Latvia spoil Norway’s return

When Latvia made their debut last year they lost 43-7 to Finland, but in the last year they learned from that and dominated their game against Norway.

Latvia proved to have a big advantage up front. After 7 minutes that power turned over a Norwegian scrum, setting up Hanna Neilande for the first score.

That powerful pack set up the next try from Marta Pukite four minutes later, and then the power of Baiba Silicka, Patricija Mirniece and Liebe Dumpe sent Latvia 29-0 up at the half-hour. Pukite then rounded off the half with her second try and a 36-0 lead at the break.

Play continued almost entirely at Norway's end but it was the 64th minute before Zane Sirsnina added a seventh try after 64 minutes before Murniece rounded off the game with a eighth try just before time.

LATVIA: 8 Madara DARZNIECE; 11 Patricija Paula MURNIECE; 18 Baiba SILICKA; 5 Julija MIKELSONE; 4 Emija VERCINSKA; 2 Alise Lakija SIRVE; 7 Beate Justine BLUMBERGA; 1 Zane SIRSNINA; 9 Liene DUMPE; 21 Sindija SIRAKA; 14 Viktorija SPRUGEVICA; 22 Marta PUKITE; 23 Krista VITOLA; 24 Elizabete TAURINA; 15 Hanna Evelina NEILANDE

3 Laura MALUKOVA; 6 Arina DJATLOVA; 13 Evelina Roze PUJA; 20 Evija KRALLISA; 12 Liene KRASONE; 19 Sintija PAPE

NORWAY: 1 Karoline HAUGELAND; 2 Rebecka May LUND; 3 Victoria Karin Straume EINAAS; 4 Ida Charlotte Bratteberg JAKOBSEN; 5 Emily Sofie Ravnanger MARØEN; 6 Gina WISNES; 7 Jennifer Isosa OSAGIEDE; 8 Lene Borg VATNE; 9 Tonje LYSSAND; 10 Mari Helena HAMILTON-BECK; 11 Hanna Margrete HØGSET; 12 Gina-Agathe Takle TYTINGVÅG; 13 Andrine BREKKE; 14 Frieda LORENZ; 15 Jeanette Therkelsen KONGSTVEDT

16 Eldina Winona Dedagic MEIER; 17 Iben Falk SIRNES; 18 Eline Erland WALDERLAND; 19 Emilie BJØRNSTADJORDET; 20 Victoria Elisabeth GRONFOR; 22 Sarah Beate Aarø ANDVIG; 23 Aasta Walberg SCHIVE; 21 Mia Grindheim; ;