Champions!
22 February 2010
by Sean Judkins
The Sporting Gods were smiling on Rugby Club Ponent this weekend, as the Majorcans made Balearic rugby history. Ponent received fifth placed Sant Cugat from Barcelona in Principes de España in what was billed by the locals as one the most important dates in their short but eventful ten year history.
Victory would assure them of a place in the promotion phase for Spain’s second division, while a bonus point win (scoring four tries or more coupled with a favourable outcome in the Hospitalet-Sitges match) would hand them the title of Champions with one match remaining.
First things first – Sant Cugat. The attitude and commitment shown by Ponent prior to kickoff was exemplary, and this was carried onto the field. From the onset, Ponent went on attack, outplaying the visitors despite battling into a strong head wind. The local forwards worked hard and made valuable meters before the ball was spun with confidence and efficiency through the back line. Break after break was made, and only the occasional error gave the ball to the Catalans to clear their line using the wind to gain territory, if not putting pressure on the Ponent line. The scoring was opened after 15 minutes after yet another excursion into the Sant Cugat half.
The forwards made excellent head way, before the direction was switched, the ball passing through a number of hands before fly half Sean finished the movement in the corner. This gave Ponent a confidence boost, taking the lead into a 10 point wind. In what has been common this season though, this confidence brought with it some deal of complacency, and with two consecutive errors, Sant Cugat were given a scrum five meters from the try line. Sensing an opportunity to capitalise on this, their only real attacking opportunity, they threw everything but the proverbial and the line, and were well rewarded with a five point try. This was then followed by a Sant Cugat penalty shortly after the restart, putting the score at 5 – 8 in favour of the visitors.
This stirred Ponent out of their slumber, as they once again went on the offensive. Sant Cugat had little answer to the power and effectiveness of the Ponent forwards, and with good front-foot ball, their backs continued to make breaks. With support close at hand, the phases continued until eventually they made it to within one meter on the try line. The ensuring maul resulted in Sean burrowing under to finish what was a true 15 man try. 10 – 8 with five minutes remaining in the half, and the thought of turning with the wind at their backs with a slight advantage in the score board must have seemed worth seeing the half out.
Number Eight Miguel had different ideas. From the restart he, with Lucho and Juan Cruz in close support made repeated break into enemy territory to bring the locals to within ten meters of the line. A regulation three point penalty goal was overlooked, as a confident Ponent sensed their rivals were on the back foot. After some deliberation, the decision was made to rumble the ball up, with Miguel breaking off the back of the ever dominate Ponent maul to cross for a valuable try, which was converted by Juan Cruz.
With the score at 17-8 and the wind in their faces, the second half was always going to prove difficult for Sant Cugat. With a changed game plan to accommodate the change in climatic conditions, Ponent played for position before setting their forwards to work. Drive after drive not only gained ground, but served to demoralise the opposition.A deep kick was chased hard by winger Rodrigo who charged down the attempted Sant Cugat clearance. The ever present Fede was close on hand to pounce on the loose ball to notch up the vital fourth (bonus point) try.
That score brought with it scenes of jubilation from the home supporters, both die-hard and new found. The job on the pitch was far from done however, and with the next foray into enemy territory resulting in a penalty being awarded, common sense prevailed over bravery, with Juan Cruz called up to convert the regulation three pointer. A further try with 15 minutes left on the clock, finished off by Fede after another series of breaks put the result effectively beyond doubt.
Rather than relax however, the locals were honour bound to keep their line intact. Sant Cugat never gave up, and ran the ball from all parts of the field to try and salvage something from their time (and money) consuming trip to Palma. For the next 15 minutes, Ponent had to defend. Weakened by two yellow cards, one of which was justified (if not a little pedantic) with the other a rare wrong decision by an otherwise competent and knowledgeable referee, Ponent spent much of this last stanza under the cosh.
It is a credit to the attitude and pride of this current squad, that with superior numerical advantage, Sant Cugat where unable to improve their points tally.
At 32-8, Ponent guaranteed themselves entry to the promotion stage, while it was a nervous time in the clubhouse awaiting the results of the other encounter. With the after-match in full swing, the news came through that second placed Hospitalet had fallen at home to third placed Sitges, meaning that the title of Champions was heading to the Balearic Islands with one round remaining.The Island first was met with celebrations in true sporting style; champagne and song coupled with messages of congratulations and appreciation being received and given.
So where to from here for Ponent? An away match to second placed Sitges to see out the regular season, then between two and six more matches to determine which two of the eight sides (two from each of the four groups in Primera Nacional) in the fight for promotion will be given the difficult but sought after challenge of playing in Spain´s Division de Honor B. If they can continue to use the ball with the accuracy and penetration by the backs as shown this weekend, and if the forwards maintain their hard nosed approach and physicality, Ponent have as good a chance as any to be rewarded come the end of play in April.
Todo salió perfecto en el recinto del Polígono de Son Castelló. Sol, temperatura idónea para la práctica del rugby y una grada repleta de la familia ‘verde’ del Ponent que acudió en masa para vivir una de las grandes tardes del deporte oval en las Islas. En el terreno de juego, el quince entrenado por Sean Judkins salió decidido a no dar opción a su rival y, mediado el primer tiempo, logró su primer ensayo de la tarde (5-0). El Sant Cugat, que no vino a Palma a participar de la fiesta local, acortó distancias con un golpe de castigo (5-3) y, en el único error mallorquín, se puso por delante gracias a un ensayo de su delantera (5-8). El susto duró apenas unos minutos, ya que el Ponent se rehizo y anotó dos ensayos antes del descanso para tranquilidad de los presentes (17-8).
En los primeros compases del segundo tiempo el Ponent cerró el partido con tres nuevas marcas que pusieron el 32-8 definitivo, dando paso a la celebración en la grada. Pese a sufrir dos expulsiones temporales, el quince mallorquín no sufrió nunca por el resultado y, nada más finalizar el encuentro, se unió a la fiesta desatada en la grada con antelación. Hora y media después, el triunfo del Sitges en Hospitalet (13-19) daba matemáticamente el título honorífico de Liga al club balear.El Ponent (10 triunfos, un empate y dos derrotas) finalizará la Liga dentro de quince días en el campo del Sitges, donde el equipo local deberá derrotar al ya campeón para acompañarle en la lucha por el ascenso de categoría. Una vez acabada la fase regular, a finales de marzo comenzarán las eliminatorias que conducen a División de Honor B para las que el Ponent ya espera rival.
Todas las fotos son de Ferrán de la Roza (StQ): Ver resto de la galería
Nota en Diario de Mallorca
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