Sunday 22nd August, Sparta Rugby Ground
Kings v Cats scoresheet which was 25.11 - 161 to 4.3 - 27 in favour of the Cats.
Goal scorers;
Kings: Jakub Rut 3, Eugene Safrankou 1
Cats: Brent Hadley 5, Brad 5, Greg Johnson 3, Tom Poxton 3, Jakub Kafka 3, Stewart 3, Martin Lulak 2, Jan Kren 1
The Hawks win 6.0 36 to 0.0.0 by way of forfeit over the Dragons.
No match reports supplied.
The Czech Lions national team ventured to Italy on Friday 2nd July for the first of 3 international weekends in 2010.
Midway through the 2010 CAFL season, it was time for the Czech Lions to step into the spotlight for the year. This would be the Czech national team's first outing of the season and the first since the 2009 EU Cup. - By Mark Pace
The Lions travelled to the small town in Italy for the Four Nations Cup involving the hosts Italy, Croatia and Scotland. The tournament was played over the weekend with two semi finals scheduled for Saturday 3rd of July and the final being played on Sunday 4th. Croatia were "hot favourites" and had been paired up against Scotland in the first semi final and Italy would take on the Czech Republic in the other semi.
The Lions lineup looked much different from the one that had taken to the field in the EU Cup only ten months earlier, with this team fielding a record 11 Czech players for the first time and only 1 Australian! The Lions unfortunately lost both games, but showed a huge amount of fight in the 3rd place final against the Scots. Croatia beat a much improved Italy in the final 66:53.
Special mention to Dan Prochazka (Dragons) who was the standout Lion for the tournament - Dan's development throughout the year is coming along nicely and he has slotted into the Lions midfield very well. Martin Lulak (Cats) played a brilliant second game in the ruck against Scotland and will be helped well by Jan "Honza" Brynych and Josef Svejkovsky (Hawks) in the ruck when they get back into the team for the next round of matches.
Finally the Lions Captain Pavel Smolen (Hawks) battled hard all weekend, showed great leadership on and off the field in his first international games as captain and player. His continued hard work along with vice captain Jan "Honza" Kren will be needed to ensure the growth and development of this young Czech Lions team in 2010.
The Lions learnt many things during this weekend, with some passion and determination showed in the second game. However, a lot of work will be needed over the summer and leading up to the E.U Cup in October if the new look Lions will match it with the best come that first weekend in October.
The boys will be training hard this month to prepare for the next series of games against the Berlin Crocs and German Eagles. As this season is really focused on the development of the Czech team, getting their first and second years of international games under their belts expectations wont be too high. However, hard, free flowing football, showcasing all the basics that have been taught throughout the CAFL season will be expected from the coaching staff and captains when the Lions take the stage again.
A big congratulations to all the first year Lions who took the field!
Well done Czech Lions.
Scores:
Saturday 3rd July:
Game 1: 1/4 time: 1/2time 3/4 time: Full Time:
Croatia: 1.2.8 3.4.22 6.7.43 9.11.65
Scotland: 2.2.14 3.2.20 4.4.28 4.9.33
Game 2: 1/4 time: 1/2time 3/4 time: Full Time:
Italy: 3.3.21 9.6.60 15.8.98 19.11.125
Czech Republic: 2.2.14 2.3.15 4.3.27 5.4.34
Best Players: Dan Prochazka, Jakub Rutiger & Pavel Smolen.
Sunday 4th July:
3rd Place Final: 1/4 time: 1/2time 3/4 time: Full Time:
Czech Republic: 1.2.8 3.3.21 3.3.21 4.4.28
Scotland: 5.1.31 9.5.59 12.9.81 15.10.100
Best Players: Dan Prochazka, Martin Lulak & Ondrej Sykora
Final: 1/4 time: 1/2time 3/4 time: Full Time:
Italy: 0.1.1 2.3.15 4.7.31 7.11.53
Croatia: 6.2.38 6.6.42 7.14.56 8.18.66
Wednesday 30th June, 2010
Last night, at the Auto Marketa Stadion in Vypich, the Czech Lions had a practice match against a team of All-Stars to ready themselves for their 2 tough matches in Italy.
The Lions were out of the blocks like a flash in the first quarter, running circles around the surprised All-Stars. Quarter time saw the Lions with a decent 10 point lead. The second quarter started just as furiously for both sides, but in the dying minutes the All-Stars were able to capitalise in front of goal and edged in front at the main break.
Third quarter, premiership quarter, and it was indeed. The All-Stars came back out of the changerooms firing and pumped 7 goals to the Lions 4 to take a 19 point lead.
The last quarter evened up, and the Lions narrowed the gap to just 2 kicks again before the All-Stars had the last laugh and ran out winners 92 to 63.
All in all, a very fine performance against 10... err, 7... well, it was actually only 4 Australians, but the experience was the difference on the day.
Everyone at CAFL wishes the Czech Lions all the best of luck for the tournament this weekend and we are looking forward to hearing news of 2 wins from Milan.
GOOD LUCK boys!!
Dragons 5 goals, 9 behinds = 39 lost to Kings 6 goals, 10 behinds = 46
In their second meeting of 2010 (also ever) the Kings and the Dragons played out a great game, with both teams hard at the football all day, and the Kings prevailing by 7.
The improvement skill-wise in both teams is clearly visible with some of the 1st and 2nd year Kings’ players in particular having a much greater impact on the game. The Kings 2 rugby recruits both playing great games including beautiful, perfectly spiraling er umm ‘handballs’, and bone jarring tackles, one in particular in the first quarter where Kings' midfielder was all over the Dragons’ Dan Prochazka like a pit bull on a poodle, although much to Dan’s credit he walked it off and had a great impact all day for Dragons, hard in and under at the contest. Once he remembers he has to bounce the ball he`ll play a lot of quality football for the Dragons and Lions in the years to come.
For the Kings Jakub and Matej played well up forward, both finishing with 2 goals. As always Yauhen gave 110% all day and was never far from the football. His run and carry through the middle being vital to a Kings victory. He finished the game with more of the football than anyone and also a goal. Sven worked tirelessly rucking the whole game by himself and providing a target around the ground.
While the Dragons had 2 very big outs with Kev "step aside Carey" Lyons missing in attack and the safe as houses Stephen Silvagni Gatesie busy doing what ever married men do in south east Asia with out their wives. The Dragons didn't even notice they were gone. With Michal Rada staring up forward with 2 goals and Honza Dubec marshalling the back line defence. Captain coach and spirit of all things Dragon, David Vetvicka, had another great game too in the middle, his clear thoughts and vision under pressure outstanding.
So with the Dragons having to find and blood 3 players it was a admirable effort. The ledger between these 2 teams stands at 1-1 at the moment, the Dragons will be out for redemption in September no doubt, while the Kings will only improve. In my opinion both these teams are made of top 4 stuff and might even push for a top 2 finish not only this year but for many more to come. Bring on the finals.
The dragons would also like to thank Sergei Zhmako enormously for becoming an honouree Dragon for the day, sorry the delivery into the forward line wasn't always lace out perfect. It's pretty hard to get on the end of it when it's floating in the air for 15 seconds but you played really well all day even though it was back to back after the cats game. Thanks again from all the Dragons.
Story scribbled on the back of a beer coaster after the match by Dave "Cool" Yule of the Dragons.
Goal Kickers:
Dragons
Michal Rada 2, David Yule, Dan Prochazka and Sergei Zhmako (on loan) 1
Kings
Jakub Rutigr, Matej Sliacky 2, Yauhen Safrankou and Radek Carda 1
Cats 6 goals, 0 behinds = 36 defeated Hawks 0 goals, 0 behinds = 0
Unfortunately, the Hawks had many players out for round 4 and had to forfeit. High demand for the Sparta ground on other weekends preventing rescheduling of the fixture. Very disappointing for the Hawks, and CAFL too, but good on the guys who came down to the ground and had a scratch match with some of the Cats donning the brown and gold for the afternoon. Well done guys.
Hi footy fans, and welcome to the 2010 Australian Rules Football season.
SEASON 2010 TRAINING
Outdoor sessions from Wednesday, 31st March, 19:00 > 22:00, Sparta Rugby Ground, Kovanecka. Close to Ceskomoravska metro. Bring training shorts, t-shirt, training shoes and a bottle of water - all new players welcome!
Further details & contact information can be found on the Join us! page.
Mike Gouteff continues the honour of CAFL President and is looking forward to seeing a continued growth of this sport in the Czech Republic. Jakub Komarek, Mark Pace and Greg Johnson join Mike on the CAFL Committee for 2010, along with newly created responsibilities, listed below:
New Teams
The big news in 2010 is the expansion of the CAFL League to 4 teams!! The All-Stars and Marauders, the pioneers of the CAFL League in 2009, have a new look, the All-Stars now the Vinohrady Hawks and the Marauders have transformed into the Prague Cats.
Vinohrady Hawks
Formerly known as the "All-Stars" the new "VINOHRADY HAWKS" will enter the 2010 CAFL Season full of confidence and eying off back to back premierships this year.
More on the Hawks page...
Prague Cats 
Formerly the Marauders, the new look "PRAGUE CATS" will be one of the four teams fighting it out for honours in the 2010 CAFL season.
More on the Cats page...
Two brand new teams have come out from under the winter snow and will try their luck in the expanded CAFL League in 2010.
Prague Dragons
The "PRAGUE DRAGONS" will be led by David Vetvicka and have been formed with some young Czech talent and have already recruited some promising new players, keen to pit youth and enthusiasm against some of the older footy heads in the other CAFL teams this season.
More on the Dragons page...
Prague Kings
Officially approved in a team meeting on Thursday 25th February, the second new team has been named the "PRAGUE KINGS".
Proudly led by current CAFL President, Mike Gouteff, the Kings bring a mix of experience and young speed to what promises to be a great season.
More on the Kings page...