Rugby - La Vila bet Les Abelles 49-0

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If you were at La Vila Rugby Club this weekend, you would have seen just about the whole of the La Vila rugby family out and about, taking a turn on the field.  Spectators enjoyed a line-up of games right from the youngest age-groups (Benjamines and Infantiles), to the second team; culminating of course, in the big seniors game against Les Abelles.  The day was covered live by local, national and international TV stations, and the TV cameras evidently inspired some formidable play - each and every game ended in victory for La Vila.

The big one, of course, against Les Abelles was particularly satisfying.  La Vila enjoyed a more than comfortable 49-0 win.  Tries were scored by Mike Denbee, Martin Aceña, Charlie Harding and Ryan le Roux; with Harding and le Roux each scoring two tries apiece.  Agustin Gomez kicked with his usual effortless accuracy - converting five out of the six tries, and kicking over two penalties.  Denbee had a very physical game, stealing ball at the rucks and disrupting Les Abelles' ball.  Aaran Cruickshanks and le Roux controlled the middle with some nice line breaks, while Harding gave solid support at the back.  Another worthy mention goes to Paco, who made a visible impact to the game when he came on in the second half.

Club President, Ignacio Davila, commented on the day's events.  "It was a very good day for us," he said.  "Not only winning the Les Abelles game, but having the children's teams involved on the field, seeing a win for the seconds and enjoying such good weather and an excellent atmosphere.  Having it all covered on television is of course very important publicity for our club.  I'm very happy with this win for the seniors.  Les Abelles is always a team that I watch carefully.  They know how to play us, and have certain ways of playing the ball.  The boys played very well against them." 

From one high to another

La Vila's next home game is going to be a particularly special one.  Bjørn Heidenstrøm, a Norwegian ex-professional footballer, is going to be stopping off from along his world cycle tour to attend the game.  Bjørn is cycling all the way from Norway to South Africa, collecting autographed football jerseys from all teams of all levels along the way.  These shirts will be used to create the world's largest football jersey for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.  This record-breaking undertaking is being carried out in co-operation with the Norwegian Refugee Council and their campaign "Forget me not."  According to Bjørn, the shirt symbolises "the football family standing together and not forgetting the small ones." ("Forget me not" is directed at refugee children).  The journey starts from the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo, Norway, and ends on Robben Island, in Cape Town, South Africa.

Upon hearing that La Vila contracts two South African players, Bjørn has kindly conceded to make an exception, and will be incorporating one of La Vila Rugby Club's jerseys into his collection.  La Vila will be handing over a rugby jersey, autographed by their senior team - and Bjørn will exchange football for rugby for a day.  Hopefully the players can produce an entertaining match for him to watch!  It's a great honour for the club to be involved in such a worthy cause, as well as to be incorporated into a symbol which represents a unified sporting world.

The special home-game event (La Vila vs Valladolid VRAC) will be taking place at the Villajoyosa Rugby Stadium on Sunday 8^th November at 12pm.  As usual, there will be food and refreshments for sale, and under 18's get in free.  Come and witness one of the rare days in which rugby and football are able to co-exist in harmony!

For more information, please contact Ignacio Davila 608 068 208 or Jo le Roux at the Rugby La Vila offices 965 890 376.

La Vila Rugby Club is situated at Carratera Pantano, Villajoyosa.  Take AP-7 exit N° 66 (Villajoyosa).  At the first roundabout head for the mountain.  The club is about 1km from Motorway exit N° 66.  Or take the Villajoyosa by-pass, and take the middle exit.   At the first roundabout, bare right towards the motorway entrance and at the second roundabout bare left towards the mountain.

By: Jo le Roux

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