This Sunday Maastricht will be hosting the 4th game between Ghent Goblins and Red Rhinos. Both teams are members of the Belgian Lacrosse Federation, but act in the 3^rd Dutch National Lacrosse League organized by the Dutch Lacrosse Board (NLB).  Because of the long distance 1 full bus is leaving Rijmenam with both Goblins and Rhinos. They even managed to find 25 peoples to support this unique game.

The Gent Goblins are ranked at place 4 in the DNLL3 with 3 points in 6 matches. They’ve won two times against Rotterdam Jaguars 2 (2-3 and 5-1) and they’ve received one point after a forfeit of Groningen Gladiators 2. They’ve lost there games against Dodgers United (1-7), Den Haag 3 (0-5) and against Red Rhinos (2-6). They have a good opportunity to place themselves for the play offs this season, although they have some hard games coming against Gladiators, Dodgers, Den Haag and Rhinos.

When we asked what Gent Goblins Coach Edward Diehl expects from the game Sunday he said the following: “In our last games against the Rhinos they took advantage of quick plays and a strong mid-field. So for our next game we will limit this opportunity by dividing our own mid-field in a different way and using our own strong points to break the rhino mid-field and drive them more to the edge of the field. We have been training our mid-line to work better with our defence line to create a more solid block. And we’ve made clear rules about the sliding and going for the ball. In our attack we’ve looked at all the goals against the Rhino’s in the games they played, in this all we have found a pattern and will try to use this to our advantage.  Also we will be making more of our shot opportunity.”

The Red Rhinos are leading the DNLL3 with 5 points. They’ve won from Den Haag 3 two times (0-4 and 5-2), Ghent Goblins (2-6), Rotterdam Jaguars 2 (1-12) and Groningen Gladiators 2 (1-11). They also lost one game against Dodgers United (3-1). With only 4 games to go the Rhinos have almost qualified themselves for the play offs.

Coach Antti Larvala doesn’t believe the difference in the ranking will be shown on the pitch. “It is a national derby between two Belgian men teams. This game will be a 2 point game. As Rhinos we want to win always from the other Belgian teams, so losing this Sunday will be dramatically.  Also if we want to finish the league as first we should continue winning as the Dodgers have equal points. How we will win? I think our biggest enemy is ourselves. Last game against the Goblins we also brought ourselves in problem. After we scored the first goal everyone thought it would be a easy game, which is not weird knowing we won the previous 2 games with big difference, but the Goblins are growing under their new Dutch Coach Edward. ”

If we have to believe the both coaches, you will see a good game of lacrosse this Sunday in Maastricht (NL). But one thing is for sure: a Belgian team will win this weekend.

History matches between Ghent Goblins and Red Rhinos:

Belgian cup 2009 – leg 1:    Ghent Goblins vs. Red Rhinos: 2-12

Belgian cup 2009 – leg 2:    Red Rhinos vs. Ghent Goblins: 15-1

DNLL3 2010 – leg 1:              Ghent Goblins vs. Red Rhinos: 2-6