ROVIGO – The match on May 12th will establish the second finalist of the championship. The new formula, introduced this year, makes it decisive to win, no matter how and no matter with what score.
It is decisive as Rovigo is forced to win, while Petrarca could earn the Parma final even with a draw. An uncommon result in rugby, but it could occur in this circumstance given that in the last five years, in which 17 derbies have been played (9 rossoblù victories, 1 draw, 7 all-black successes), those who have won have always done so narrowly, within the defensive bonus. Playing in front of the generous home crowd is certainly an advantage for Rovigo, if it is true that Petrarca’s last victory at the Battaglini dates back to four years ago (12-18), however recent history invites us to observe great prudence on the part of the “snipers”.
It has already happened twice that the team that wins the regular season matches then loses the final. It is worth remembering that in the 2010-11 season Rovigo won the home match with a round 31-3 in January and went on to win the Plebiscito in April 22-34. An almost mocking superiority towards the Paduans who however took their revenge with their interests, snatching the scudetto from the “bersaglieri” right from Battaglini (8-14).
Ten years later exactly the opposite happened, with Petrarca winning in December in Rovigo (12-18) and in March at Guizza 27-25. In the final on 2 June at the Plebiscite, however, it was Rovigo who returned the 2011 trip, winning 23-20 with Carel Greef’s last-gasp try.
So pay maximum attention because the Rovigos have won both derbies of the current regular season, same result, 12-10, both at Guizza and at Battaglini. In terms of clashes in the playoffs, there is a recent precedent against the tuttineri on May 12th. In fact, on 12 May 2019 there was match two of the semi-final against Petrarca. The week before, in Padua, it finished 10-10 so Battaglini’s match was decisive for access to the final: both teams had to win. Rovigo won 18-9. We’ll see if May 12th will bring any more luck to the rossoblù cause.
Alberto Guerrini
