Firstly, it was good for Sitav Rugby Lyons who had a solid performance in their friendly against Rugby Monferrato, keeping their opponents dry and scoring 11 tries. The final was 0-71 to Urdaneta and Paoletti’s men, who couldn’t have asked for anything better than their day in Asti.
The first-ever black-and-white squad for new signings Russo, Castro, Dabala, Ruiz, Burr and Torres is starting to take shape, and despite the inevitable mistakes dictated by disbelief, the team is preparing early. and in the first minutes, the score is deadlocked by Giovanni Via’s signature. In the first 20′, before the Water Break, other scores arrive: Captain Bruno scores at the end of a beautiful three-quarter combination and then Portillo and Torres score two tries for the scrum department. “Lions” make a difference in category and weight score, concluding the first half with two more goals scored by Bruno and Acosta. A few dangerous moves from Monferrato, who always faced a careful and tough defense.
Lyons were still on the attack early in the second half, with number 10 Rousseau completing a good run with a goal. After a few minutes of some inaccuracies in defense and attack, he scored again in the 64th minute, relying on an advancing scrum. In the last 10 minutes, the Juventus back line created the difference again, with new signing Pasini and Rodina twice, before Federico Canderle’s final goal of the contest ended at 0-71.
Head coach Urdaneta smiles, satisfied with the game of his team: “The result is considered correct, but for me reading “0” under the points conceded always appeals. This means that the team is ready to make sacrifices and apply what has been done on the field in training: we must start with these ingredients to build the season. Obviously, there is still a lot of work to be done, but interesting situations and schemes have already appeared. We can be satisfied with what has been put in place, but we will return to thinking about the season from Monday.”
Next up, the Lions face the Coppa Italia play-offs, taking on Rugby Verona at the Payarini Stadium in Verona on Saturday 21st September.
Scoreboard: 3’m Via G tr Russo (0-7), 10’m Bruno (0-12), 12’m Portillo tr Russo (0-19), 19’m Torres (0-24), 23’m Bruno tr Russo (0-31), 32′ m Acosta tr Russo (0-38)
st 45′ m Russo tr Russo (0-45), 64′ m Karones tr Russo (0-52), 70′ m Rodina tr Via G (0-59), 73′ m Pasini (0-64), 80′ m Canderle tr Via (0-71)
Sitav Rugby Lyons: Via G; Cuminetti, Castro, Rodina, Bruno (cover); Rousseau, Dabala; Portillo, Bance, Cissè; Ruiz, Burr; Torres, Minervino, Acosta
Entered: Libero, Karones, Bolzoni, Cemicetti, Bottacci, Nakov, Perazzoli in the 41st minute; In the 58th minute, Gaetano, Pasini; 65′ Canderle, Cantù; 70′ Viti, Molina