RPL: Hosts Hyderabad Heroes secure first win while Mumbai Dreamers remain undefeated on second day
Hyderabad, June 17
The second day of the Rugby Premier League season 2 witnessed hosts Hyderabad Heroes, and Mumbai Dreamers register wins at the Ganti Mohana Chandra Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Gachibowli, Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Hyderabad Heroes beat Delhi Redz 31-17 (men)
Looking to bounce back from their opening defeat, Hyderabad Heroes made a flying start through Sumit Kumar and Maurice Longbottom. Despite sustained pressure from Delhi Redz, Taitaifono Tavita extended the Heroes' advantage before Luciano Gonzalez and Javed Hussain brought the Redz back into the contest. Tavita struck again in the second half, while Patrick Odongo kept Delhi in the hunt. However, Wolfram Hacker's late try sealed the victory for the Heroes.
Mumbai Dreamers defeat Bengaluru Bravehearts 19-7 (men)
Dreamers applied pressure on the Bravehearts early to gain territory. Bravehearts sustained the pressure but Lucas Mignot sprinted end to end to open the score with a try for Dreamers. Guillaume Bouche backed it up with another try for the Dreamers at the end of the first quarter. After sustaining pressure throughout the third quarter, the Bravehearts scored a try at the end through Motu Opeta to open their account. However, James Turner picked up a loose ball and blazed over the line to put the Dreamers firmly in the driving seat.
Later in the day, the women will take the field for two exhilarating matches between Chennai Bulls and Kolkata Banga Tigers and the Delhi Redz and Mumbai Dreamers. Followed by the final clash between men's franchises Chennai Bulls and Kolkata Banga Tigers.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Exciting matches! The Dreamers seem unstoppable. But I wonder if the scheduling is too packed - playing two games back to back might affect player performance. Hope the organizers consider rest periods.
So thrilled women's matches are happening today! This is what India needs - more sports for women. Kudos to RPL for promoting gender equality in rugby. 👏
Taitaifono Tavita was the man of the match for sure! But Delhi Redz need to improve their defense. Too many gaps in the second half cost them dear. Still, good exposure for Indian players to compete with international stars.
Loving the energy in Hyderabad! The Gachibowli stadium is such a great venue. Hope more people come out to support - rugby needs love in India too. The Dreamers vs Bravehearts match was a nail-biter! 🎉
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