SportGibraltar

Match Report from the Sevilla game:

John Smiths Campo Gibraltar sponsored by Triay & Triay had a second-half bonanza to win their 1^st division match against CD Universidad Sevilla, held in Campo Blanco in Sevilla on Sunday 2^nd of April.

After a frustrating first-half, Spanish opponents CD Universidad Sevilla had little to offer the 1^st division fifth-placed side that ran in six tries, with fly-half John Dibb contributing to his team’s points.

Sevilla made an impressive start by getting an early opportunity to settle any nerves as they scored within 10 minutes and converting their conversion just to the right of the posts.

But that did not knock the away team’s confidence as, 5 minutes later, Gibraltar drove into the heart of Sevilla’s forwards and was powerful enough to put Barry Imms over for the first try of the game, making the score 7-5 in favour of Campo Gibraltar.

David Torrente got himself sin-binned by clothes lining an opposing winger, by accident, 25 minutes into the game. With a man down CD Universidad Sevilla could not take advantage of the situation.

Gibraltar dominated proceedings but they failed to convert that pressure into points.

Twice they came close but to no avail, then suddenly Carlos Balloqui burst through a gap in Sevilla’s midfield and fed full-back Pepe Arjona with 22 metres to go, the Sevilla team raced back but was useless to the speed and determination of the player. This then made the score 7-10 to Gibraltar.

Balloqui faced with tacklers in front and beside him, gave a pass to Vicente Botella but, as the back row charged unopposed towards a second try, the Argentinean referee pulled the move back for a forward pass.

Eventually, though, the score that Gibraltar had been threatening for a while arrived when Carlos Balloqui kicked a penalty that put his side six points clear. CD Universidad Sevilla nearly got some points when their fly half hit the post with a 25 metre penalty kick attempt. Shortly after Gibraltar’s scrum half, Craig Sacarello, went past a would-be tackler from a scissors on the left and dived for the score.

CD Universidad Sevilla came from behind, with their quick winger allowed to score just right of the posts, the conversion was taken and converted, making the score 14-13. However, a breakaway attack saw Gibraltarian, Carlos Balloqui race clear for his fourth try, which he converted, making the score 14-25.

On the 74^th minute John Dibb grabbed the touchdown he had threatened earlier in the match after a superb move involving the entire Gibraltar backline, the score increased to 7-30.

Gibraltar then squandered another golden opportunity when scrum half James Russo, on as a replacement for Pepe Arjona, after 70 minutes, set up prop Nick Ramagge.- one of the many stars of the Gibraltar pack.

Elsewhere, James Russo made his second appearance since suffering ligament damage to his knee back at the beginning of the season. And there was one final moment for the away fans to savour as substitute scrum half James Russo got his first try of the game after his pack did him proud with a surging drive towards the opposition posts, from an opposing scrum. James, dived just right of the posts, to score his side’s sixth try, making the final score 19-35 to John Smiths Campo Gibraltar, sponsored by Triay & Triay.

In the 77th minute, Sevilla replied with their third try of the game, this however, was merely a consolation try.

Score CD Universidad Sevilla 19 John Smith Campo Gibraltar 35

Scorers: Craig Sacarello, John Dibb Carlos Balloqui, Barry Imms, Pepe Arjona and James Russo

Conversions: Carlos Balloqui

Penalty Kicks: Carlos Balloqui

Team: Darren Frendo, Chris Lugnani, Nick Ramagge, Wayne Tunbridge, Andy Blackburn, Diego Sanchez, Barry Imms, Chad Thomson, Craig Sacarello, John Dibb, Erik Zetterman, Vicente Botella, Carlos Balloqui, Thomas De Cobier, Pepe Arjona, Jesus Olea, Jesús Torrente, Paul Bellingan, David Torrente, James Russo.

Click here: to read Gibraltar's brilliant win against Macarena Monte (images included)

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