The season, however, is yet to finish. Timisoara are involved in the latter stages of qualifying for the 2016-2017 Challenge Cup and will face either Calvisano (Italy) or Enesei-STM (Russia) in home and away matches in April in a bid to earn a place among Europe’s top clubs.
“With three bonus points from as many European Rugby Challenge Cup matches we top our pool with a game to play and have qualified for the next stage — the knockout round. If we beat Calvisano or Enesei-STM we’ll match up against the big guns from the English Premiership, French Top 14 and the like.”
Timisoara opened their Challenge Cup qualifying campaign with a 36-18 win against Spanish club Valladolid Rugby.
“After a slow start we finished well, earning a bonus point,” Heikell said. “Following that match we performed very well in atrocious conditions to record a convincing 34-10 win against CSM Olympia Bucharest in the Romanian Superliga.
“We had to take on Baia Mare (in the final) — who had not been beaten at home for seven years until we beat them earlier this year — on their home ground. “The odds were stacked against us to achieve that feat twice in one year but the team showed huge heart and character to win 18-15.
“We had to withstand an18-6 penalty count against us, four yellow cards to none and were down to 13 players for the last seven minutes of a game which ran over-time by our watches. But the team stuck together and got the win they deserved.”
With the national title locked way, Heikell and his team turned their attention to their second Challenge Cup qualifying pool match against Italy’s Rovigo.
“Despite the obvious mental and physical fatigue of a long year — including having 12 players selected in the initial Romanian Rugby World Cup 50-man squad — the team again lifted themselves.
“The boys produced a fantastic first-half performance to take the game away from Rovigo. We won 45-13 and picked up another bonus point.
“Then on the Saturday just gone, we beat Fiamme Oro Rugby 35-14 in wet and slippery conditions. That assured us of a place in the knockout stages.”
However, Heikell and his battle-weary players cannot relax just yet.
“We still have one more European Challenge Cup match scheduled against Heidelberg in Germany on January 16,” he said. “That will bring our season to a close and a well-deserved but short four-week break for the players."
Following the Heidelberg match. Heikell will return to Gisborne to catch up with family and friends.
“I can’t wait to get home but unfortunately not for as long as I hoped — three or four weeks then it’s back to Romania. It’s been a great season for the club but I’m not looking too far ahead.
“Coaching is a very fickle business, especially at professional level, so I’m keeping my focus reasonably short-term and just aiming to keep improving and achieving our goals.”
