The Savona Rugby championship ended in the best possible way, beyond the result of the day, which saw the red and whites emerge defeated by Capoterra with the result of 24-56. The season was very long and full of pitfalls, not only for the Savona team: the structure of the recently concluded Serie B forced many of the teams involved in 22 matches to jump through hoops, many of which were compressed into several consecutive weeks, without breaks that benefit the recovery of physiological injuries from contact sports.
Both the Sardinians coached by Juan Manuel Queirolo and the Ligurians appear on the pitch with makeshift formations, but Savona’s further disadvantage is that, unlike the guests, they do not have backups from the cadet team or the under 18s at their disposal: the red and whites they would have the youth team which has already been fundamental several times during this season, but the boys are playing the final stages of the category championship, therefore coach Andrea Costantino is forced to field a heavily restructured first XV and with several players not at 100% of the condition, moreover with only two reserves available, and therefore the state of emergency pushes him to make himself available personally.
The day begins in the morning, with all the young people from Savona aged 3 to 14 competing on the field in a small internal tournament, where even the very young can show off their acquired sporting experience in front of their families and fans from Savona: furthermore, the new recruits will accompany the two senior teams as they enter the pitch before the start of the match. The match will not bring any changes to the rankings of the two teams, now stable in their positions: Savona will finish in tenth place, despite a victory and one point more in the standings compared to the previous season which saw them seventh, right behind Piacenza who this year they dominated the group by winning all the matches and earning the Serie A, while Capoterra gained a position compared to the previous year, finishing in fourth place. On the pitch, the first minutes will all be dominated by the Giallorossi: the pace imposed by the Sardinians will lead to three goals in the first phase of the match scored by Pace, Ganga and Celembrini, with Aru having a very hot foot (100% of the conversions in the match).
We have to wait until the 20th minute to see Savona’s efforts and sacrifices materialize: a rapid rise up the pitch surprises the visiting defense and Marco Fanciulli will be able to score Savona’s first historic goal in the “Valerio Bacigalupo” stadium which exudes emotion and sporting glory: from 1959 to 2020 this facility, home of the ASD Città di Savona, has managed to host up to 20,000 people, reaching Serie B football. The match is still fun and enjoyable, but the Capoterresi evidently have clearer ideas and a certainly more organized formation, and Ganga will find the fourth goal which is worth the offensive bonus for the Sardinians. From here the match could lose its appeal, but the Savonese still have a lot to spend, and it will be Samuele “tremetri” Pivari who scores the second red and white try, converted by Filippo Serra; before the break Capoterra will again find the big target with Aru who, in addition to the points on his foot, will deservedly contribute to his team’s result by scoring just before the break. The second half will see the Sardinians manage the match again, with some changes that give new energy: Pace, Chibsa and Mariani will complete the day’s score. For the Savona team, who are never tame and always looking for the best possible result, substitutions will be fundamental: in particular Costantino, coach-player for the occasion, will make his contribution not only by trying to best manage the little energy left, but also and above all by finding the big target for one’s personal glory and helping to revive Savona’s hopes of winning the bonus point.
However, there is still a goal missing, which with the enormous sacrifice of the XV on the pitch will bear the signature of Diego Fazio and will close the first historic Savonese match at the Bacigalupo with the result of 24 to 56, with 5 points won by Capoterra and 1 by Savona. Regardless of the result, and after 80 minutes of pleasant sport, it will still be a celebration for the entire red and white club, which thanks to the pleasant sunny day, finally spring, will be able to share the third half with the fans, friends, the management, the players of all categories and all the people present. An extract from the pre-match comment by the president of Savona Rugby, Dario Ermellino, who celebrates the club’s 40th anniversary regardless of the sporting result: “It’s a strange night, the night before the first championship match at Bacigalupo, the last match of this very tough championship, which thanks to all of you confirms us still in Serie B. It’s a night that makes me think back to the beginning, 40 years ago, when it all started for fun; inevitably it makes me think of all my travel companions on this wonderful journey! I have seen friends grow old with me, I have seen children become men, fathers, mothers and even grandparents; I have seen adults cry with joy, but also with anger. Even today Savona will not only take to the field with those who play, but we will all take to the field, from the youngest child to the oldest fan, from all the unders to the coaches of all categories, to all the parents who entrust their children to us , to all the managers, to all those who cook, to all the sponsors and to all those who help us in any way. Clearly this particular night cannot help but make me think of those who have unfortunately left us, but who are always present in our memory, and I like to think that today in the stands there will be a place for them too. Thanks guys for taking to the field for all of us!”
For Savona the following took the field: Giacobbe, Magnaghi, Maruca, Urbani, Franchello, Paoletti (c), Di Murro, Pivari, R. Ermellino, Franceri, M. Fanciulli, Correoso, M. Bernat, Fazio, Serra. Available: Dogali, Shehu, Costantino. For Capoterra the following took the field: Thioye, Chibsa, Geraci, Balboni, Pace, Smeraldo, Ganga, Oghittu, Brui, Panduccio, Contu, Marston, Celembrini, Cannoni, Aru. Available: Carboni, Antoniotti, Piano, Marongiu, Mariani, Puligheddu. But the celebrations are not over yet: the Savona club will celebrate the 40 years of history of Savona Rugby on Saturday 11 May, starting at 4.30 pm, at the Bacigalupo stadium: further information available on the team’s Facebook and Instagram pages!
