichenko grabbed their first two goals, whilst Valeria Khartitonchik also claimed a brace. It was 5-0 at half-time, but Smorgon could only add one more in the second half.

In the other match of round 2, Gomel were soundly beaten 0-7 at home by Vitebsk, for whom Karpova, Buzinova and Vasilyeva each scored twice.

Round 2

Dnepr Mogilev 0-3 ABFF U19 ( att : 70 )

Smorgon 6-0 Dinamo Brest ( att : 70 )

Gomel 0-7 Vitebsk ( att : 50 )

Bobruichanka 0-2 Zorka BGU ( att : 50 )

Dinamo BGU Minsk 3-2 FK Minsk ( att : 150 )

 

 

Chinnor 36-27 Leeds Tykes ( att : 387 ) – National League One

March 26, 2022

Today’s visitors to Kingsey Road were Leeds Tykes, possessors of a proud history in English rugby, but who have been struggling in recent seasons. The club officially came into being in 1991 following the merger of Headingley RFC and Roundhay RFC, two of the top sides in the North of England during the amateur era, and who date back as far as 1877. 

 

Due to changes of ownership the club has had several different names since, going from Leeds Tykes to Leeds Carnegie to Yorkshire Carnegie then back to Leeds Tykes in September 2020.

Leeds were promoted to the Premiership in 2001/02 but despite finishing bottom in their first season at the highest level, they were reprieved from relegation as Rotherham were denied promotion because their facilities were deemed to be unsuitable for the Premiership.

Leeds stayed in the top flight for 4 more years, with a best placed finish of 5^th in 2002/03 earning qualification to the Heineken Cup, where they beat the Ospreys but lost the return, as well as home and away matches to Toulouse and Edinburgh.

Leeds became a yo-yo club following their relegation in 2005/06 which started a run of relegation, promotion, relegation, promotion, third from bottom, then relegation again to the Championship at the end of the 2010/11 season.

Leeds then spent 9 seasons in the Championship, concluding when financial problems forced them to revert to part-time status, and to lose of every single match before the early termination of the 2019/20 season due to Covid, and relegation to National League One.

With a mostly young, inexperienced squad, many observers expected another relegation to follow this season, but whilst they currently sat second bottom, they harboured realistic ambitions of avoiding the drop, having improved as the season progressed to be only 4 points behind Blackheath but with two games in hand. They have earned a reputation for trying to play an expansive game, utilising their talented young backs, with full back Andrew Lawson regularly mentioned in despatches.

6 wins have been recorded, include the double over Blackheath, an impressive 17-15 victory at Cambridge, as well as home wins over Bishop’s Stortford, Rams and back markers Tonbridge Juddians, whom they still have to visit. Last time out the went down 22-23 at home to Darlington Mowden Park, conceding a converted try with 3 minutes to go and then missing a penalty to win the game at the death.

When the two sides met back in November, Chinnor ran out comfortable 29-12 winners in the end, although it was only 15-12 at half-time.

Since these diaries covered Chinnor’s last home match, the 36-10 victory over Tonbridge Juddians, Chinnor won a bruising, low scoring encounter in the mud at Plymouth Albion, before losing 22-38 under the floodlights at Rams in a Friday night match streamed live on the internet and YouTube, which served as a great advert for National League One rugby and attended by a crowd of 1,021 . It was a typical match in so many ways for Chinnor this season, being beaten up in the scrum, conceding far too many penalties, but good defence and enterprising back play kept them in the game, until two late tries clinched it for Rams.

Even worse, it was announced during this week that Chinnor had been docked 5 points for use of an unregistered agent, with a further 5 point penalty suspended for two years. Without going into the rights or wrongs of a club at this level paying agents to recruit players, neither of the two players named in the inquest ( Ryan Lomas and Max Heathman ) had started a match for Chinnor this season, and had a total of 8 substitute appearances between them.

The weather at kick-off was sunny, 16 degrees and there was barely a cloud in the sky, but the traditional Chinnor breeze was still present. The Red Kites appeared to have taken the day off as Chinnor kicked off with the breeze towards the ring road end. Leeds wore yellow shirts with the numbers on their backs in yellow in a green box, apart from numbers 2 and 12, which where in red on the back of their shirts.

Leeds suffered a set-back in the first minute when faced with an overlap, winger Jerry Bai attempted to make an interception but only succeeded in knocking on, and was shown the yellow card. From the resulting penalty, the Leeds defence stood firm and Tuilagi was bundled into touch. Play remained in the Leeds 22 though and the first score occurred in the 5^th minute. From a Chinnor maul, scrum-half Carter broke, made the inside pass for wing Dean Hammond to come off his wing and scoot under the posts. Bourton added the easy conversion to make it 7-0 as a solitary Kite appeared to inspect the scene, before quickly departing again.

Chinnor continued to press and quickly took advantage of the space available from Leeds being a man down. Fly-half Walsh delivered a long pass to wing Hammond, who drew the covering defender to give a pass for full back Nick Smith to run down the touch line to cross and then make ground towards the posts. Bourton again added the extras to make it 14-0 after 7 minutes.

The action continued as Leeds then pressed in the Chinnor 22. Chinnor flanker Ben Manning made an important steal at the ruck but Chinnor were penalised at the subsequent breakdown, and with straight forward penalty in front of the posts just outside the 22, Leeds opted for the points. Tighe Maxwell-Whiteley’s kick was successful to bring the score to 14-3 after just 10 minutes.

The scoreboard continued to tick-over as two minutes later Leeds took the ball back into their 22 and then kicked straight out into touch. From the line-out inside the Leeds 22, Chinnor hooker Darlington made a break close to the try line but was stopped short. With possession reworked, a long pass enabled wing Goss to step inside his marker and score out wide. Bourton’s impressive conversion from close to the touch-line made it 21-3 with barely 15 minutes on the clock and Leeds proverbially still on the bus.

 

The first scrum of the match was awarded in the 17^th minute, and although under pressure, Leeds managed to play the ball, but Chinnor quickly turned over possession, and with a penalty advantage a cross-kick was sent in the direction of the left wing, but a favourable bounce enabled Leeds full-back Lawson to touch down ahead of Hammond.

Leeds successfully defended the line-out penalty and managed to steal the ball, but the clearing kick to half-way was returned by Smith, bouncing into touch for a Chinnor line-out under the 50:20 rule. Leeds again defended well, with Tuilagi held up short, and after another steal they won a penalty close to half-way. It was their turn to kick for a line-out in the opposition 22, and after several phases close to the Chinnor line, prop Ademakin burrowed over. The conversion was missed so the score was 21-8 after 25 minutes.

Chinnor were soon back in the Leeds 22, but after Leeds won their line-out, the clearing kick to half-way went straight to full-back Smith, who scythed through the Leeds defence, drew the last covering defender to give Hammond a run to the corner for the try bonus point. Bourton again converted excellently from close to the touch-line to give Chinnor a 28-8 lead after half an hour.

Leeds responded with a spell of their own pressure. A decent moved ended with Bai knocking on close to the touch-line just outside the Chinnor 22, but they had been playing a penalty advantage. After kicking to the corner, Chinnor defended a series of drives but at the expense of another penalty. Centre Tom Williams took a quick tap and was able to barge over as a couple of Chinnor defenders collided with a goal post. Maxwell-Whiteley’s conversion made is 28-15 after 35 minutes.

Chinnor immediately hit back and after Leeds infringed at the breakdown in their own 22, the Chinnor pack rumbled over from the 5 metre line-out. Whilst it could have been anyone who had touched down, the tannoy announcer gave the credit to hooker Darlington. Bourton’s conversion from out wide, struck the upright, leaving the score 33-15 after 39 minutes.

The breathless action continued as Leeds attacked again in Chinnor’s 22, winning another penalty. After the line-out drive was blocked, Potts made a dart for the try-line but was unable to ground the ball,with the referee ruling he had been held-up, and the blew for half-time.

Leeds started the second half brightly and camped in the Chinnor half. After just one scrum in the entire first half, like London buses, three quickly arrived. Leeds were working the ball through the middle of the field, but when Lawson was released his dangerous break ended when his pass failed to go to hand. Another good move failed with a fumble close to the try line.

The pressure eventually told though as after another series of drives close to the try-line, a try was awarded with flanker Trystan Lloyd being the scorer and the conversion was successful to make it 33-22 after 54 minutes.

Leeds continued to show good fighting spirit and another penalty sent them deep into Chinnor’s 22. However, they were penalised at the line-out, and a great break by Goss took Chinnor into the Leeds 22 for the first time in the half. Leeds transgressed again shortly after, and Chinnor opted to take the points, and Bourton’s penalty gave them some breathing space at 36-22 with just under 20 minutes still to play.

Play went back into Chinnor territory, and Leeds deserved earned their 4 try bonus point with 8 minutes remaining when wing Harry Jukes burst through a couple of tackles to athletically touchdown in the corner. With the difficult conversion going wide, Chinnor led 36-27.

The final minutes saw Leeds desperate to score again to claim a losing bonus point. However, they conceded a penalty in the Chinnor 22 when over-enthusiastically trying to recover the ball, and from the subsequent move from the line-out, Chinnor’s Hammond made a great break only to run into the referee for perhaps the best tackle of the match ! After play continued, Worrall broke down the wing but was unable to find a team-mate with his inside pass.

With a minute remaining, Leeds were back on the attack as Lawson jinked past a couple of defenders only to be stopped by a tackle that looked a little high, and as played continued Carter made a vital interception which led to some flared tempers. For something I didn't see, Chinnor's Nick Smith was shown the yellow card and Leeds had a line-out in a dangerous position. Although the line-out was gathered, Chinnor flanker Willie Ryan snaffled the ball, and Chinnor were able to move the ball to half-way. Leeds wheeled the resulting scrum only for the referee to award a penalty to Chinnor, and blow the final whistle to end an enthralling game.

Leeds took one point to help their fight against relegation but would have been disappointed to have learnt about Blackheath’s unexpected 31-24 victory over second placed Rosslyn Park. However, with Plymouth losing 24-48 at Cambridge, they are now four points adrift of Plymouth but with a game in hand.

Highlights : https://www.chinnor-rfc.com/videos/trylights--chinnor-36-leeds-tykes-27-177804.html

Table ( prior to the 5pt deduction for Chinnor )