ROVIGO – There are moments in which values emerge in sport, rugby, in a derby competing in authentic bedlam, is an example to follow.
Petrarca conquered Battaglini by beating FemiCz Rovigo 22-24, the tuttineri rightly celebrated, the exhausted Bersaglieri collapsed to the ground. Paolo Uncini bursts into tears, a cry that lasts minutes. Petrarca coach Andrea Marcato goes to console him, he does this with all the rossoblùs, the embrace with Edo ‘monument’ Lubian is significant in his last match with the Rugby Rovigo shirt. Example of humility at the highest levels, both of them.
“This was the game I cared about most ever – he exclaimed Andrea Marcato – Rovigo is a great team, as demonstrated by the long challenge over the years with us. They could have won, but that’s how it went, we’re very happy.”
READ FEMICZ’S REPORT ROVIGO – PETRARCA 22-24
READ COACH LODI’S WORDS
A contained joy, as in his style “You will imagine how happy we are, and we understand your displeasure given that we have experienced it, it was more of a heartfelt match, we were good and a little lucky. Surely Atkins’ absence weighed heavily, it’s hard to say no, Rovigo had a great season, the players, the staff and the club must be proud of this. After losing 5 derbies we finally win, but the most important one was last year in the championship final. Now we’ll try to do the best we can, I asked the boys to give me a gift to spend a little more time together.”
Then Marcato looks back on the final minutes “The last action was infinite, I reviewed the 2021 final with Greeff’s goal from the Plebiscite, if it happens to me two out of two…, instead it went well. I’m happy to stay with the boys for another 3 weeks.”
Marcato is destined for the Federal Academy of Treviso, even if he doesn’t say it “It could be my last derby, my contract ends on June 3rd”.
Enthusiastic Captain Trotta, true beacon of the team, he would have deserved mention as MVP of the season. Man everywhere, symbolic player of the tuttineri “It will take us a while to realize the joy of this victory – admitted the captain of the Padua team – now we will do a week of relaxation and then two weeks of work in view of the final with Viadana (scheduled for 2 June in Parma”. At 14-0 Petrarca seemed to be in control of the pitch, then two inventions of one stratospheric Facundo Ferrario (best on the pitch in an absolute sense regardless of the result) and the match reopened. Rovigo did well to capitalize. We were good at defending and not committing fouls at the end. Often things went wrong at the last minute, sooner or later something had to come back to us.”
Giorgio Achilli
