A free kick with time expired gave the victory to Benetton Treviso (11-10) in the Union Rugby Championship derby with the Parma zebras, at the end of a hard-fought but at times exasperating ugliness. In Monigo the prediction was respected, but without that questionable final whistle from referee Vedovelli the guests would have celebrated a surprising and well-deserved success. One goal for each side: Marin for the Venetians, Zambonin for the Emilians. And many errors, especially from the home team who rose to 18 points in the standings but still aren’t convincing. In a week, the rematch in Parma.
The mistakes of the Venetians, the courage of the Zebras
«Money is not everything in sport: but looking at the balance sheets of the two clubs you can see an important difference», said Paolo Vaccari, great champion and today strong man of the Federation, recently, justifying a heavy defeat of the Treviso team against the French team Clermont Ferrand. Today, however, it was the Venetians, the rich ones, faced with the Emilian franchise, so modest (economically) that the Fir has just decided to put it up for sale. And yet, the difference was not seen.
Zambonin overturns the result, then Vedovelli blows the whistle
With a courageous and punctual defense, prepared to perfection by coach Brunello, the Zebre underlined Benetton’s current difficulties. The first half ended with the green and whites slightly ahead – and unable to take advantage of Gregory’s yellow card – thanks to a try by Marin, to which De Re responded with a free kick. In the second half, the long and bungled pressure from the hosts produced only one more opening kick and in the final Zambonin, who was constantly improving, scored. The Christmas surprise seemed to be decorated with bows, with the Parma team managing the oval in the final seconds, but that free kick confirmed that the Venetians are the strongest in this sport.
Benetton Treviso – Zebre Parma 11-10 (5-3)
Markers: 30’ pt meta Marin, 38’ cp Da Re; 19’ st cp Marin, 32’ meta Zambonin tr Da Re, 41’ cp Smith.
Benetton Treviso: Smith – Lynagh, Fekitoa, Brex, Ratave – Umaga (25′ pt Marin), Uren (5′ st Garbisi) – Halafihi (Favretto), Zuliani, Negri (7′ st Izekor) – Ruzza, Cannone – Ferrari (5′ st Zilocchi), Maile (20′ st Bernasconi), Spagnolo (5′ st Tetaz).
Zebras Parma: Prisciantelli – Gregory, Paea, Lucchin (25′ st Drago), Gesi – Da Re, Garcia – Licata, Stavile (27′ st Nasove), Ferrari (37′ st Bianchi) – Zambonin, Canali (13′ st Krumov) – Neculai (33′ pt Hasa), Di Bartolomeo (Ribaldi), Fischetti (22′ st Rizzoli).
Referee: Widowers
Note: 10′ yellow card Gregory
#Rugby #Benetton #Treviso #gasp #derby #Zebre
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