Jún priniesol posledný turnaj sezóny 2016/2017 a RKB tak zavŕšil už dve kompletné sezóny. Záver s rugby sevens prišiel vhod, keďže začiatok leta zredukoval náš tím na osem ľudí.
Naším hlavným cieľom bolo zlepšenie hry v porovnaní s predchádzajúcim turnajom – zlé zachytávanie výkopov, zlé prihrávky, zlý prehľad v hre, neskorá podpora.
Proti Piešťanom sa nám podarilo zvíťaziť; naše jediné, no o to cennejšie víťazstvo na turnaji. Na úvod nás mladý tím prekvapil. Ani ja som nečakal takú pozitívnu agresivitu od úvodných sekúnd a prvé dve minúty sme nehrali na sto percent. Potom všetci začali hrať zodpovedne, zlepšili sme hru a zvýšili sme obrátky. Vďaka dobrým kopom a prehľadu o hre sa nám podarilo troma položeniami obrátiť skóre a udržať ho vďaka dobrej obrane aj v druhom polčase. Celý tím RKB ocenil toto zriedkavé víťazstvo, najmä pčš nedostatok hráčov na lavičke, ktorí by mohli priniesť čerstvú energiu.
Prehrali sme zápas proti Trnave, tímu, ktorý patril k hlavným uchádzačom o titul. Ja som oddychoval na lavičke, pretože som rozhodoval predchádzajúci zápas. RKB proti Trnave odviedol svoju prácu.
Na zápas proti Žiline sme nastúpili s nádejou na tvrdo vydreté víťazstvo, no už prvé minúty zápasu ukázali, že v prvých dvoch stretnutiach sme vydali príliš veľa síl. Nedokázali sme držať krok s čerstvejšou a skúsenejšou Žilinou. Pre únavu väčšiny tímu sa nám podarilo skórovať len raz, keď sme boli blízko pokladiska, vďaka dobrému mlynu. Celkovo však naša hra bola príliš priemerná na to, aby sme mohli dúfať v dobrý výsledok bez náhradníkov.
Posledný zápas proti Slovanu bol pre súpera generálkou pred finále proti Trnave. S prázdnymi baterkami sme hrali so srdcom a troma juniormi zo Žiliny, ktorým sme vďační za podporu. Pre nedostatok kreativity sme sa trápili na vlastnej polovici a čelili sme rozdieluv kvalite a oddýchnutosti. Mrzí ma, že niektoré rozhodnutia rozhodcu išli proti nám – bolo zopár nepotrestaných vysokých skládok, neodpískaných prihrávok dopredu a nečistej hry v rucku bez odozvy. Celkovo však bol súboj dobrý a ako kapitán a tréner musím vidieť tieto detaily, ktoré ovplyvnili náš tím.
Hodnotenie RKB hráčov
Čo sa týka rojníkov, Xavier držal mlyn a bol efektívny zdvíhač pri lineoutoch. Príliš veľké bicepsy v tesnom tričku však spôsobili, že prišiel na podporu neskoro a určite by z neho lepšia kondička spravila nebezpečnejšieho hráča.
Július na poslednom turnaji chýbal a tak rugby sevens objavil až tento víkend. Vďaka dobrej fyzičke zahral na nováčika dobre a istil každú loptu. Slavo získava v sedmičkách čoraz viac skúseností a bol skvelý skokan, získal neuveriteľne veľa lôpt a možno bol najlepším skokanom turnaja.
Ja ako číslo 9 a zároveň pri sedmičkovom lineoute hooker som bol dvakrát potrestaný za to, že som nestál vnútri päťmetrovej zóny, čo je pravidlo, o ktorom som nevedel. Palo bol náhradník a podporoval nás z lavičky, nosil vodu, fotil a striedal vyčerpaných hráčov.
V útoku som bol ja ako mlynovka, v tejto pozícii hrávam posledných šesť mesiacov aj v pätástkach, takže si na to musím zvyknúť a prijať túto výzvu až dokým sa neobjaví ozajstná mlynovka. Potom sa budem môcť posunúť na pozíciu centra alebo tretej rady, v ktorej som efektívnejší.
Richard ako číslo 10, pretože sedmičky majú len troch hráčov v mlyne, priniesol svoje skúsenosti a vodcovstvo. Skóroval keď bolo treba, videl diery v obrane. Hral s rozumom a šetril energiu na správny čas.
Mathieu objavil sedmičky a využil svoje triatlonové kapacity, takže bol takmer všade na ihrisku. Bohužial, rugby si vyžaduje roky tréningu a tak spravil zopár zlých prihrávok, pokazil zopár šancí, ale splnil svoju úlohu v obrane. Paul junior U18 dvakrát skóroval proti Piešťanom a zaistil naše víťazstvo. S celkovým skóre 4 položenia sa stal naším najlepším skórovačom. Takže, kámo, priprav pre trénera nejaké pivá, musíme to osláviť.
Charlie, tréner
In June, it was the last tournament of the season 2016/2017. Already two full rugby seasons for the Rugby Klub Bratislava.
Finishing with a rugby 7s, it was a perfect perspective for our crew reduced to 8 only due to the beginning of summer time holiday for some members.
Our main expectation was to improve our own gameplay focusing on the previous mistakes made comparing to the last tournament (kick off knock on, bad or medium passes, bad vision and gameplay orientation, late support).
We were able to win against Piestany, our only victory but precious of that tournament, surprised on the very beginning but the young squad. Indeed, most of the squad, included me, didn’t expect big positive aggressiveness at the very first seconds of the match and we didn’t play 100% the first 2 mn. Then everyone took his responsibility to improve their skills and increase the energy spending. Thanks to good kicks and clear vision, we were able to score 3 tries comparing to the first 2 tries Piestany scored, and hold a good defense on the second half. The whole RKB crew appreciated that victory, pretty rare regarding the lack of players on the bench which could bring fresh energy.
We lost the match against Trnava, a team who was the main contender to win the rugby 7s championship in front of the Slovan team. Myself on the bench resting after being a referee the previous match. The RKB crew did the job against Trnava.
For the match against Zilina, we have hoped a potential and hard victory, but the first minutes of the game showed us we had spent already a lot of energy for the first two matches and couldn’t counter that much the Zilina squad, fresher and more experienced. Due to the tiredness of most of the RKB crew, we have score once when we were closed to the try zone, thanks to a good scrum ; but the global rugby gameplay was too medium for hoping we could do a hold up without sub.
The last match against Slovan was for our opponent kind of rehearsing match before the final one against Trnava to compete for the title in Slovakia. Once again, batteries empty, playing with the heart and 3 juniors from Zilina, which we are grateful they supported us again. Due to the lack of creativity, we were struggling in our own zone and face the difference of power and freshness. I regret in that last match for us few referring decisions went against us, for example couple of high tackles which should be penalized in our favor, forward passes not blown, and foul play sometimes into the ruck. But globally the fight was good, and as captain and trainer, I must see those details impacting our crew.
Charlies – trainer, player
Review RKB players
For the forwards, Xavier hold the scrum and was an efficient lifter for the line out. Too big biceps for his tight shirt causing him late support and surely better cardio would help to be more dangerous the whole game. Julius missing the last rugby 7s tournament, has discovered the rugby 7s that week end, and thanks to a good physical condition, he had made the job correctly for a newbie and secure every balls as it was announced at the beginning of the tournament. Slaov getting more experiences into the rugby 7s business, was a terrific jumper, stealing insanely plenty of balls and possibly the best jumper of the tournament. Being myself number 9 and ”hooker” for the lineout rugby 7s style, I was penalized twice for not staying inside the 5 m zone, rule which I didn’t know. Palo was our sub, supporting us from the bench with water and picture, and replacing any players destroyed by the game.
The backs were composed with me first as a scrum half, playing in that position the last 6 months, also in rugby XV, so I imagine I must get used to it and accept this new challenge until someday a real scrum half would appear and I could move back to a move efficient position to me as a center or third row. Richard, positioning in number 10, because the rugby 7s included only 3 players into the scrum, brought his experience and leadership for the crew, scoring precious tries with his ability to see the gap, playing a clever tournament and using energy when it was the right time. Matthieu has discovered the rugby 7s and uses his Triathlon capacities to be almost everywhere on the bitch. Unfortunately rugby requires years of practice and he made couple of wrong passes, wasting few opportunities we had sometimes, but did the job in defense. The last for the best ? or almost, our youngest player Paul junior U18 scored 2 tries the first match against Piestany, securing our only victory of that tournament and after his 2 tries last time, reaching a total score of 4 tries accumulated – he becomes our best tries scorer. So buddy, please prepare the beers for the coach, you must celebrate it (fresh if possible).
Charlie – trainer
Konečné poradie majstrovstiev Slovenska v ragby 7’s – Memoriáli Tonyho Puverle:
1. RC Slovan Bratislava 66 b.
2. RC Spartak Trnava 62
3. RC Žilina Bears 52
4. RUC Piešťany 44
5. RK Bratislava 27
Rugby Klub Bratislava 