Rugby Klub Bratislava dostal pozvánku na zápas proti RC Donau. Za organizáciu ďakujeme hlavnému manažérovi viedenského klubu, Stiigovi.
Prípravný zápas trval plných 80 minút, pre horúce počasie však bol rozdelený na 20-minútové štvrtiny. Po dohode oboch tímov sa druhá polovica skrátila na 30 minút.
V prvom rade by som chcel poďakovať všetkým, ktorí nás prišli podporiť, i RC Donau, ktorý mal tiež úzky káder. Veľká vďaka Celtic Vienna Rugby, Stade de Vienne Rugby, Sopron Rugby a Spartak Trnava Rugby. Bez nich by deň nebol taký úžasný.
Aká horúčava! Chcel som pred letom six pack a v tomto zápase som stratil toľko vody a pravdepodobne aj tuku. Od výkopu bol zápas pomerne vyrovnaný a skórovať sa darilo najmä po individuálnych obranných chybách. RKB si konečne užil poriadnu lavičku, takže sme boli schopní striedať každého, kto už nevládal. Osobne ma teší, že som kopmi potvrdil takmer všetky päťky, s výnimkou jednej, ktorá pre silnejší vietor tesne minula bránku.
Náš mlyn si viedol proti omnoho ťažšiemu a skúsenejšiemu mlynu RC Donau pomerne dobre. V druhom polčase sme pre vyčerpanosť prvej rady prešli na simulované mlyny. Lineouty boli stabilné, hoci nie dokonalé, keďže hráči z viacerých tímov na seba neboli zvyknutí; bol som však prekvapený, ako sa nám podarilo všetkých skoordinovať.
Som rád, že sa môžem spoľahnúť na RKB roj. Giuseppe, vždy prítomný a v tento deň vice-kapitán (kapitánom som bol ja, pretože som bol v kontakte s hráčmi počas predchádzajúceho týždňa). Palo bol podporou v statických situáciách, náš prezident Slavo sa staral o tím, aby všetkým uľahčil život. Okrem toho si zastal pozíciu mlynára v zápase, ktorý bol pre rojníkov veľmi náročný a len zranenie ramena ho donútilo ku koncu zápasu poľaviť v tempe. Massimo, náš starý nováčik, konečne objavil chuť súťažného zápasu a pochopil, že rugbyové ihrisko nie je miesto na učenie pravidiel 🙂 Predviedol schopnosť hrať na dobrej úrovni, fyzicky i technicky. Richard obyčajne hrá v roji, no teraz sa posunul do útoku, kde nám chýbali hráči. Pomohli nám aj Michal a Martin z Trnavy, ktorý si na konci sezóny chcel ešte zahrať a nazbierať skúsenosti. Veľmi dobre zapadli do tímu. Július sa posunul do tretieho radu a i napriek zranenému prstu patril medzi najviac fit rojníkov na ihrisku. Svojou pozíciou, podporou a technickými schopnosťami si zápas po zápase potvrdzuje svoje miesto v základnej zostave. Tvrdá práca hráčov Celticu a Stade de Vienna, ktorí nás podporili, nám priniesla viacero príležitostí skórovať.
Ja som hral ako v predchádzajúcich zápasoch na jar 2017 na pozícii mlynovej spojky (hoci pôvodne som hrával skôr centra a vyhľadával som medzery v obrane a vrhal sa do súbojov). Snažil som sa rozdávať lopty, rozohrávať penalty z ruky, keďže išlo o prípravný zápas a udržiavať ducha Barbarians. Hrali sme s rôznymi loptami, s rôznym povrchom i odskokom (boli rozdielne nafúkané), takže spočiatku som nevedel nájsť spôsob a riešil som situáciu jednoduchými a efektívnymi príhrávkami. Veľká vďaka hráčom Sopronu, s Orbánom na pozícii útokovej spojky a Attilom ako centrom za ich skvelé spracovanie lopty, rýchle tempo a dobrý prehľad. Dúfam, že si v ďalšej sezóne spolu zahráme viac XV zápasov. Mathieu, Paul a Arthur hrali na pozícii zadákov. Na juniorov predviedli presnú hru. Samozrejme sa potrebujú ešte zlepšovať a učiť sa. Okrem Mathieua, pre ktorého to bola posledná sezóna v RKB, keďže odchádza na univerzitu do Anglicka – veľa štastia, kamarát.
The Rugby Klub Bratislava has been invited to play against the RC Donau, and we are very pleased Stiig, general manager of the Vienna club, organized it.
It was a test match cut in 4 parts of 20 mn, with a normal full game of 80 mn but with more pauses due to the warm weather. At the end, we reduce the last half with 30 mn of gameplay.
First of all, I would like to say thanks to everyone coming to support us and the RC Donau which was also a bit tight to compose a bench. Big up to Celtic Vienna Rugby, Stade de Vienne Rugby, Sopron Rugby, and Trnava Rugby. Without them, the day wouldn’t be such amazing.
What temperatures! I wanted six packs before the summer time, and that match helped us to loose so much water and probably fat too. From the kick off, both teams were pretty balanced, and only through individual tackling mistakes, both side were able to score. For the Rugby Klub Bratislava, finally we had a proper bench to substitute almost everyone who were totally ”kaput”. I was pleased personally to convert barely all tries, only one missing a little bit on the side with a medium wind.
Our scrum was pretty good competing against a competitive RC Donau scrum, a way heavier and more experienced, and on the second half the referee decided to switch into a non-contesting scrum on a matter of the safety, cause our first row was too exhausted. The line out was pretty stable, but not efficient as usual with players from different clubs who were not used to play together ; but at the end I am pretty amazed the way we were able to coordinate everyone.
I am please to count on the RKB forwards Giuseppe, still present and vice-captain of the day (myself captain to deal with the different players I was in contact with during the week before the match). Palo brought a support on the static situations, Slavo our President was dealing with the crew to make the life easy to everyone, and handle the hooker position during a very tough match for the forward, and only a pain into his shoulder at the end of the match oblige him to reduce the pace. Massimo, our old newbie, was finally discovering the taste of a competition, and understood a pitch rugby is not a place to learn the rules :), and demonstrate ability to handle a good rugby level, physically and technically. Richard usually playing in the scrum, moved in the back because we were missing backs, and secure balls. We counted also Michal and Martin from Trnava, who wanted to play more and get more experiences at the end of the season, and were competitive and went into the group to adapt to our gameplay. Julius, on the third row position, beside an injured finger, was probably one of the fittest forward on the pitch, and secure match after match his starting position into the squad with good positioning, support, and handling skills. Hard work from the players from Celtic Vienna and Stade de Vienne, who supported us very well and gave us the opportunity to score couple of times.
Myslef involving in number 9 as scrum half like all the previous matches in Spring 2017 (beside the fact I am initially more center to find the gap and smash the tackles), try to provide as much as balls to the balls, playing the penalties with hands as it was a test match, and keep kind of Barbarians spirit. We have played with different kind of balls with different grips and bounce (pumped in a different way), so I couldn’t find my marks on the pitch at the very beginning and solve the situation with basic and efficient passes after all. Big-up to Sopron players with Obron on fly-half and Attila in a center position for their good handling skills, fast pace, and good vision. We hope to play again together next season as they are looking for more XV matches. Matthieu, Paul, and Arthur covering the full backs of the pitch showed an accurate gameplay as juniors, and of course need to keep learning and working to improve their skills, except for Matthieur which was his last season with the RKB, because he would leave to England for continuing a business university; good luck buddy.
It was the last match of the season, all competitions concerned (except the rugby beach in July in Zilina). The RKB management is pleased to achieve in that way the season 2016/2017 which was full of emotions and good improvements.
The trainings are still on until end of July minimum to prepare in the best way the next season 2017/2018, and possibly welcome new seniors and children.
Charlie
Rugby Klub Bratislava 