August 25, 2017
Italy Defeats Spain in Extra Time for 9th Place at #WRWC2017
Photo: INPHO/Bryan Keane (Italy’s Melissa Bettoni #2 with Elisa Cucchiella #1 lie in wait for Spain winger Maria Casado)
Doug Coil
Italy defeated 20-15 Spain in extra time for 9th place at the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup match held at Queen’s University in Belfast.
Spain took a 8-0 lead at the break on the strength of a penalty kick by Patrica Garcia at the 16th minute and a try by Angela del Pan from a scrum in the 24th minute. A minute prior Garcia missed a penalty kick after Beatrice Rigoni was sent to the bin.
In the second half, Italy came back with a Michela Sillari try in the 43rd minute. She then added a penalty kick in the 51st minute to knot the score at 8 all.
A try by Sofia Stefan in the 58th minute, with a conversion by Sillari gave Italy a 15-8 lead, their fist of the match.
The final minutes were action packed with an Italian attack thwarted by a intercepted ball by Iera Echebarria. Spain took advantage of this opportunity as Echebarria scored off a chip and chase for a try under the posts. Patricia Garcia calmly converted to send the match into extra time, as regular time ended at 15 all. Michela Sillari was named Player of the Match.
Extra Time
Spain took the restart in the extra time that consists of ten minute periods. They marched down the pitch going through 11 phases before a penalty by Italy. Patricia Garcia took the quick tap and Spain again attacked and after 3 minutes Patricia Gracia’s drop goal attempt was wide right. Sillari took a 22 meter drop and Spain attacked again.
Italy finally had a chance to attack and went deep into Spain territory, but turned over the ball. Spain could not take advantage as Italy intercepted a pass and captain Sara Barrattin scored a try in the corner in the 9th minute for a 20-15 sudden death win for 9th place.
Italy v Spain: 1 Elia Cucchiella 2 Melissa Bettoni 3 Lucia Gai 4 Flavia Severin 5 Valeria Fedrighi 6 Ilaria Arrighetti 7 Elisa Giordano 8 Silvia Gaudino 9 Sara Barattin (C) 10 Beatrice Rigoni 11 Michela Sillari 12Paola Zangirolami 13 Maria Grazia Cioffi 14 Sofia Stefan 15 Manuela Furlan 16 Michela Este 17 Gaia Giacomoli 18 Sara Tounesi 19 Valentina Ruzza 20 Isabella Locatelli 21 Veronica Schiavon 22 Veronica Madia 23 Elisa Bonaldo
Spain v Italy: 1 Isabel Rico (C) 2 Aroa González 3 Jeanina Vinueza 4 Maria Ribera 5 Rocio Garcia 6 Diana Gasso 7 Paula Medin 8 Angela Del Pan 9 Anne Fernández de Corres 10 Marina Bravo 11 Iera Echebarria 12 Maria Ahis 13 Patricia García 14 Amaia Erbina 15 Barbara Pla 16 Saioa Jaurena 17 Isabel Macias 18 Laura Delgado 19 Monica Castelo 20 Berta García 21 Carlota Meliz 22Vanesa Rial 23 Uri Barruitieta
