VRAC Climbing high in División de Honor Round 3 by Jorge López
/ Inside Madrid / By

Division de Honor Round 3 Review – VRAC suffocate Alcobendas in a second half stranglehold

 

A close first half turned into a runaway win for VRAC away to Alcobendas on Movistar, with VRAC winning 13-35. In a 15 minute period a the start of the second half Alcobendas found themselves camped on VRAC´s line and getting VRAC down to 14 men. Despite this, Alcobendas failed to come away with any points and from then on the momentum shifted, with all the air coming out of Alcobendas. A professional performance by a VRAC side who didn´t conceed a single second half point despite playing 20 mins with 14 men, this is a statement win after last week´s loss at home to Burgos.

 

Around the League there were shocks aplenty as last year´s winners El Salvador lost at home to La Vila 26-38  and Cisneros become the only side to take points off Burgos, by going away from home and drawing 40-40 against the early season front runners. Finally, apologies to newly promoted Liceo Frances as they too remain undefeated, coming off their bye week to batter a Barcelona side (who already look firm favourites for relegation) 13-41.

 

“We look to make points when we get to the 22, that didn´t happen” Roman Gougy (Alcobendas)

 

One player frustrated that Alcobendas couldn´t turn the possession into points was Roman Gougy. “As a pack of forwards we are looking to make points everytime we enter the 22 and that is what decides close games.” Roman´s journey is an odessey in itself of being born in Spain, over to Argentina , then to Hartpury University before landing back in Spain at Alcobendas. 

 

Last year  “we thought we could win the league and this year the goal is the same but we have really new faces and we still have to organise.” 

 

“As long as my mind keeps lying to my body, I´ll keep playing.” Kalo Kalo Gavidi (VRAC)

 

On the other side, VRAC´s diminutive number 9 Pedro Cane tipified the energy levels in the second half . “In those moments (when you are down to 14 men) the most important is to do the basics well.  All the little things are important before winning the match.” Pedro´s final involvement was to win a turnover off a jackal with the game well won, roaring them on. Where does that energy come from? “My mentality is about being positive and translating that to the team.” Whereas Pedro has joined this year, one man who has been at VRAC for the best part of 14 years is Kalo Kalo Gavidi and he started last year in the Copa Del Rey Final.

 

“It was awesome, winning the Copa Del Rey at home in Valladolid, against our biggest rivals. It was a plus.”  Despite being an old hat now, Kalo Kalo freely admits when he came over “I knew about Spain but I didn´t know Spain played rugby” but “obviously now with the national team, the 7´s , people in Fiji know that Spanish people play rugby and there´s been alot of Spanish players who´ve gone over to Fiji for sevens.”

 

14 years, with sizeable stiches just under his semi closed right eye, is Kalo Kalo planning on hanging the boots up anytime soon? “I feel good. The mind is a strong thing so if my mind can convince my body, I´ll keep going.”

 

 

 

Alcobendas and VRAC Scrum down by Jorge López
Alcobendas and VRAC Scrum down by Jorge López

All eyes on Iberians

 

It´s a week off for División de Honor now so all eyes now turn to the RugbyEuropeSuperCup and a now intruiging game for Iberians vs The Netherland´s Delta team. The Iberians, a de facto Spanish team minus French based players, comfortably saw off Brussels but a win for Delta away to the Romanian Wolves shows the strong growth of the Netherlands. Despite Iberians being strong favourites for this tournament now Georgian participation is over, a game away to Delta  available on RugbyEuropeTV offers an interesting matchup.

 

 

All photos used were taken by Jorge López. Sent by and used with the permission of the participating teams.