International Junior Rugby League

Norway u17s defeat Montenegro match report

by
europeanrl
11/05/2026

Norway u17s defeat Montenegro match report (Photo : ERL)

Norway u17s defeat Montenegro match report

Author : European Rugby League

Norway u17s defeat Montenegro match report

Norway u17s defeat Montenegro match report (Photo : ERL)

A hat trick of tries from fullback Richard Lui Buch was the highlight as Norway U17s defeated Montenegro 30-8 in Alcoa, Farsund.

“I was impressed with the performance, it was a hard game,” said Norway U17s coach Lars Haigh. “Montenegro were a big physical team but our try line defence was immense. In attack we were a little bit basic but we can work on that. I’m very happy overall.”

He added: “We had a few standout players, Timur Liman seemed to be involved in every tackle, Leander Nesvic was going very well until he was injured and of course Richard Lui Buch was excellent.

We are hoping to play a further game this year at this age group, we’ll train a few more times, but the aim is to continue to improve these players and increase the pool for the national teams.”

Prop Nesvic opened the scoring after 17 minutes, the hosts having repelled early Montenegro pressure, Lui Buch adding to their advantage, Yazan Farjan converting both in a faultless kicking display.

The visitors hit back when Nemanja Durdevac powered through the middle to find the line, Stefan Janjic unable to convert, leaving it 12-4 at the break.

Montenegro capitalised

Montenegro capitalised on a Norwegian error from the restart, hard-working Vasilije Stojanovic going over but Lui Buch halted any hopes of a comeback, leaping out of dummy-half to add his second try.

Sustained pressure saw the visitors camped out on the Norwegian try line for much of the remainder of the half until a pressure relieving penalty allowed Lui Buch to claim his treble.

A final score for Norway saw Hjalmar Birkeland Olsen go over as the whistle sounded, Farjan adding his fifth conversion as the last act of an entertaining game.

Montenegro U17s coach, Aljosa Marinkovic, noted: “There is an obvious difference in experience between the two sides.

Norway knew how to finish near the try line whereas we got a bit excited and we have to do like Norway and play a little bit more with the brain.

“I was very pleased with everybody, they gave their best but especially with the performances of Vasilije Stojanovic and Luka Šimunovic who have come back into the side.

We need to play as many games as possible, and over the next two years we are aiming to play in the European U19s Championships.”

NORWAY 30

Tries: Richard Lui Buch 3, Nesvic, Lui Buch 3, Birkeland Olsen (80)
Goals: Farjan 5

Richard Lui Buch, Elias Gradert, Simon Tjemsland, Hjalmar Birkeland Olsen, Afred Brattli, Yazan Faraj, Timur Liman, Odin Martinsen, Markus Mikaelsen, Leander Nesvic, Jack Balls, Oskar Ousdal Berghom, Valentin Mjølhus

Interchanges: Joel Røhrs , Sebastian Båtnes, Victor Blackburn

MONTENEGRO 8

Tries: Durdevac, Stojanovic
Goals:

Vuk Ðuretic, Luka Andrijaševic, Serafim Mitskevich, Luka Novakovic, Nikola Supic, Todor Nikcevic, Stefan Janjic, Nedo Radovic, Marko Radovic, Matija Cicak, David Cubranovic, Nemanja Durdevac, Ognjen Giljaca

Interchanges: Vasilije Stojanovic, Luka Šimunovic, Petar Popovic, Nemanja Dedovic

Referee: Joseph Rago (Norway)

Half Time: 12-4

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