36-26. VRAC will face Recoletas Burgos in the final
VRAC Quesos Entrepinares will face Recoletas Burgos in the final of the Rugby Honor Division after winning this Sunday, in the semifinals, against a Liceo Francés that reacted late and could not counteract the good first half of the azulones (36-26).
The team from Valladolid came out with maximum ambition to the Pepe Rojo pitch and achieved their first try in the 12th minute, through Giorgi Turabelidze, after a ‘touch-maul’ in which they used their power to reach the goal line, to which Hollingsworth’s conversion was added.
VRAC had very clear ideas and not only showed a serious defense, completely blocking Liceo, but also continued to build on the offensive level, taking advantage of the numerical superiority, after the yellow card for Julián Molina in the 16th minute.
And he did it so well that he added three more tries to his locker: from Pablo Mateos, who took advantage of his speed; by Baltazar Taibo, after a great kick from Hollingsworth; and Martiniano Cian, breaking the visiting defense with his change of pace.
The local advantage was thus expanded to 26 points. Opposite, a French Lyceum that paid dearly for every mistake, but did not give up, which allowed it to gain its first seven points on the scoreboard with Talemaisuva’s try and Adrián Arias’ conversion.
They could have reduced the difference further, but failed to define, while the VRAC remained attentive to take advantage of each visitor’s failure, which Hollingsworth demonstrated after intercepting a pass from the rival and ending up placing the oval on the rival goal line.
With a more than convincing 33-7, the break was reached, but not everything was said, because the Liceo came out all out after passing through the locker room and scored another try through José Ignacio Spinelli to close the gap.
And with two more on the pitch, after the yellow card for Marc Sánchez and Mauro Genco, the Madrid team made room in the cheese line to add another score, by Marc López, plus the conversion by Adrián Arias (33-19), in the 69th minute.
But the Valladolid team knew how to make use of their experience in finals to secure the victory, with a penalty shot converted by Hollingsworth that would prove to be enough, although Liceo added a final try by Julián Molina, with a transformation, which left the final result at 36-26.
Technical sheet:
36 – VRAC Entrepinares Cheeses: Raúl Calzón, David Gallego, Giorgi Turabelidze, Kalokalo Gavidi, Arnau Ojeda, Marc Sánchez, Álvaro Pírez, Andrea Mastouri, Gonzalo Domínguez, Baltazar Taibo, Sergio Molinero, Sam Hollingsworth, Martiniano Cian, Pablo Mateos, Mauro Perotti. Mauro Genco, Álex Pérez, Pedro Cane, Tsotne Tchumburidze, “Tincho” Serrano, Marcos Muñiz, Gabriel Vélez, Alejandro Alonso also played.
26 – Societé Generale Liceo Francés: Thierry Futeu, Nacho Löpez, José Anaya, Borja Ceballos, Camilo Córdoba, Hugo Carriere, Julián Molina, Pedro Bardón, Carlos Cuerda, Adrián Arias, Jerry Surumi, Gonzalo Ballester, Marcos López, Adriano Talemaisuva, José Ignacio Spinelli. Lucas Santamaría, Sacha Santiago, Manuel Garcés, Nicolás Rouret, Juan Bosco Suanzes, Marcos Sanz, Gustavo Fontecha, Adrián Gabas also played.
Score: 7-0 (m.12), Turabelidze try that Sam Hollingsworth converts. 14-0 (m.17), try by Pablo Mateos that passes Hollingsworth. 19-0 (m.20), try by Baltazar Taibo. 26-0 (m.25), try by Martiniano Cian that transforms Hollingsworth. 26-7 (m.37), try by Adriano Talemaisuva that Adrián Arias passes. 33-7 (m.40+), an essay by Hollingsworth that he converts himself. 33-12 (m.59), essay by José Ignacio Spinelli. 33-19 (m.69), essay by Marcos López that Adrián Arias converts. 36-19 (m.73), penalty blow that Hollingsworth transforms. 36-26 (m.76), essay by Julián Molina that Adrián Arias passes.
Referee: Federico Javier Japas (Valencian Federation). He showed yellow cardboard to Julián Molina (m.16), from the Liceo Francés, and to Marc Sánchez (m.60) and Mauro Genco (m.64), from the VRAC.
Incidents: Semifinal of the Rugby Honor Division played at the Pepe Rojo fields in front of about 1,500 spectators
