Finland overcame neighbours Norway to win the Nordic Cup over the weekend in a convincing away performance.The home team were outclassed but never overcome and put in a battling performance in which they displayed strong defence resilience against a strong Finland outfit.
Finland started the game well putting pressure on Norway in their own 22 and then after solid pressure up front they pushed the ball wide quickly and scored near the touchline a flanker Noora Lampinen crossed to touch down.
Norway were consistently punished for some ill-discipline and Finland managed to make them pay for their errors after 20 minutes when they scored from a scrum set-piece move under the posts for a 12-0 lead.
Norway hit right back though with their own score after a neat line-out move created pressure and forced Finland to concede a penalty which was played quickly and prop Heidi Nilsen was on hand to bring her side back into the game with an unconverted try.
Finland though were not to be outdone and they scored again before half time. This time number 8 Minna Raatikka took the ball on from the base of a scrum and as she created a gap in Norwegian defence, scrum half Anita Velinova was in support and carried the ball to over the line to score. The try meant that Finland lead 17-5.
Finland managed to secure the win with another try late in the game - this time from captain and flankerTanja Malinen.
Norway did not lie down however and came close to scoring again when winger Elisabeth Berg Lohre made a great run out wide only to be pushed into touch close to the line.
