CW 52
www.canarianweekly.com
Sport
20th March -26th March 2015
Return of a legend Recreativo 1 CD Tenerife 1
By Roscoe TENERIFE returned from the mainland with another away point, a five-match unbeaten streak … and lots of bruises! My, Recreativo are one dirty team.
When you are in the relegation zone in March, you have to fight
for your life. But those lads took it literally! It wasn’t pleasant, but it was job done and a stride in the right direction for Tenerife. This was a game they would have lost a few weeks ago. The Uruguay boys are getting goals for Tenerife at the moment, and it was pleasing to see Diego Ifran back on the scoresheet. His early goal was swiftly cancelled out by Caye, who grabbed his second of the season. In fact, the youngster caught the eye for the hosts.
Both teams spurned chances to seal a win and it was a far better point for Raul Agne’s men than the dogged hosts who, I feel will be okay if they show the same fight over the last 13 weeks of the season. A glimpse at the table shows you how tight it is at the top and the bottom. It was pleasing to see Real Betis bash Las Palmas 3-0 last weekend. I wrote six weeks ago that I felt Las Palmas would slip away and that Betis would roar up the table.
I fully expect Real to steam-roll their way to the title now, while Las Palmas are in big trouble. More on that next week because this weekend, a genuine Tenerife legend returns to the Heliodoro. It has been nearly four years since Nino graced the Heliodoro, and he will receive quite a reception as his Osasuna side hit Santa Cruz. In just four seasons, Nino hit 78 goals and was one of the few to Position
gain any credit from the double-relegation disaster. His partnership with Alfaro fired us to promotion. and he strained every sinew to try to keep us there. Following the second relegation, he wrote off a large sum of money (depending on who you believe, it ranged from 250,000 to 700,000 euros) owed to him. He has had some ups and downs and nasty injuries in his four seasons at Osasuna. And
a return to Tenerife has been explored on more than one occasion. He must be tearing his hair out at the possibility of becoming the only man in history to experience double relegation, from La Liga to Segunda B in successive seasons - twice! But Osasuna are Ohso-rubbish right now. You have to go back to 27th January to find their last win, and they have lost six of their last seven.
Points
PLD
Won
1
Real Betis Balompié
56
29
16
Draw Lost 8
5
44
F A 24
2
Real Sporting
55
29
14
13
2
41
23
3
Real Valladolid CF
54
29
16
6
7
47
24
4
UD Las Palmas
53
29
14
11
4
46
29
5
Girona FC
52
29
15
7
7
41
27
6
Real Zaragoza
43
29
11
10
8
45
42
7
SD Ponferradina
42
29
11
9
9
42
38
8
CD Leganés
38
29
11
5
13
30
28
9
CD Numancia
38
29
9
11
9
40
40
10 CD Lugo
38
29
9
11
9
32
36
11 CD Mirandés
38
29
10
8
11
28
34
12 RCD Mallorca
37
29
10
7
12
40
43
13 UE Llagostera
37
29
10
7
12
26
30
14 AD Alcorcón
37
29
9
10
10
34
40
15 Deportivo Alavés
35
28
8
11
9
32
31
16 CD Tenerife
33
29
8
9
12 25 32
17 Albacete Balompié
31
29
8
7
14
36
47
18 Club Atlético Osasuna
31
28
8
7
13
28
40
19 Real Racing Club
29
29
7
8
14
28
32
20 RC Recreativo
28
29
6
10
13
26
38
21 FC Barcelona B
28
29
7
7
15
37
52
22 CE Sabadell FC
26
29
6
8
15
30
48
Ñandu success continues Ñandu 64 Spartans 14
ÑANDU Rugby Club embarked on their third back-to-back weekend on the mainland and, as in previous visits, they proved too strong for their opponents. Saturday’s clash with Spartans was a physical encounter, Ñandu striking first with a well-taken try. It involved forwards and backs, creating space on the wing for Ryan Cox to score his first try, converted by Chema Gil. Ñandu took time to find their rhythm, and an interception try gave the Spartans hope. But their joy was short-lived as the determination and drive of the Tenerife lads proved pivotal, and they responded immediately with a try from Facundo Pitsouris. Further touch-downs by Jacob Oakenfold, Gabriel Trujillo, Mateo Paolin, Alberto Muñoz, and two more from Ryan Cox to complete his hat-trick, gave Ñandu the spoils in some style.
Ñandu 55 Badalona 12
THE following day saw Ñandu back in action, and their previous day’s efforts did not affect their legs. But Badalona came out of the blocks early on to score the first try. Again, though, Ñandu answered immediately to draw level at 5-5. The game grew in intensity as big tackles were put in by both sides, but the visitors stayed strong, held their rhythm, and took the lead. Scrum-half Mateo then got hold of the game, dictated play and, during the next hour, Ñandu grew in maturity and controlled the game from ruck to attacking the gain-line. It was an assured performance by every player in the 22-strong squad, the tries coming from Facundo Pitsouris (3), Jacob Oakenfold (2), Chema Gil (2), Francisco Ferreyra (1), Gabriel Cordoba (1), with Chema kicking five conversions. None of this would be possible without the help and support of our current sponsors, but we still have a long way to go, with two further trips ahead and almost empty coffers. Ñandu desperately need more funding, and, if you can please help in any way, please phone 664 361 058 or email nandurugbytenerife@gmail.com