The 2024 final of the Serie A Elite rugby will be Viadana-Petrarca Padova. After the Emilians had prevailed yesterday in the decisive derby against Valorugby, today at the Battaglini stadium in Rovigo it was the turn of the direct clash between the home team and Petrarca Padova. The “Italian derby”, the final of the last two years of the top Italian championship, decided who would be the second finalist. Here’s how it went.
Start from the Paduan brand, who after 10 minutes broke the deadlock with a kick from Bellini which put Rovigo’s defense in difficulty, a relief kick blocked by Trotta, Bellini takes the ball back and smashes for 0-7. The guests insist and in the 17th minute the ball goes wide for Scagnolari who scores the goal to make it 0-14.
After half an hour Rovigo’s response, with Ferrario who breaks three terrible tackles from Padova and goes all the way for the 7-14. And in the 37th minute it was once again Ferrario to change gear, find the break and second personal try and score at 14-14.
Rovigo persists at the start of the second half and in the 46th minute finds a free kick Dogliani finds the three points to overtake for 17-14. More indiscipline for Petrarca in the 52nd minute, with Tebaldi forced to hold, and Dogliani goes to the pitch, but this time he doesn’t find the posts. Petrarca reacts now, lots of possession for the guests and in the 58th minute De Masi slipped into the hole and crushed between the posts to make it 17-21 for the people of Padua.
But in the 68th minute the third goal also arrives for Rovigo, who from the maul sees Cadorini break away and crush for 22-21, with Dogliani badly making a mistake with the conversion. And in the 76th minute Petrarca Padova’s scrum demolishes Rovigo, wins a free kick, Scott Lyle goes to the pitch to make it 22-24 for the guests. Exciting final, Trotta ahead who gives the rossoblù the last possession with the red time. Very long action, with the home team looking for a free kick, but in the meantime they get closer to the goal line, meter after meter. But in the end the ball was lost and Petrarca Padova won.
