Türkiye women and Poland men win in Croatia

Makarska in Croatia was the location for the first leg of the Rugby Europe Sevens 2025 Trophy Series for women and men and there was some great action at the Gradski Sportski Centar between Friday and Sunday before Türkiye women and Poland men lifted silverware.

In the end both events came down to really tight finals and they were fitting ways to finish things off.

Türkiye were taking on Denmark in the women’s final and, early in the first half, Ayca Akcinar streaked away from her own half and bagged a converted try.

It stayed 7-0 until 90 seconds before half-time when Denmark’s  Julie Giessing shoed excellent pace and power to score an unconverted effort.

Three minutes into the second half things really got interesting when Türkiye had a player yellow carded and Denmark took advantage straight away, Kinza Riahi taking a tap penalty and barging her way over. The try was not converted though and it was 10-7.

Denmark then had a player sin-binned themselves and, with the hooter just about to sound, Türkiye Sedanur Bolat got away from the defence and scored a dramatic winning try which was converted as it finished 14-10.

It was Ukraine who finished third in this one by beating Hungary 26-17 in the bronze medal match while Switzerland were fifth, Finland were sixth, Romania were seventh, Moldova were eighth, Norway were ninth, Latvia were 10th, Slovakia were 11th and Austria 12th.

The men’s final just after the Türkiye-Denmark women’s final on Sunday evening was just as close.

Poland were taking on Ukraine in this one and the former went 5-0 up early on when Tomasz Pozniak scored an unconverted try.

Ukraine went ahead almost straight away though when a great kick ahead and chase saw them score a try and then Vadym Sivak converted to make it 7-5.

They then went 12-5 ahead when a snipe down the short side from Yevhen Davydov saw him bag an unconverted try.

Just before the half-time hooter Poland scored an important unconverted try through Reece Strutynski to leave them just two points behind at the interval.

In the second half, Ksawery Struss streaked away and was all set to ground the ball for a try until he was brought down by foul means. The referee awarded a penalty try, Ukraine had a man yellow carded and Poland won 17-12 in the end.

Romania claimed bronze in the men’s competition in another entertaining encounter against Latvia coming out on top 31-12. 

Elsewhere in the men’s competition, Switzerland were fifth, Croatia were sixth, Denmark were seventh, Hungary were eighth, Türkiye were ninth, Norway were 10th, Moldova were 11th and Luxembourg were 12th.

The second leg of the Rugby Europe Sevens Trophy Series for women and men is in Chisinau, Moldova, between June 27 and 29.

By Gary Heatly
Photos fotobrzica