In the European Rugby Trophy Championship, Lithuania descended on Belgium
The Lithuanian national team played for the first time. The hosts made excellent use of the gusty wind raging in Šiauliai and, while playing downwind, scored a penalty kick. The debutant of the Lithuanian national team – Pedro Soto from Argentina, who has Lithuanian roots and Lithuanian citizenship, won everyone in the first place. For the first time, P. Soto wore the T-shirt to the third team. Later, the Belgians took the initiative, but at the end of the quarter, two more free throws from P. Soto returned the advantage to the Lithuanian national team 12: 7 from the middle of the field.
In the second half, Lithuanians had to play against the wind. The Belgians humiliated the start of the quarter and erupted further at 14:12. Later, the guests managed to further increase the lead to 25:12. At the end of the match, the Lithuanian national team went into a decisive assault and after the humiliation of Domantas Bagužis’ ball reduced the lag to 17:26. However, the Belgian Fifteen managed to keep the victory in their hands.
“I am not happy with the numbers that burn on the scoreboard after the match. But there were far more positives than negatives in the match. The men fought well, defended well. There were even a few moments when we took the lead. But it was a little short of victory. One other untapped opportunity and could end in our favor. Pedro Soto was a disappointment, however. Clearly, getting into the system after a few workouts isn’t easy. But today it was really good and enlivened our game, ”said the coach of the Lithuanian national team Gediminas Marcišauskas.
Lithuanian rugby players who have won one victory and suffered three losses in 4 matches have 5 points and share 5–6 places in the Trophy division together with the Ukrainian team. This team will not be eliminated from the Trophy division, and the two strongest teams will enter the European Championship.
“I tried to adapt to the game system of the Lithuanian national team, but the weather conditions hindered the fulfillment of all the requirements of the coaches, and the fact that I trained with the team only a few times. I am satisfied with the team play. The team level is really high, even higher than I expected. We have a good system, we change sides well, players have good skills. I am extremely happy for the first time in my life in Lithuania and playing for the Lithuanian national team. I want to join the national team in the match in Poland in two weeks. But at that point, an important match awaits my club. But if only the club coach releases, he will definitely come to the national team again, “said P. Soto, who is playing for the French” Limoges “team.
The last matches of this season’s “Trophy” division will be played by Lithuanian rugby players on April 9 with the Polish national team.