Strong winds and contentious refereeing decisions were the outstanding features of the basement battle between relegation rivals La Vila and Hernani on Sunday 24 March, presided over by Rafael Ortega. In a game that either side could have won, Hernani were the team able to take advantage of the oppositions mistakes and misfortune to secure victory.
Although their courageous efforts were aided by encouragement from the faithful home crowd, the Vileros destiny was sealed at the final whistle when four points were awarded to the Basque team. It is now mathematically impossible for La Vila to avoid relegation, and they face three more games at the top level before preparations begin for life in the “División de Honor B”.
The home side showed good resilience in the first half, maintaining a positive attitude despite an interception try in the fourth minute for Hernani full back Garmendia. After a disallowed try for a forward pass, forward Aristemuño managed to get La Vila on the score board with a try from an attacking maul. Referee Ortega gave yellow cards to Vileros Sorribes and Lamboglia after 22 then 32 minutes respectively, as well as Otaño for Hernani, giving the visitors a boost due to their one man advantage.
However, home captain Guillem Carrión kept the Vileros in contention by closing the scoring in the first half with a well worked try.
In the second half, referee Ortega was castigated by the home fans who felt injustice at some of the decisions given against their team for offside and perceived infringements at the rucks. Sorribes made a crucial interception, making a break from the twenty two and touching down for the third try for La Vila. However, Olaegi cancelled Sorribes’ effort out with a try against the run of play to make the score 17-19 after 48 minutes.
La Vila were camped in the opposition half and made repeated attacks but were unable to get the crucial points needed to regain the lead. In the final minute of the game, a try from Becerra was akin to the “sword of Damocles” for the Alicante side, ending the contest 17-26 and sentencing La Vila to relegation to “División de Honor B”.
It was a great performance by the men from Marina Baixa, who went unrewarded on the scoreboard despite their titanic efforts. The team now aim to continue to play from the small coastal town of Vilajoyosa with the same tenacity in the remaining three league matches of the season, as well as in the return leg of the semi-final of the Copa del Rey in Valladolid against VRAC Cheese Entrepreneurs.
Team Line-up LA VILA R.C.
Haeffeli, Delgado, Nico Martínez, Paco Martínez, Tilford, Guillem Carrión (Cap), Aristemuño, Metral, Jiménez, Quirante, Quintero, Villalba, Lamboglia, Agudon and Sorribes. Subs: Sanz “Pepín”, González, Davies, Chivers, Coronel, Gómez “Yustin” and Lucas Poggi
Team Line-UP HERNANI C.R.E
Sarasola, Seco, Orbegozo, Aranburu, Becerra. Gutiérrez, A. Otaño, Barandiaran, Genua, Garmendia (Cap), Olano, Esnal, Exteberria, Iñaki L, and Garmendia. Subs: Apaolaza, U. Otaño, Otxotorena, Zumalabe, Casado, Olaegi and Jokin
Match Facts
(0-7) Min 4, Try Garmendia, conversion Genua
(5-7) Min 10, Try Aristemuño
(5-14) Min 26, Try Iñaki, conversion Genua
(12-14) Min 34, Try Guillem Carrión, conversion Sorribes
Half Time
(17-14) Min 44, Try Sorribes
(17-19) Min 48, Try Olaegi
(17-26) Min 79, Try Becerra, conversion Genua
Laura Powell / La Vila Rugby Cub Press Office
Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/38344/
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