27/12/2009

By Luke Quinlivan.

In the opening game, the Barbarians comfortably beat Vasas, Hungary 13-8.

Vasas were outclassed in most facets of the game, especially in shooting and centre forward. Croatian player for the Barbarians, Niksa Dobud, proved his capabilities as a world class player by playing a near full game at centre forward, which is not his usual position, earning multiple exclusions and scoring 2 centre forward goals.

Young Fremantle goalkeeper, Edward Slade, played the first half in goals making a solid eight saves including a penalty midway through the second quarter against Olympic gold medallist, Gabor Kiss.  
The Hungarians had their chances early in the game but botched too many opportunities on account of error. Vasas goalkeeper, Viktor Nagy, passed the ball directly to Aiden Roach of the Barbarians, resulting in a re-counter one-on-none goal. Nagy was dragged at half-time. Adam Decker missed an extra man post shot, Viktor Voros lost the ball on the first pass of one of Vasas’ extra man plays, and, Gabor Kiss missed a penalty.

Vasas aren’t out of the tournament yet, they still have a chance to claw their way back. It will all come down to tonight’s clash between Vasas and hosts, Fremantle Mariners. They play at 8:15.

Barbarians: Edward SLADE (GK), Christian HOAD, Dan YOUNG, Sandro SUKNO [4], Maro JOKOVIC [1], Clancy NEESHAM, Aidan ROACH [1], Sam MCGREGOR [1], Regan BURROWS, Niksa DOBUD [1], Ryan MCCARTHY, Paulo OBRADOVIC [5], James Sandman.

Vasas, Hungary: Victor NAGY (GK), Adam DECKER, Bence PHILIP [1], Norbert HOSNYANSZKY, Victor VOROS, Robert KOVACS [1], Krisztian LETAY [2], Denes VARGA [2], Gabor KIS [2], Balint TAKACS, David HONA, Gyorgy JONAS (GK).

Photography by Paul Entwistle