Nemesis beckons the Moufflons on Saturday when they face Croatia at Paphiacos Stadium. The home side have crashed from their glorious pinnacle of unbeaten continous international European games over a period of six years, to their current position of holding up European Conference South 1 Division without a single win all season. The division is led by Malta, unbeaten after 4 games with a total of 17 points, followed by the Israelis with 14. Croatia are mid-way with Andorra and Cyprus bringing up the rear. If anything can be assessed from results then Croatia must be favourites, having drawn with Malta 14-14, and overwhelming Andorra 47-15. Cyprus lost to Malta 31-3 and lost to Andorra by 15-14points.
To avoid relegation the Cypriots will have to beat Croatia that will give them 4 points to add to the 1 they hold now, which will take them 1 point above Andorra, currently on 4 points. The points system in Europe awards 4 for a win; 2 for a draw; 1 point if the winners achieve three clear tries more than their opponents; and 1 point if the losing side finishes within 8 points at the conclusion of the game.
An interesting situation arises if Cyprus join Conference Division South 2, because apart from the Balkan states of Austria, Serbia and Slovenia, the division houses Turkey that although they did not put in an appearance this season—on financial grounds—and therefore bottom by default, have intimated they will return next season. The Moufflons are the only Cypriot international team to regularly cap Turkish Cypriots.
Peter Morrish, the veteran team manager, who has nursed the Moufflons since inception, declared: ‘This is a must win situation; anything less means relegation to Conference Division 2 South. We have not yet embraced the concept of loss, having spent so long on a wave of victories, our current position seems so alien. When we consider how much the team has given to the country, bringing international recognition, by establishing the world record—for consecutive international winning games (24)— our lads are not ready for defeat’. Team captain, Marco Mladenovic, echoed the same sentiments, when he stated: ‘We stand on the brink of relegation, but none of the team will accept it. They have trained to the peak of condition to ensure a win over Croatia; people forget that we have beaten these Balkan sides before, either in fifteens or sevens. They hold no mysteries for us. With the crowd behind us and the return of some of their favourites, like Tony, George and Renno, and the inclusion of the Bilton boys, Sam Burns, Matt, Alex, Luke and Burhan, we are not even considering defeat’.
The game kicks off at 3-00pm on Saturday 6th. May at the Paphiacos Stadium in the centre of Paphos; entry costs 10 euros which includes a programme.
Alexander Macgowan
