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In a fierce final Sanitas Alcobenas of Madrid were 24-23 winners over FC Barcelona to win the Copa del Rey on Saturday.
Played at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid a crowd of more than 7,000 were in attendance to see Sanitas Alcobendas win the Copa del Rey for the first time in history. The team was greatly aided by Argentine players with six being involved in the final.
The Madrid team had Tury Brasca, Jano Cherr, Nicolás Griffiths, Santiago Ovejero, Evaristo Paz, Ramiro Robledo, and Federico Villegas among their players facing FC Barcelona.
The opposition also contained Argentine players. A feature player was Bautista Guemes, a player to previously have played for Benetton (Pro 14), Agen (Top 14), and Vannes (Pro D2) in Italy, and France.
Guemes had a notable impact on the match, landing an opening half penalty from 60 meters out but also missing a late drop-goal which would have given Barcelona a 9 point lead, and with it, the title.
The win came thanks to a miracle try from Spain’s New Zealand test fullback Brad Linklater. The score would be converted by Altonio Jantjies, the brother of South African fly half, Elton Jantjies. With it Sanitas Alcobendaas claimed a 24-23 title winning victory.
Previously known as Campeonato de España de Rugby the Copa del Rey is Spain’s national rugby cup. The competition was founded in 1926 and, currently is the second most important competition after the División de Honor de Rugby.
