VPC Andorra Heartbroken by 14-16 Loss to Gipuzkoa, Misses Promotion Playoffs by One Point

VPC Andorra suffered a heartbreaking 14-16 defeat to Gipuzkoa Sortzen Taldea in their season finale at Estadi Nacional, missing out on the promotion playoffs by a single point.

The Andorran team, led by coach Dani Raya, entered the match relying solely on a victory to claim one of the top four spots in the promotion phase to Spain's División de Honor Elit. After starting with three straight losses, they mounted a remarkable recovery with four consecutive wins, having finished second in the regular season. A win would have pitted them against unbeaten home side Steelphalt Getxo Rugby in the eliminatory rounds; defeat hinged on CAU Valencia also dropping points against Soto del Real.

The match kicked off with Gastón González landing a penalty for VPC after two minutes. Unai Bayón levelled for Gipuzkoa in the eighth minute. A yellow card to VPC's Kgosposto Mpho-Entie Matlena for repeated infringements at the 16th minute reduced the hosts to 14 players. Gipuzkoa capitalised as Bittor Arzelus scored a try in the 19th, converted by Bayón for a 10-3 lead.

VPC hit back swiftly: González narrowed the gap with a penalty two minutes later, then Cristian Emanuel Abarca touched down at the 25th minute after a defensive error, though the conversion struck the post to leave the score at 11-10. Bayón added a penalty before the break—issued alongside a yellow to Abarca—making it 13-11 to the visitors.

Tension gripped the second half. González's penalty at the 58th or 67th minute nudged VPC ahead 14-13. With time expired in the 80th minute, plus seven added, Carlos Estrada nailed a long-range penalty from midfield, silencing the stadium and securing Gipuzkoa's win.

VPC ended fifth on 18 points, one behind CAU Valencia. The playoffs go to Steelphalt Getxo Rugby, Universitario Bilbao, Alcalá, and CAU Valencia. Promotion was never the season's primary goal, but the late surge made the narrow miss bitterly cruel.