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Key Points

The Bengaluru Bravehearts staged another trademark comeback to beat Kalinga Black Tigers 34-26 and secure their RPL semi-finals spot. Coach Francisco Hernandez emphasized this as just the first step toward their championship ambitions. Key players like Philip Wokorach, Arpan Chhetri and match-winner Liam Poulton delivered when it mattered most. With one league game remaining against Mumbai Dreamers, Bengaluru aims to carry momentum into the knockout stages.

Key Points: Bengaluru Bravehearts Coach Hernandez Eyes Finals After RPL Semis Berth

  • Bengaluru overcame 14-0 deficit with tries from Wokorach & Chhetri
  • Poulton's crucial tries sealed 34-26 win
  • Bravehearts now 2nd in standings
  • Wokorach trails top try-scorer by just one
2 min read

Each member will fight hard to carry team into finals: Bengaluru Bravehearts coach Francisco Hernandez

Bengaluru Bravehearts secure RPL semi-finals spot as Hernandez vows to push for finals after thrilling comeback win over Kalinga Black Tigers.

"Being in the semi-finals is the first step to winning this tournament... Now is the time to work even harder – Francisco Hernandez"

Mumbai, June 26

With qualification on the line for Bengaluru Bravehearts, Philip Wokorach, Arpan Chhetri and Liam Poulton lead the way to seal the third spot in the race to the semi-finals in the ongoing Rugby Premier League (RPL) edition.

Player of the match, Liam Poulton, scored a few crucial tries to shut down Kalinga completely as they showed glimmers of taking the game away from Bengaluru in the first half. Bengaluru Bravehearts finally won with a margin of 8 points, with the final score reading 34-26.

"Being in the semi-finals is the first step to winning this tournament. We did a great job in the league. We have consistently been in the top three going into the semi-finals and have had some very good performances and game time. Now is the time to work even harder and hopefully move from the semi-finals into the finals," said Francisco Hernandez, Head Coach, Bengaluru Bravehearts, as quoted by a press release from RPL.

The Kalinga Black Tigers led 14-0 in the first half, but the Bravehearts started to mount a comeback with Philip Wokorach and Arpan Chhetri's tries. It was a comeback that Bengaluru has become known for in this tournament, where the team consistently finds a different gear to score consecutive tries whenever they have trailed. This win puts the Bengaluru Bravehearts 2nd on the points table, just nudging above the Chennai Bulls, owing to the score difference with both teams at 21 points apiece after 9 games.

"It's great that we have made the semi-finals now, it's why we are here. The whole team wants to win the competition, and making the semi-finals is the first step towards that. We still have another game against Mumbai Dreamers, and we look forward to taking the perfect momentum into the semi-finals and hopefully into the finals," said Scott Curry, Co-Captain, Bengaluru Bravehearts.

Notably, Philip Wokorach is currently trailing by a single try on the stats table of most tries in the league, with a total of 9 tries in 9 matches. Another Braveheart leading the stats table is Akuila Rokolisoa, sharing top spot for total conversions (14) and most points for a team (53).

The Bengaluru Bravehearts will take on the Mumbai Dreamers on June 27 in the last match of the league stages, after which the final standings will decide who they take on in the semi-finals.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
What a comeback by Bengaluru! 🇮🇳 Rugby is growing so fast in India and teams like Bravehearts are making us proud. Philip Wokorach is a beast on the field - hope he gets that top try scorer title! #RugbyIndia
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Priya M.
As a Bengaluru resident, it's thrilling to see our team perform so consistently! The fighting spirit they showed against Kalinga was amazing. But defense needs improvement - we can't keep conceding early leads if we want to win the trophy.
A
Arjun S.
Great to see Indian players like Arpan Chhetri performing alongside international stars. This mix is exactly what Indian rugby needs to grow! Hope more youngsters get inspired to take up the sport after seeing these matches.
S
Sanjana R.
The team's never-say-die attitude is commendable! But honestly, the league needs better marketing. Many sports fans don't even know we have professional rugby happening in India. Star Sports should broadcast these matches properly.
V
Vikram J.
That comeback was pure adrenaline! But let's not forget Akuila Rokolisoa's contributions - his conversions are often the difference between winning and losing. Hope the team gets more support from Karnataka government like cricket teams do.
N
Neha P.
As someone new to rugby, I'm loving how fast-paced and exciting RPL is! The Bengaluru team's fighting spirit reminds me of RCB in IPL - always making thrilling comebacks 😄 Hope they go all the way this time!

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