Firenze (Florence) victorious in their debut for Rugby League.
The Magnificent (I'Magnifici) beat the Spartans Catania 28 to 16 in the first day of the championship, with both teams commencing the historic first ever rugby league match outside of North Italy (in this Southern Italy Conference).
Andrea Sola supported by Nicholas Faller - Photos Donatella Bernini.
Firenze (Florence), Saturday, June 19, 2010
Good first match. At the Padovani (Fienze home ground) tonight, the Magnificent of Florence have won their first meeting in the Italian Championship Rugby League. At the expense was Spartans Catania, who had maintained a tough uncertain outcome of the game for at least two thirds of the race. Despite the weather it does not promise anything good, a good frame of public followed the game since the first bars that got switched sides and had shown good initiatives of attack.
Florence was just to shine with Bastiani, that on receipt of a football tactician, Catania sets the counter from 70 meters to 3 'sends half Nava. Falleri turns for 6 to 0. The Spartans tie with the goal of strength of Messina and the following transformation of Young (6-6). Despite the loose soil by rain, both teams sped up the pace of play. Bastiani at the 16th minute, he found the gap in the opposing defense and scored. Converted by Falleri (12-6).
At 26 ' Catania reponded, with a beautiful opening kick off from Re and to the flag followed by difficult processing of Young (12-12). At the 40th' Bastiani realizes his second kick off using a fast opening he preceded by several successful actions in penetration for attack. Falleri was not wrong and scored the try at 18 to 12 for Florence. Santi worked out the play and initiative shown by Sola (later named “Man of the Match "after the game).
The second half began to realize that the strength of Catania at the 42 minute with Hernandes scoring, but missed the conversion (18-16). At 47 ', with its remarkable goal in penetration, it's up to Fortunati Rossi who shattered the comeback hopes of the Spartans Catania: 24 to 16 with the kick of Falleri. Accompanying fatigue and strong defense, that even after Bastiani took the field well, Catania in the last 30 minutes could no longer find the way to goal. The last actions of attack are strong and a try leaded in by half Falleri for 28 to 16, to be the final score.
Satisfaction shown by the technical manager & player - Ferraro: "I am very happy for the test of character which gave the Magnificent in the field today. We ended outnumbered attacks as our team prepared for Catania in good time, and tests are best just as the young Di Stefano, Fortunati Rossi, Santi. ."The player Ferraro (Super 10's RU player & soon to be Magners League/Euro Cup player) continues to show as proof of the most experienced and as did Lunardi and Falleri , which certainly bodes well for the next match that awaits us in Rome." "I want to thank all the staff of the Magnifici and in particular Marco Matteini for what he is doing for this project."
MAGNIFICI FIRENZE RUGBY LEAGUE – SPES SPARTANS CATANIA 28-16 (18-12)
MAGNIFICI FIRENZE RUGBY LEAGUE: Mafara (cap.), Leoni, Di Stefano, Sola, Caparrini, Fortunati Rossi, Passaleva, Falleri, Messini, Santi, Bastiani, Nannini, Nava, Fiaschi, Lunardi, Porcellini, Tepsahu.
All.: Ferraro
SPES SPARTANS CATANIA: Trovato, Leone, Zappalà, Messina, Re, Young, Grasso, Toro, Forte, Frosini, Arona, Di Maura, Dell'Aria, Camorali, Hernandes, Carbone, Fichera.
All.: Marco Suaria, Massimo Nicotra and Johnny Grasso
Referee: Veronese
Scorers(PTS):. 3' mt Nava tr Falleri (6-0); 10' mt Messina tr Young (6-6); 16' mt Bastiani tr Falleri (12-6); 26' mt Re tr Young (12-12); 40' mt Bastiani tr Falleri (18-12); s.t. 2' mt Hernandes (18-16); 7' mt Fortunati Rossi tr Falleri (24-16); 38' mt Falleri (28-16)
Note: 16' s.t. c. Rosso Bastiani.
Man of the Match: Andrea Sola
Attendance : 300
Filippo Santi - Foto Donatella Bernini.
Jacopo Bastiani - Foto Donatella Bernini.
MAGNIFICI FIRENZE RUGBY LEAGUE - Press Office
comunicazione@magnifici13.it &
www.magnifici13.it