The Czech horse racing season has begun and Brno will host the first of its three annual racedays this Saturday. The highlight of the eight-race card is a 4100-meter steeplechase worth 80,000kc. There are five flat races and two other steeplechases. First-race post time is 2 p.m. Photo credit: Czech horse racing.
Brno, Apr 10 (BD) — HC Kometa and Liberec even at 2-2 in hard-fought semifinal series, Žabiny Brno beat KP Brno in Game 5 to advance to ŽBL Finals, egoé Basket Brno faces top-team Nymburk tonight (Wednesday) and quick turnaround into pre-Playoff series, Zbrojovka Brno prepares for three games in seven days, Draci remains undefeated as Hroši sweep Technika. Both Alligators and Sígrs have home games this weekend, Dragon Rugby returns to Prague after starting season with two losses, Brno Cricket has four friendly matches scheduled for this weekend and Moravia Cup next weekend, and the Brno sports results and schedule.
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
Lokomotiva Hosts Hradec Králové in Huge Game on Saturday
Seventh-place FC Lokomotiva-Horni Herspice (2-3-7, 9 points) will take the field for an important home game against eighth-place FC Hradec Králové (3-0-9, 9) on Saturday at 11 a.m. The loser could very well be the team that will be relegated from the top women’s league at the end of the season.
So far during the spring half of the season, Lokomotiva has tied Plzen and lost to SK Slavia Praha in league play.
The final Lokomotiva league game will be at 1. FC Slovácko (4-1-7, 13) on April 21 at 4 p.m.
HOCKEY
HC Kometa Evens Exciting Semifinals with Liberec
Two minutes into extra time of Game 4, Jakub Orsava found Karel Plášek just as he broke past the Liberec defence and, with a nicely placed shot over the goalkeeper’s right shoulder, HC Kometa evened the Tipsport extraliga semifinal series at 2 games apiece.
The score on Monday was 3-2 and it was another come-from-behind win for Brno, which has lost, won, lost and won during the series, with three of the games going into extra time. The best-of-seven series will have at least two more games: at Liberec at 5 p.m. on Thursday and back in Brno at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday
Kometa swept Liberec in the 2017 Finals to win their 12th league title and first since 1966. Since then, Kometa defended its title by beating Třinec four games to one in 2018. In both postseasons, Kometa went 12-2.
This postseason has not gone as smoothly. Kometa swept Hradec Králové in four games to advance to the semifinals but Liberec, the top team from the regular season, has proven to be a difficult opponent. Brno is 6-2 during this postseason.
The best-of-seven finals will be from April 18 to 30.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Žabiny Brno Advance to ŽBL Finals
Women’s athletics of the highest level were on display throughout the five games of the ŽBL semifinals, with powerful performances by Žabiny Brno to jump out to a two-game lead and inspired performances by KP Brno to even the series at two games apiece. In the deciding game on Saturday, however, Žabiny Brno held on for the final victory that sent the team from Zabovresky into the Championship Series.
Žabiny Brno beat KP Brno, 62-74, in Game 5 to earn the right to play league superpower ZVVZ USK Praha.
Žabiny Brno are back in the finals for the first time since 2013-14. Perhaps all of the travel to international competitions has paid off because the team showed a steady confidence throughout the rivalry series with KP Brno despite losing top scorers Kateřina Zohnová (12 points a game) and Petra Záplatová (12.8) to injury.
ZVVZ USK Praha swept Sokol Nilfisk H. Králové in the other semifinal series.
The Finals will begin on April 17 in Prague. Brno will host Game 2 on April 20 and Game 3 will be back in Prague on April 24. If necessary, Game 4 would be in Brno on April 27 and Game 5 would be in Prague on May 1.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
egoé Basket Brno Preps for Postseason
egoé Basket Brno has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, so it was within the realm of possibility that they could beat second-place Dekstone Tuři Svitavy on Wednesday. Of course, after a nine-game losing streak, it definitely seemed unlikely.
Nevertheless, Brno registered the shocking victory, 77-74, and salvaged some confidence. Perhaps it was the home-cooking after five consecutive road games.
It was, however, a victory too late and a success too little to move Basket Brno up in the standings. They will now have to earn their way into the main bracket of the Kooperativa NBL Playoffs.
Brno will finish play in Group A1 when it hosts odds-on-favorite-to-win-another-title ČEZ Basketball Nymburk today (Wednesday) at 8 p.m.
Then, Brno, which has gone 3-10 in the advanced group, will play in a short best-of-three pigtail series to earn their way into the main Playoff Bracket. The opponent in the Pre-Playoff Bracket is yet to be determined — either USK Praha or Geosan Kolín, the top two teams from Group A2 — but the dates for the games are already available: Friday in Brno; Sunday away; and, if necessary, Tuesday in Brno.
MEN’S FOOTBALL
Zbrojovka Settles for Scoreless Tie with Ústí
FC Zbrojovka peppered the FK Ústí nad Labem goal with shots, benefited when the Ústí goalkeeper panicked and got red-carded at the edge of the penalty box and they had several scoring opportunities against the one-man-less visitors, but the Brno team still could not break through to win and settled for a scoreless tie.
Brno has 10 points from five games during the spring half of the Fortuna:Narodni Liga season, but they are quickly running out of time to climb into the top three in the standings for a chance to get back into the top Fortuna:Liga at the end of the season.
Zbrojovka is still fifth with a record of 9-6-6 and 33 points. They are four points behind fourth-place FK Varnsdorf (10-7-4, 37) and five points behind third-place FC Hradec Králové (11-5-5, 38). Brno plays both of those teams in the final nine games of the season.
Now, Zbrojovka plays three games within seven days, starting at Táborsko at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. They return home on Wednesday to host Pardubice in a 6 p.m. game and then go to Varnsdorf for a 5 p.m. start on April 21.
The top three teams in the Fortuna:Narodni Liga get a chance to advance into the top Fortuna:Liga. The top team goes directly. The second-place team plays the 15th-place team from the top league in a home-and-away series. And the third-place team plays the 14th-place team in a home-and-away series. (The 16th-place team from the top league is automatically relegated to the second league.)
BASEBALL
Draci Take Two-Game Lead Into Third Week
Draci Brno swept Tempo Praha to take a two-game lead on second-place defending-champion Arrows Ostrava after two weeks of the Czech extraliga baseball season.
Cardion Hroši Brno swept Brno Technika to get to 4-2 for the young season. Technika, after six games against its Brno rivals, is 0-6.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL
Sígrs, Alligators Have Home Games This Weekend
Ragby Bystrc will host two American Football games this weekend when the Brno Alligators host the Pardubice Stallions on Saturday at 2 p.m. and the Brno Sígrs welcome the Vysočina Gladiators on Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Sígrs and the Alligators both represent Brno in the newly named Paddock League.
The Alligators opened the season last weekend with a 38-21 loss at the Pilsen Patriots. The Brno Sígrs have yet to take the field.
The Brno rivalry will be played out twice: May 3 and June 22.
RUGBY
Dragon Rugby Drop Close Game to Říčany
RC Dragon Rugby has started the season with two losses, the first at RC Sparta Praha (59-12) and the second at home to RC Mountfield Říčany (21-29) on Saturday. Brno returns to Prague this Saturday to play RC Praga Praha.
CRICKET
Brno Cricket Preps for Season with High Hopes
The Brno Cricket Club prepares for their forthcoming season with some friendly matches this weekend when they host the Prague Barbarians Cricket Club. Games will be at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Click here for more information.
The following week, brings the Moravian Cup on April 19-21. The defending champions of the Czech Cricket League, Prague Cricket Club, will be in the mix. Lords CC from Vienna will also play.
The Czech Cricket league begins April 27. Brno, the runner-up in 2018, will travel to Prague to participate in the opening match and the inaugural ceremony for the Czech T20 summer league. The opening match pits Brno against defending champion Prague CC at Chateau Field, Vinor, at 3 p.m.
Expected to be in attendance are International Cricket Council executives and the Indian Ambassador to the Czech Republic.
Later in the summer, Brno will take a Tour or Slovenia with games on July 6-7.
BRNO SPORTS RESULTS
Quick results for various Brno professional and recreational sports for the past week. Home team listed first (when applicable).
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
— Men’s Basketball: egoé Basket Brno 77, DEKSTONE Tuři Svitavy 74
— Women’s Basketball: Teamstore Brno 100, U19 Chance 46
— Hockey (Semifinals, Game 1): Bílí Tygři Liberec 4, HC Kometa Brno 3, extra time
Thursday, April 4, 2019
— Women’s Basketball (Semifinals): Žabiny Brno 57, KP Brno 66
— Hockey (Semifinals, Game 2): Bílí Tygři Liberec 2, HC Kometa Brno 3, extra time
Friday, April 5, 2019
— Baseball: Technika Brno 4, Cardion Hroši Brno 10
— Baseball: Draci Brno 7, Tempo Praha 0
Saturday, April 6, 2019
— Baseball: Tempo Praha 6, Draci Brno 13
— Baseball: Technika Brno 2, Cardion Hroši Brno 7
— American Football: Pilsen Patriots 38, Brno Alligators 21
— Men’s Basketball: Olomoucko 96, egoé Basket Brno 66
— Women’s Basketball (Game 5): KP Brno 62, Žabiny Brno 74
— Rugby: RC Dragon Brno 21, RC Mountfield Říčany 29
Sunday, April 7, 2019
— Men’s Football: Zbrojovka Brno 0, Ústí nad Labem 0
— Baseball: Tempo Praha 3, Draci Brno 13
— Baseball: Cardion Hroši Brno 12, Technika Brno 2
— Hockey (Semifinals, Game 3): HC Kometa Brno 1, Bílí Tygři Liberec 2
Monday, April 8, 2019
— Hockey (Semifinals, Game 4): HC Kometa Brno 3, Bílí Tygři Liberec 2, extra time
BRNO SPORTS SCHEDULE
The schedule for various Brno professional and recreational sports for the next week. All dates and times subject to change. Home team listed first (when applicable).
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
— Men’s Basketball: egoé Basket Brno X ČEZ Basketball Nymburk, 8 p.m.
Thursday, April 11, 2019
— Baseball: Olympia Blansko X Draci Brno, 7 p.m.
— Hockey (Semifinals, Game 5): Bílí Tygři Liberec X HC Kometa Brno, 5 p.m.
Friday, April 12, 2019
— Baseball: Olympia Blansko X Draci Brno, 7 p.m.
— Men’s Basketball (Game 1): egoé Basket Brno X TBD, TBD
Saturday, April 13, 2019
— Women’s Football: Lokomotiva Brno H. H. X FC Hradec Králové, 11 a.m.
— Baseball: Cardion Hroši Brno X Kotlářka Praha, noon
— Baseball: Skokani Olomouc X Technika Brno, 1 p.m.
— Baseball: Draci Brno X Olympia Blansko, 2 p.m.
— American Football: Brno Alligators X Pardubice Stallions, Ragby Bystrc, 2 p.m.
— Rugby: RC Praga Praha X RC Dragon Brno, TBD
— Hockey (Semifinals, Game 6): HC Kometa X Bílí Tygři Liberec, 3:30 p.m.
— Baseball: Skokani Olomouc X Technika Brno, 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 14, 2019
— Running: Brno Half Marathon, 11 a.m.
— Baseball: Kotlářka Praha X Cardion Hroši Brno, 1 p.m.
— American Football: Brno Sígrs X Vysočina Gladiators, Ragby Bystrc, 2 p.m.
— Baseball: Technika Brno X Skokani Olomouc, 2 p.m.
— Men’s Football: Táborsko X Zbrojovka Brno, 4:30 p.m.
— Men’s Basketball (Game 2): TBD X egoé Basket Brno, TBD
Monday, April 15, 2019
— Hockey (Semifinals, Game 7, if necessary): Bílí Tygři Liberec X HC Kometa Brno, TBD
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
— Men’s Basketball (Game 3, if necessary): egoé Basket Brno X TBD, TBD
The Brno Sports Report is published every Wednesday. All dates and times are subject to change. Most of the stories are about the traditional “English-speaking” team sports — football, hockey, baseball, basketball, American football, cricket, rugby, etc. — but it is also about the interesting local spectator and participation sports — tennis, badminton, running, horse racing, swimming, rock climbing, biking, etc. If you have any suggestions for what should be included, please comment below or send an email to brnosports@gmail.com.
