"Baltic XL/Livonia" secures top spot in regular season with fifth win

Rugby club "Baltic XL/Livonia" won 41-29 at home against a Šiauliai club in a Baltic TOP League regular season match.

Ruslans Sosnars scored two tries, while Gļebs Vorobjovs, Uvis Vasiļenko, Artūrs Alainis and Bruno Osītis each added one try. Jack Tatu contributed 11 points through penalty kicks and conversions.

At the start of the match, the visitors missed two penalty kicks, while Tatu opened the scoring for "Livonia" with a penalty. Shortly after, Vorobjovs scored a try, and following Tatu's conversion the score stood at 10-0. The Šiauliai club responded with a try and conversion. As heavy rain set in, "Baltic XL/Livonia" extended its lead after a try by Vasiļenko. In the 26th minute, Sosnars broke through with a solo run, and after Tatu's conversion the score reached 22-7. Before halftime, the visitors narrowed the gap with a try, making the halftime score 22-12.

Second half

The home side dominated the opening part of the second half. A run from Sosnars and a conversion from Tatu pushed the score to 29-12, and Alainis later capitalized on an opponent error to make it 34-12. In the 72nd minute, the Lithuanian club cut the deficit with a try and conversion, but four minutes later Osītis finished a nearly 60-meter run for a try, followed by Tatu's conversion. In the final minutes, the visitors scored two more tries, though these did not threaten the home side's victory.

The win marked "Baltic XL/Livonia"'s fifth of the season in the Baltic TOP League. The team's next match is scheduled for October 3 in Baldone against "Ažuolas," the last game of the regular season. On October 10, "Livonia" will play a Baltic TOP League semifinal at home, with the opponent to be determined after the final regular season matches.