World Footy News

Please note this article is one we have just completed from the last remaining match in Round 3, not the just completed Round 4 first round finals matches.

In the wake of South Africa defeating the US, and South Africa only defeating Denmark by 45 points we could only deduce that the Danes perhaps took a little while to get settled (having been comprehensively defeated by the US in their first match) and might just now be hitting their straps. The Chinese have put up a brave fight in their first two matches with big losses and it looked like they would need to be brave again today. The persistent wind seen in earlier matches kept up, though now pretty much across Reid oval the sun was shining as the match got underway.

After an early tough battle Denmark drew first blood scoring the first behind. Rene Damborg looked good getting plenty of it early for the Vikings as Thore Lauritzen missed to the right as the breeze grabbed the ball. Pi Jiaming did his best to gain the Chinese some ground with some big torpedo punts on the kickouts but the ball just kept coming back. Troels Cederholm broke the run of behinds when he received a quick handball that was roved from the throw in. Erik Krolmark added another after marking a nice pass from Christian Rose. It could have been three for the quarter but the Vikings had to settle for a 17 point lead at quarter time as the ball crashed into the goal post for a behind.

Denmark quickly opened the scoring in the second quarter when Jens Djernes kicked long to the forward line, Mads Buhl swooped on the bouncing ball and goaled. Denmark looked to be up and about now and looking very dangerous, the goaled again. Nicholai Secher joined the party with another from 15m out soon after. Djernes was dominating the ruck and partnering well with Damborg who gratefully accepted the palm downs. Mikkel Hoejgaard hit a low rocket pass onto the chest of Mads Buhl who played on to kick his second goal of the quarter. Denmark added another through Rose before play stopped as a Chinese player was stretchered from the field. Veteran Erik Krolmark kicked two more goals for the Vikings to give them a 60 point lead at the long break.

The Vikings opened the second half with more behinds, the wind still having its say. They gave the Chinese defenders the run around with some good passing and Christian Rose put the first goal on the board with a nice running goal for the Vikings. More behinds came for Denmark, before Eliud Schmidt and Christopher Campion added two more goals. Pi Jiaming and Liu Guochen were trying hard to make the play of the Red Demons but with little impact past the centre line. Nicholai Secher added the last goal of the quarter as a full flood was in effect with all but two players north of the center. 92 points in front at three quarter time the Vikings were keen to make the most of their turn of fortune and drive home a big win. It was unlikely the gesture being played out between Nauru and the Peace team would be seen here.

Rose kicked the first for the Vikings in the last quarter. Soon after another Chinese player left the field on a stretcher (as far as we know the two players that were carried off are ok). After a rushed behind and another miss, Buhl and Joachim Secher added goals. The rain had now returned but too late to have any significant affect on this game. Gao Dongliang came off the field with his face bleeding, and left in an ambulance after the match and it is believed he may require surgery. The final goal of the day came after Ottessen kicked to Finnsson who setup Buhl resulting in a major score.

Denmark dominated all day all over the ground. Although out of their depth the Chinese did show some nice periods of play but were simply outclassed today.

Denmark
Goal Kickers: M. Buhl 4, E. Krolmark 2, J. Secher 2, E. Schmidt 2, C. Rose 2, C. Campion, T. Cederholm, N. Secher, P. Bjarnum, M. Engsbye
Best Players: C. Campion, M. Buhl, N. Secher, R. Damborg, N. Schoennemann, M. Jensen
China
Best Players: Z. Fei, L. Cheng, Y. Lunjia, P. Jiaming, W. Lei, G. Dongliang