Bittersweet triumph for Real Ciencias Enerside (47-21)

Real Ciencias Enerside fulfilled its part in its fight for the second final place in the regular league of the División de Honor of Spanish rugby. The Sevillians prevailed with authority over the historic Santboiana, the current champion, 47-12, but the disappointment came with the news from Valladolid, where Recoletas Burgos came from behind against VRAC so that finally the Sevillians had to settle for being third parties.

These are the things of sport, Manuel Mazo’s team depended on another game and although everything seemed to lead to a clear victory for the leader of the category, who won 29-12 until minute 79, everything changed with two yellow cards and three marks of Burgos in the extension time. The last one came in minute 88 and left Real Ciencias Enerside without second place in the championship. This means losing the home field factor in the semifinals, something of great importance in the possible duel precisely against Recoletas Burgos.

But there are many battles left until we get to that war. Real Ciencias Enerside still has a postponed game to play against Barça Rugby and, above all, the semifinals of the Copa del Rey against VRAC at La Cartuja on April 30.

The scientific team, even with significant casualties such as fly-half Cormac Fox, in addition to long-term players such as Axel Papa, Franco López or Guillo Domínguez, started the match against the San Baudilio de Llobregat team with force. After 10 minutes, Sam Wasley and Guille Domínguez had already landed the oval in two powerful irruptions from behind, breaking the line.

That caused the Sevillians to dominate at all times, as the advantage later went to 21-0 in another good action by Iñaki Mateu culminated by Facundo Nogueira in a fast and precise hand game. The advantage was going to remain between those 21 points and the 14 when the Catalans cut back, but the victory was never in jeopardy and it all ended with two final marks by Guillo Mateu, the last one in a beautiful combination with his brother Iñaki.

Real Ciencias Enerside was clearly winning, but could not control the strange ending in Valladolid with the comeback from Burgos with time already up at Pepe Rojo.

Datasheet

47 Royal Enerside Sciences: Muñoz, O’Brien, Allen, Sthor, Manu Mora, Luchi Molina, Kirkwood, Wasley, Nogueira, Iñaki Mateu, Jorba, Rutolo, Barnett, Guillo Mateu and Guille Domínguez. Juan Domínguez, Catalano, Bobo, Del Hoyo, Cocó Roldán and Álex Gimeno also played.

21 Santboiana: Vía, Buira, Viana, Bianchini, Pujol, Carbonell, Palomar, Boyde, Lescano, Puig, Anguita, Socino, Chambers, Contardi and Martínez. They also played Sirvent, Pichot, Viana, López, Pigatto.

Scorer: 7-0 (6′) Rehearsal by Sam Wesley transformed by Iñaki Mateu. 14-0 (10′) Guille Domínguez’s try was converted by Iñaki Mateu. 21-0 (20′) Nogueira’s try transformed by Iñaki Mateu. 21-7 (36′) Sirvent essay transformed by Socino. 28-7 (47′) Rehearsal by O’Brien transformed by Iñaki Mateu. 28-14 (56′) Chambers essay transformed by Socino. 35-14 (64′) Rehearsal by Manu Mora transformed by Iñaki Mateu. 42-14 (74′) Rehearsal by Guillo Mateu transformed by Iñaki Mateu. 42-21 (78′) Penalty test for the Santboiana for sinking a maul. 47-21 (80′) Rehearsal by Guillo Mateu.

Referee: Andoni Superregi. He drew a yellow card for Vía, Barnett, Muñoz and Del Hoyo.