Budapest Exiles lose 14:29 to Esztergom Vitézek in season opener

Despite taking the lead twice during the game the Budapest Exiles ended up losing to Esztergom Vitézek in the opening round of the NB 1 (Hungarian premier league) rugby season 14:29. The Exiles played for 20 minutes of the second half with one man less due to the referee awarding two yellow cards to “Pink and Black” players for foul play. It was during those minutes that Esztergom took the lead, which they later increased during the final minutes of the game.

The Exiles couldn’t have started the game in a better manner. After a few great phases by the forward pack, lead by Richard Roberts, the Exiles took the lead from a try by Frenchman Lucas Deyts. Joris Auger extended the lead by 2 more points with a successful conversion. The hosts quickly responded and scored an unconverted try, making the score 7:5 to the Exiles.

Photo by István Lehotzky

The Pink and Blacks managed to ground the ball after a lineout throw was tapped into the tryzone by one of the Esztergom players, but the linesman despite video evidence presented to him claimed that Fernando Herrejon knocked the ball forward.

Soon after the ball was in the opposing end of the field, and yet another wrong call from the referee helped the hosts take the lead at half time.

In the first minutes of the second half the Pink and Black managed to score another try, that was converted, this the points were claimed by local talent – Andor Nemeth. Despite this soon afterwards the Exiles team was reduced to 14 men, as the referee aimed at stamping out the number of offside offences both teams made. With the first offense after the warning made by the Exiles, Laszlo Csonte, the teams number 7 was sent for 10 minutes to the sin bin. The hosts seized the opportunity, and managed to get back into the lead.

The Exiles held out, and soon one sin-binned player was replaced by another, as Luis Fernando Herrejon, of Mexico, did an illegal shoulder charge on an opposing player.

This time Esztergom didn’t manage to claim any points, and even the Exiles came within touching distance from scoring a try. Unfortunately playing for most of the half with less men had an impact on the final minutes of the game. Esztergom pounced to the occasion and scored two more tries, and claimed a bonus point for scoring more than 5 tries in a game.

Photo by István Lehotzky

Photo by István Lehotzky

Photo by István Lehotzky

Source: Budapest Exiles