LUNDAX LIONS AMARANTO – HIGHLANDERS FORMIGINE 25-21
LUNDAX LIONS AMARANTH: Magni N.; Gregori (25′ st La Rosa), Bernini N., De Libero, Carniel; Magni M. (cap.), Casalini; Marchi, Tedeschi, Bouradi; Quercioli (8′ st Vitali L.), Scardino; Vitali G. (15′ st Togni), Zingoni, Filippi (8′ st Lischi). Available: Hyka, Moscatelli, Maida. All.: Giacomo Bernini.
HIGHLANDERS FORMIGINE: Balestrazzi M.; Izzo, Idammou, Vallone, Ricciardi; Fontanesi, Abdellaoui (21′ st Alloro); Fassari, Braghini, Poli (ch.); Corradini Zini, Munno (1′ st Cremonesi); Muccignat (14′ st Amin Fawzi Amin), Palladino, Visentin (38′ st Cantarelli). Available: Splendi, Orlandi, Balestrazzi S.. Coach: Matteo Muccignat.
REFEREE: Francesco Maria Mirabella of Pisa.
MARKERS: in the first part (15-16) 3′ cp Magni M., 13′ m. Braghini tr. Fontanesi, 21’m. Trademarks Magni M., 28′ and 35′ cp Fontanesi, 38′ m. Tedeschi, 40′ vs Fontanesi; in the st 6′ cp Magni M., 17′ m. De Libero tr. Magni M., 31′ m. Izzo.
NOTE: hot day. Tedeschi sent off in the 40th minute (foul play). Temporary expulsions for Izzo (39′ pt) and Carniel (28′ pt). Man of the match: Otman Bouradi. In the standings 4 points for LundaX Lions Amaranto, who won and did not secure the attack bonus (three tries scored) and 1 point for the Highlanders, who lost by a margin of less than eight points and did not sign the bonus -attack (two goals scored).
POND (Livorno). Under a beautiful sun, LundaX Lions Amaranto bids farewell to its supporters with a beautiful victory, the eighth of the tournament. In the last home outing of a positive season, the Livorno team ended their streak of three defeats in a row. The boys coached by Giacomo Bernini, against bottom team Highlanders Formigine, won 25-21. A statement that allows us to secure (at least) ninth place. With one round to go, the Labronici are a length behind Jesi, the current eighth strength of the B championship, group 2, against whom they have also achieved two successes in two games. Regardless of the final placement, this year, for amaranth, is particularly precious for opening a new cycle. Even against the Emilian yellow-blues, space was given to a ‘fifteen’ full of young and very young players. The holders – and this is neither new nor a surprise – are the class of 2005 Nico Bernini, Gabriele Casalini, Nico Quercioli and Cristian Zingoni and the class of 2004 Enzo Diego Carniel and Giulio Tedeschi. Against a team – the one from Formigine – thirsty for safety points, the Livorno team remained clear even in the most complicated moments. A success achieved with a performance full of foresight and elegance.
The results of the 21st and penultimate day of Serie B, group 2 (in brackets the points valid for the ranking: Romagna – Gubbio 88-0 (5-0); Pieve di Cento – San Benedetto 24-20 (4-1); CUS Siena – Bologna 0-26 (0-5); Jesi – Modena 7-26 (0-5); Firenze’31 – Colorno 5-55 (0-5); LundaX Lions Amaranto – Formigine 25-21 (4-0). The new ranking: Romagna* 100 p.; Colorno 87; Bologna 85; Modena 79; Pieve 59; San Benedetto 50; CUS Siena 45; Jesi 39; LundaX Lions Amaranth 38; Gubbio 30; Florence’31 19; Formigine 14. *Romagna mathematically promoted to A2. Next Sunday LundaX Lions Amaranto will visit Bologna.
In the 3rd minute the talented fly-half of the Livorno team Matteo Magni broke the deadlock with an easy finish: 3-0. The response of the guests – who showed good numbers in the closed scrums – was not long in coming: the Highlanders with the goal of the third wing Braghini, converted by the opener Fontanesi, made the first overtaking of the match in the 13th minute (3-7 ). The first half was characterized by balance, with the Livorno team doing well to find the counter-overtaking goal with the valid third center Giacomo Marchi (born in 2003). Matteo Magni converts: 10-7 in the 21st minute. The yellow-blue team relies on the ballistic skills of Fontanesi, who, from the pitch, first equalizes the score (10-10 at 28′) and then puts his team ahead again (10-13 at 35′). Strong emotions at the end of the half. The goal of the precious flanker Tedeschi allows the Livorno team to put their noses back in the lead (15-13 in the 38th minute); Fontanesi’s new placement allows the gialloblù to end the first half ahead (15-16 at the halfway point of the match). In the first part of the second half, the Livorno people grew. Matteo Magni’s placed shot gives the advantage (which later proved to be definitive) to the locals: 18-16 in the 46th minute. In the 57th minute, the expert Labronian center Emilio De Libero had a beautiful solo, as he outpaced the opposing defense and smashed in a goal, not far from the right-hand flag. With skill, from an angle, Matteo Magni converts and allows the team he captains to reach the maximum gap, 25-16. Formigine, with stubbornness, pushed forward in attack and in the 71st minute scored the goal with winger Izzo which allowed them to nibble away the delay within the break distance: 25-21. In the last minutes, the Livorno team came close to reaching the meta-bonus. Formigine, with the little point obtained – defense bonus for the deficit of less than eight points – can still hope to avoid the playouts. The yellow-blues, who have 14 points to their credit, will play next Sunday at home against Firenze’31, who occupy the penultimate place with 19 points. At the end of the playout, which will involve the last of the four groups, one team will be relegated to Serie C. next season, there will be 50 teams – divided into 5 territorial groups – involved in Serie B. And among those 50 teams there will also be the Livorno team LundaX Lions Amaranto, eager to raise the bar.
