Rugby, Padua and Rovigo: the Italian derby for the Scudetto

The Scudetto final of the Italian championship of rugby live on Rai2 in prime time: it is a success and a demonstration of great faith for the oval movement. Tomorrow at the Lanfranchi stadium in Parma, kick-off at 21.15, Petrarch Padua and Rovigo they promise not to disappoint viewers. Straight match between clubs that dominated the regular season (Top 10) finishing respectively in second and first place, and the championship is being played for the third time in a row: last year Petrarca won, the previous one Rovigo. The Paduans are slightly favourites, who can count on a physically more solid team, organized around an effective scrum. But the enthusiasm and unpredictability in the three-quarters of the rossoblù ‘Bersaglieri’, led by the Roman fly-half Giovanni Montemauri – judged the best rugby player of 2023 – can make the difference. It will be the last tournament with 10 teams at the start, because from next season – thanks to Calvisano’s forfeit – the number will drop to 9, and then to 8. “The goal is to raise the level of the championship, so that the clubs bring us ever closer to the two franchises (Benetton Treviso, Zebre Parma, ed) protagonists in the Union Rugby Championship”, explains Marzio Innocenti, president of Fir.

‘Double’ derby for Marcato. Lodi: “It will take balance”

“It will be a double derby,” he says Andrew Marcato, Petrarca’s coach who challenges Rovigo for the third time in the final, after having done so once as a player. “I’m from Padua, while Alexander Lodi – who trains his opponents – is from Rovigo. The teams know each other well, the goal will be to consolidate our strong points without upsetting our game. It is the culmination of a beautiful season and of a journey that began three years ago. We care very much. We have prepared really well for the final, we come out of the playoffs in good physical and mental condition. We care for the club, for the fans, for those who work around us”. His counterpart smiles, full of energy: “Being here is a source of pride. We worked hard during the week like this throughout the year, this final wasn’t a given: now we’re playing it, we know where we can go. We are facing the team that has dominated the last few seasons. We know Petrarca’s strengths but we focus on ours: it will be important to find the right balance between play and concreteness”. rossoblù will be present in Parma together with hundreds of Paduans.

Femi-CZ Rovigo Delta: Diederich Ferrario – Moscardi, Tavuyara, Van Reenen, Sarto- Montemauri, Chillon- Casado Sandri, Stavile, Cosi – Lindsay, Steolo – Swanepoel, Giulian, Quaglio. Subs: Ferraro, Leccioli, Pomaro, Ferro, Sironi, Lubian, Bazan Vélez, Uncini. Coach: Alessandro Lodi

Petrarch Rugby: Lyle – Esposito, De Masi, Broggin, De Sanctis – Faiva, Tebaldi – Trotta, Nostran, Casolari – Panozzo, Galetto – Hughes, Cousins, Spanish.
Subs: Borean, Carnio, Bizzotto, Michieletto, Ghigo, Citton, Capraro, Montagner. Coach: Andrea Marcato

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi.