Wednesday 22nd September, Logrono
TITIN III – MERINO II beat BERASALUZE VIII – APRAIZ 22-4
The young Riojan defender David Merino has been a professional a mere two months. Many in his position would have wilted under the pressure of being required to fill the shoes of the great Abel Barriola, arguably the best defender in the current game, but the 20 year old seized the game from the very first point and was the undoubted star of the evening. The game was brought to an abrupt halt as a contest with the cut to Berasaluze’s hand, which occurred with the score on 10-4 to the eventual winners. The Asegarce forward left the fronton to receive three stitches, and when he returned he was nigh on powerless to stop the rot, but the pattern had been set by then, and it is clear that the better side won. The solid Titin and his young foil made 11 winners between them, five of those coming from Merino, and committed no errors. Their opponents made four winners and nine errors, and from 4-4, they failed to win another point, showing no imagination, no spark and no potency.
Titin and Merino are not yet guaranteed a place in the final, as that will depend on the result of the game between last night’s losers and Bengoetxea VI-Patxi Ruiz. Tonight, Martinez de Irujo and Pascual take on Saralegi and Begino for a place in the last two.
Scoring sequence: 0-1, 4-1, 4-4, 22-4
Winners: Titin III 6, Merino II 5, Berasaluze VIII 4, Apraiz 0.
Errors: Titin III 0, Merino II 0, Berasaluze VIII 3, Apraiz 6
Balls hit: 245
Match time: 41 minutes
Image from Diario de Navarra, sources Diario Vasco, El Correo