Serie C – Promotion Playoff Semifinal – First leg
Città di Castello vs Sitav Rugby Lyons 3-46 (3-25)
Goals: 0-6
Sitav Rugby Lyons: Bassi G; Nakov, Oppizzi D (45′ Rodina), Profiti (45′ Solari), Spezia; Groppelli N, Efori (55′ Fornasari); Perazzoli, Oppizzi D, Bassi L (45′ Bellani), Pozzoli, Petrusic (cap) (62′ Cazzarini); Salerno, Borghi (43′ Cristian), Cantù (60′ Groppelli G)
Coaches: Baracchi, Solari
Scoreboard: 2′ m Nakov (0-5) 5′ cp Città di Castello (3-5), 17′ cp Groppelli N. (3-8), 26′ cp Groppelli N. (8-11), 29′ m Bassi G. tr Groppelli N. (3-18), 39′ m free kick Lyons (3-25). ST 48′ m Perazzoli tr Groppelli N. (3-32), 73′ m Rodina tr Groppelli N. (3-39), 80′ m Perazzoli tr Groppelli N. (3-46).
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Player of the match: Alessandro Perazzoli
Authoritative victory and access to the last act of the season guaranteed for the Juventus Cadet Team, which prevailed on the Città di Castello field in the first leg of the Semifinal of the Serie C Promotion Playoffs. A challenge that was anything but easy, which the Leoni did well to make their own by breaking the resistance of a tenacious and well-placed Città di Castello team. The balance was tipped by the Juventus scrum, which guaranteed possession and advancement to the team, which were completed well in the first half by the attacking midfield with goals from Nakov and Giuseppe Bassi.
The game immediately started to go downhill for Lyons, who scored on their first offensive sortie with Nakov finishing off a nice combination of the attacking midfield. The home team didn’t like it, and showed up in attack with a couple of dangerous moves, from which they only managed a successful free kick, subsequently missing the overtaking kick. After the slip, the Lions reorganized themselves, returning to the attack with method and precision, resulting in two free kicks made by Groppelli, who made the first breakthrough of the match. From this moment on, the Bianconeri will never look back, scoring the two tries that will close the first half: first a nice escape from Bassi on the wing, then a free kick goal won from the scrum, for a 3-25 partial at the break .
The match was put on ice by the Bianconeri’s fourth try, scored by Perazzoli again thanks to the excellent work of the closed scrum. In the second half, Città di Castello did not give up, coming close to scoring several times, but the Lyons defense held firm throughout the match, not conceding anything to their opponents. In the final, the match ended with two more heavy goals scored by Rodina and Perazzoli, awarded Player of the Match by the local public, whose great hospitality, cordiality and respect for the entire match and for the splendid third half must be underlined.
With the advantage gained in this first leg, the Lions can confidently approach the return match, in which it will be enough to gain one point to secure the final promotion. The Bianconeri’s race to Serie B is going through its final stages with the right pace, approach and concentration from the team.
