SportGibraltar

Rugby: Great win for Campo Gibraltar against Universidad Sevilla

Match played 2nd April 2006



John Smiths Campo Gibraltar Sponsored by Triay and Triay have won yet another game against Club Deportivo Universidad de Sevilla.

The match played in Sevilla, further strengthens Campo Gibraltar's right to be in the Primera Regional

Club Deportivo Sevilla: 19 Campo Gibraltar: 35

There are three matches left of the season and we are confident that Campo Gibraltar will be able to maintain their winning streak and clim a couple of places in the league.

Match report for the game against Sevilla to come.

Campo Gibraltar's next encounter is against Club Rugby Marbella, who are currently 3rd in the league. A win for the Gibraltar based side could see them narrow the margin between the sides to just 2 points. We wish them the best of luck.

CAMPO GIBRALTAR RC v MARBELLA RUGBY CLUB 23/04/2006


Match Report for Cordoba Game, played a few weeks back.

John Smiths Campo Gibraltar sponsored by Triay and Triay, with yet another inspiring performance, scored six tries and three penalty kicks, as they thumped the CR Cordoba 45-5 in their first division regional rugby match at Campo del Fontanar, Cordoba on Sunday 5^th March.

The home side overcame two early penalty kicks by Gibraltar and turned around a 0-6 deficit with a try of their own in a commanding performance that underscored their favouritism to win the encounter, this time around. Soon after Gibraltar where back in control with another penalty kick by Carlos Balloqui, making the score 5-9.

For three quarters of the match Gibraltar unleashed relentless attacks, stretching the Cordoba defence on both sides of the field and reducing them to a defensive role. Such became Cordoba’s frustration at having to chase and tackle constantly that simple penalties were being conceded in Gibraltar’s favour.

Gibraltar’s 45 unanswered points reflected their domination of the game. Gibraltar turned over possession and hurt Cordoba the most, as the Gibraltar side displayed their full range of attacking skills, using both the forwards and backs. Cordoba lost their prop midway through the first half, when he was pummelled, with ball in hand, after a short burst down the left flank.

Chad Thomson, Paul Bellingan and Diego Sanchez formed a lethal loose-forward combination and at the back halfback Rob Phillips and fly half John Dibb unleashed their dangerous backs with a variety of options that ran Cordoba ragged. In addition to the front row partnership of Jesus Torrente, Nick Ramagge and Darren Frendo with the second row partnership of Rob Uphill and Chris Lugnani pushed the Cordoba scrum back every time.

The forwards were determined to score another try before half time and did so with several attacks, on the 8th phase of play the forwards pushed towards the Cordoba line but were impeded by the defence, however with the ball under a mound of players, possession was being decided, finally the ball popped out in the Gibraltar based team's favour and "Skippy" scrum half Rob Phillips dived over the ruck to score Gibraltar's first try of the game. Balloqui who had succeeded with his earlier penalty kicks, missed his fourth attempt at converting the try,l however, Campo Gibraltar had now extended the gap to 5-14 to the visitors at halftime.

During the second half, second row Rob Uphill burst through the defence in midfield after a solid maul laid the foundation for their attack, and charged 15m like a young Scot Quinnell to clear the way, for a try by Vicente Botella. Balloqui converted the kick adding another seven points to the score board in the 20th minute to further stretch the Gibraltar lead 5-21.

However, as in last week's match there were a number of questionable decisions by match officials though they didn’t affect the result. As the pressure of Campo Gibraltar raged on Cordoba’s defence, it was only a matter of time before the flood gates would open, Cordoba’s defence was going to withstand the constant tidal damage from John Smiths Campo Gibraltar sponsored by Triay and Triay persistent battering. Cordoba conceded a penalty in an effort to slow Campo Gibraltar’s outburst, but quick thinking and nifty feet of Chris Lugnani saw him take a quick penalty and pop the ball to no. 8, Chad Thomson, who scored in the corner, which was converted by Carlos Balloqui. There may have been a case of crossing with scrum-half Rob Phillips, but the only thing that was crossing after that was Campo Gibraltar over the Cordoba try line.

John Dibb and Pepe Arjona gave Gibraltar an even greater lead with a try each, making the score 5-38. As the visiting team upped the tempo and applied constant pressure, particularly at midfield when Cordoba's defence began to leak more and more as the game progressed.

Shortly after his try, the referee, sin binned John Dibb for what seemed to be a kick to the opposition but was in fact a shrug-off of his boot. With ten minutes to go in the encounter, John Dibb watched from the sideline as his side scored another try.

They hit Cordoba hard after turning over possession from a scrum and replacement winger Thomas de Corbier finished the attack. Balloqui converted, giving the final score of 5-45 to Gibraltar.

The Gibraltar based side made two more substitutions making sure every player who travelled up to Cordoba got a game. Even though their were 15 minutes left to go Gibraltar battled on, right up to the final whistle. They followed their game plan and made certain adjustments due to one or two injuries.

Score: Club Rugby Cordoba 5 Campo Gibraltar 45

Gibraltar Try Scorers: Rob Phillips, John Dibb, Vicente Botella, Pepe Arjona,

Thomas de Corbier and Chad Thomson

Conversion: Carlos Balloqui 3

Penalty Kicks: Carlos Balloqui 3

Team: Nick Ramagge, Chris Lugnani, Darren Frendo, Jesús Torrente, Rob Uphill, Paul Bellingan, Diego Sanchez, Chad Thomson, Rob Phillips, John Dibb, Vicente Botella, Carlos Balloqui, Craig Sacarello, Thomas De Cobier, Pepe Arjona, Jesus Olea, Erik Zetterman, David Torrente.