Last gasp win in thriller

La Vila RC 30 – 28 Getxo Artea

LA VILA won a thrilling game against Getxo Artea at the Villajoyosa Rugby stadium.

The “Joneses” triumphed 30 – 28, winning the game in the last minute through a Sorribes penalty.

The Basque team began defiantly, with outside half Linklater controlling the game with accurate kicks to touch and making penetrating runs to gain territory.

La Vila defended their line fiercely to stay in the game, and countered through half backs Chivers and Quirelli who made some incisive breaks in offence.

The scoring opened with a penalty in the fifth minute by man of the match Sorribes, who followed this with a touch of magic, scoring and converting a try in the 14th minute.

However, the Basque team responded strongly with two separate tries through Lee Martin and Calvo.  La Vila seemed to recover well, but then conceded a third try, this time at the hands of Aboitiz.  Just before half time La Vila’s Sorribes again crossed for his second try and slotted home the conversion to leave the home side only four points down at 17-21 at the break.

With just three minutes of the second half played Garate scored a try for Getxo, giving the away side a comfortable 17-28 lead.  But cracks began to show in the Basque defence after consistent pressure from the Vileros a metre from the line, which resulted in a try for fly half Chivers.

In the 68th minute Sorribes converted a penalty to bring the teams within one score at 27-28.

This provided the platform for one of the most exciting finishes the Villajoyosa crowd have seen so far this season.  With just a minute to play, the result rested with the boot of Sorribes, and the impressive kicker took a moment to compose himself before slotting the ball home.

A final score of 30-28 gave four valuable points to La Vila, cutting the gap in the table with Cajasol Science to seven points.

La Vila return to the Villajoyosa Rugby ground to face Cetransa El Salvador on Sunday (January 13).