Rugby: Exiles defeated by reigning champions Esztergom 13:32

Another game behind closed doors, and another defeat. Despite Hungary being in lockdown the premier rugby division continues to play on, and so the Budapest Exiles lost on Saturday the reigning champions Esztergomi Vitézek 13:32. The win for the visitors at Budapest Rugby Centre in Kincsem Park means they strengthened their lead in the championship and have most likely guaranteed their place in the play-offs. The Exiles defeat means that they are now 10 points behind second-placed Battai Bulldogs in the race for a place in the final and from now need to win every single game, and best with bonus points.

Esztergom couldn’t have imagined a better start. After 3 minutes of play, they were ahead by three points after a penalty kick. 8 minutes into the game Esztergom got their first try. The Exiles defence seemed to be opening up, leaving gaps that the visitors could weave through in-and-out. The Pink and Black were on a back foot and soon found themselves trailing 13:0 after another successful breach of the defensive lines. A penalty scored by captain Joris Auger managed to narrow the gap, making it 13:3 to the visitors.

Those points gave some hope to the hosts. The Exiles started catching a rhythm, with some good runs by French backs Will Feunteun, Clement Perrier and Lucas Deyts.

Unfortunately, that was a false dawn, as Esztergom after a successful counter-attack made it 18:3. The gap was getting bigger. Shortly before half time Hungarian number 8, Matyas Szalai managed to put down points making it 18:8 at half time, but nevertheless, the second half wasn’t going to be easy.

“Esztergom played exactly how we predicted they would. We adjusted our tactics to that, but this game showed us why they are champions. They used every opportunity we gave them to score points and this is why they had a convincing lead after the first half” said Exiles forward coach Francois Taillandier.

At the start of the second half, the Exiles were yet again hit by the “curse of the second row substitute”. Frenchman Julien Doussot after just a few minutes on the pitch was sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous challenge on his opponent, meaning that the Exiles were to play for 10 minutes with only 14 men. This only meant more points to the visitors.