On the Sunday in which, by signing a sensational result 450 kilometers away (one meter plus one meter minus) from home, the doors for the new A1 championship could even be opened, Unicusano Livorno Rugby pays homage in the simplest and most genuine way to two young people, Alessandro Bernini and Elia Maiorano, who passed the oval too soon. Important events reserved for four propaganda categories are dedicated to the two athletes, events that will attract thousands of athletes to the ‘Carlo Montano’ pitch in via dei Pensieri and ‘Giovanni Maneo’ pitch in via Settembrini.
TOURNAMENTS. Four tournaments will be played in the two Argentinian facilities, organized by Unicusano Livorno Rugby: the unranked under 6 tournament ‘Festival del Rugby’, the under 8 tournament ‘Trofeo 11° Memorial Elia’s dream’, the under 10 tournament ‘Trofeo 13° Memorial Alessandro Bernini’ and the under 12 tournament ‘Trofeo 19° Città di Livorno’. A total of 28 teams were involved, representing 11 clubs from 4 different regions. On the two fields, first phase and entire under 6 tournament during the morning from 9:00 to 13:00. Then, in the early afternoon, on the ‘Montano’, the under 8, under 10 and under 12 finals.
DECISIVE MATCH. At the ‘Angelo Trombetta’ stadium in Avezzano, this Sunday (kick-off at 3.30pm, referee Gabriel Ionut Chirnoaga, assisted by the markers Luca Giurina of L’Aquila and Andrea Meschini of Pescara), as part of the 21st and penultimate matchday of the A championship, group 3 (the central-south grouping), the yellow and black hosts Isweb, third in the ranking with 75 points, will host Unicusano Livorno, fourth with 68. The Marsicans, whose team includes even the third Livorno center and former green and white Dario Basha, are in fact certain of finishing the tournament in third position: for mathematical certainty they can be satisfied, against the Labronici, of not losing. With third place, the passage to the new A1 championship is certain (the second domestic tournament 2024/25, with a single group). The truth is that with a statement, the Livorno team – who seven days later will host the very strong league leaders Lazio, in a match in which it will be almost impossible to get points – would not reopen the game for third position, but they would close it off – with a victory seasoned with the bonus the certainty would be arithmetic – fourth place. And, according to the (very reliable) rumors, the best two-quarters of the three A groups would move – like the other teams that will finish the three groups on the podium in the standings, with the exception of the team that will be promoted to A Elite – to A1 .
BREAKTHROUGH’. The Unicusano, after playing the home match with the Cavalieri Prato/Sesto, in which they managed to obtain a precious point (bonus-attack), experienced a clear decline. In the next two matches, at the ‘Marco Polo’ against the local UR Firenze and at home against Paganica, it seemed lackluster. The green and whites, in these two matches, obtained a total of six points. The Labronici team coached by Riccardo Squarcini, in order to hope to put Isweb Avezzano in difficulty this Sunday, will have to show a very different side. Only by playing at one hundred and ten percent of their possibilities, the green and whites can achieve the ‘shot of the century’. Curiously, the Abruzzo team, with 14 wins, 1 draw and 5 defeats, have a less brilliant record than the Livorno team, who boast 14 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats. However, the yellow-blacks, compared to the green-and-whites, obtained the various bonuses more often. A team from Avezzano capable of playing continuously throughout the season and exploiting their undoubted qualities. Even in the first leg, faced with an opponent on a bad day, they highlighted important qualities for the category. In particular, on that occasion (12-28 result, 0-5 points in the rankings), it was the visiting back line that made the difference.
MEMORABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT. For the green and whites, talking about a ‘sporting miracle’ in the event of success at the ‘Trombetta’ stadium is perhaps excessive. The fact remains that it will serve as a memorable feat, one of those to be told to the grandchildren on cold winter evenings, in front of the lit fireplace. Any success would rightfully enter the club’s history. The tournament formulas have changed and it is very difficult to make comparisons with the past. However, it is undeniable that Avezzano is the most important race of recent years. A match in which the weight of the favorable forecast weighs on the opponents. The Labronians can face the match calmly, trying to capitalize on the mistakes made in the first leg and in the last two (not very sparkling) performances.
