Ninety-three points on the scoreboard, thirteen touchdowns on the scoresheet and an ending forbidden to the faint of heart. The last match of the regular season, which gave the Skorpions the first perfect season in the top division in their history, was anything but banal. Varese tries to escape immediately with a reception by Claudio Buccellato and an interception return by Stefano Granelli (14 to 0), but the Rhinos immediately make it clear that they did not come to Franco Ossola to act as a sacrificial victim by finding points from the hands of Romello Bentley. The first half continues with an alternation of scores, those from Varese bearing the signature of Matteo Rai, Roberto Zanovello and Maclaine Griffin for the 35 to 14 which characterizes the half time. The illusions of a downhill finish are interrupted in the last quarter, the third quarter ends at 7 to 8 with a try by Emanuele Della Bosca, when the Rhinos, dragged by the axis formed by Hamish McClure and the receivers Romello Bentley and Bruno Escobar , they place a partial of 21 to 0 for overtaking (42 to 43). To decide the match, after a try annulled to Maclaine Griffin for unsportsmanlike conduct, comes Martino Piazzi's try who, with just over a minute of the end, weighs the two-point conversion, updating the score to 50 to 43. Milan attempts the everything for everything, but the pressure of the grey-red defensive line leaves no escape from the last desperate attempt to move up the field, closing off any further discussion. Franco Ossola can celebrate their eighth consecutive victory, irrelevant for the rankings, but very important for the history of a club that has continued its growth path in recent years. Now we are just waiting to know the name of the opponent for the semi-final which will always be held in the shadow of the Sacro Monte and which will emerge from the wild card that pits Parma against Legnano. The unmissable event is set for the weekend of 15 and 16 June.

SKORPIONS PRESS OFFICE

Photo credits C.Roganti

IFL results (week 11) Rhinos Milano at Skorpions Varese 43-50, Panthers Parma at Guelfi Firenze 17-12, Giaguari Torino at Dolphins Ancona 13-42, Frogs Legnano at Warriors Bologna 48-0

Final standings of the regular season: Skorpions 8-0, Guelfi and Dolphins 6-2 Panthers 5-3 Frogs 4-4 Marines 3-5 Rhinos and Giaguari 2-6 Warriors 0-8

Next round (semi-final – 15/16 JUNE and time to be defined) Skorpions Varese – (winning wild card Panthers Parma-Frogs Legnano)