Background
When you get to the top eight Women’s teams in the world, it’s always going to be tough to separate them. And both teams have shown they deserve to be top eight.
Honestly, Denmark have been outstanding. They’ve struggled a little against the very top sides, but have dispatched everyone below them time after time. They beat Latvia on universe (10-9) to gain a more favourable crossover, and then triumphed over Germany (10-6) to show that, truly, they deserved to be in the top eight.
Russia, by contrast, were known to be very strong. They claimed silver in WCBU 2015, and gold in ECBU 2013. Their only loss so far this tournament have been 10-13 to the USA. Seven other teams have tried, seven other teams have failed. And no wonder. This team has been training since October. They’ve come from separate player bases in Moscow and St Petersburg (and Virge Andre in Estonia), and have been training hard for this tournament. They’ve even had warm up games against the Russian Men’s team. And now, they aren’t interested in fairy-tales. Now, they’re looking to win.
Gameplay
Denmark start as they mean to go on, and throw long instantly. It turns, but a Camilla Tinderup D gives Denmark a second attempt. Again, thrown long, this time for the score. DEN 1 – 0 RUS. Denmark bring out a zone, and Russia turn. Another Denmark long shot, and a stall-nine panic throw by Maya Mileck is brought down by Christian Noer. Another goal. Denmark throw the zone again, Russia turn again. A Danish endzone drop (unpressured) gives Russia another chance, and Eurostar player Alisa Tizik brings home Russia’s first score. DEN 2 – 1 RUS.
Dina Dumanskaia moves the disc for Russia. Photo by Tino Tran.
The Russian sideline starts singing, and the defence gets tight. Denmark are forced into another panic shot, and Maya Mileck brings it home. DEN 3 – 1 RUS. Russia are clearly panicked. In takes a lot of turns, but they finally conquer the Denmark zone. Denmark reply with a longshot, and Ellen Jakobsen skies her defender. DEN 4 – 2 RUS.
From here on out, the game is all about Russia. They’ve figured out the Danish zone, and the Danish long shots stop working. Denmark try to transition from the zone, but Russia get free easily. DEN 4 – 3 RUS. Denmark overthrow, and Olga Podolskaia toes the line to see the disc in. 4-4. Denmark try to reply, both teams are turning the disc. Denmark take a timeout, but a D from Podolskaia stops any plans they had. She then scores. 4-5. Denmark overthrow long. Russia hit their target long, Sasha Pustovaia assist to Elizaveta Voronkova. 4-6. Denmark try another zone, Russia walk through it, and it’s another Pustovaia-Voronkova assist. 4-7.
Finally, a connection long for Denmark as Noer takes down a shot from Malick. 5-7. The Denmark zone finally gets another D, as Levke Walczak gets horizontal. Her team try to put it long, but Dina Dumanskaia is wise to it for Russia. Tizik puts it long for a Russia score. Denmark try to mix it up, but Russia don’t allow it. They take a timeout to run down the time, and then score the break. 5-9. Another Denmark long score brings it close, but there’s nothing they can do in the end. Tizik has to bid for the final score, but it’s due to Voronkova throwing too wide on her around, and Denmark can’t get near.
Final Score: Denmark 6 – 10 Russia.
Livestream from the Danish Men’s Facebook page.
Quotes from the sideline
Joost Doesburg (Denmark Coach) – They were a bit lucky in the beginning when we played our zone. That gained them confidence, and they got faster than us. If they hadn’t got lucky, we could have won that game.
Pavel Eremin (Russia Mixed) – The girls from Denmark were pretty good with their hucks. When we went upwind, their four-person cup was very good. But still, the Russians have worked very hard marking under on D and on breaking our marks.
By Harry Mason.
