SOUTH AMERICAN RIVALRY DOES NOT DISAPPOINT AS TEROS FALL TO JAGS
Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - Submitted by RC Communications
A sunny 14 degree late-afternoon at the Westhills stadium was the setting for the match of two South American neighbours, Argentina and Uruguay.
Uruguay scored the first points of the match eleven minutes into the first half after Alejandro Campos spun off a rolling maul and Argentina was penalized on the play. Uruguayan fullback Jeronimo Etcheverry slotted the penalty goal for the Teros.
Shortly after, a line-out on the Uruguayan 22 was overthrown and subsequently stolen by Argentinian lock Matias Alemano. After pressuring the ball further into opposing territory, it was ultimately lost to a high grubber attempt which was caught and brought out for a Uruguayan 22 meter kick.
With twenty-five minutes remaining in the first frame, Argentina had their chance at the posts after a penalty was awarded to them. Valentin Cruz slotted a 35 meter kick from the centre of the pitch with great ease, tying the match and placing the Argentinians on the scoreboard, 3-3.
With the halfway mark nearing, the pumas scrummed down just inside their half and a quick flip from Lisandro Ahualli to Benjamin Macome set the flanker away. He swiftly beat the defenders and ran half the pitch only to pass off to wing Matias Massera to create some space between the Uruguayan fullback and the ball. The result was the first try of the match and the lead for Argentina, 8-3.
With half-time looming, the Argentines were not done yet. After two attacking Argentinian line-outs were fought off with great ferocity by the Uruguayan defenders, the offense eventually proved too much and a penalty was given to Uruguay. This allowed the sure footed Valentin Cruz a kick for posts and the half ended with Argentina leading the Uruguayans 11-3.
Early in the second half saw Argentina deep inside the Uruguayan zone. The Argentines repeated attempts at kicking to touch on penalties offered no solution to the steadfast Uruguayan defense; so it returned to the trusted foot of Valentin Cruz to gain points on the next penalty, 14-3 Argentina.
Frustration with the oppositions defense seemed to be mounting among the Uruguayans as another penalty for holding the ball gave the Argentines a chance to breakthrough their back-line. The resulting 35m run by wing Facundo Barrea provided the Argentinian side another try and conversion, 21-3.
As the time dwindled down, a drive up the blindside flank by the Uruguayans resulted in an awarded penalty. After being kicked to touch five meters from the try-line, the line-out was won and driven deep into the Argentina's end. The result was a hard earned first try by Oscar Duran, but it was too little too late for the Uruguayan squad as the conversion was missed and the final tally had Argentina 21 - Uruguay 10.
ARGENTINA ROSTER 1. IGNACIO SAENZ LANCUBA 2. MARTIN GARCIA VEIGA 3. RAMIRO HERRERA 4. MATIAS ALEMANO 5. CESAR FRUTTERO 6. ALEJANDRO CAMPOS 7. BENJAMIN MACOME (C) 8. LISANDRO AHUALLI 9. MARCOS BOLLINI 10. VALENTIN CRUZ 11. MATIAS MASSERA 12. JAVIER ROJAS 13. MATIAS ORLANDO 14. FACUNDO BARREA 15. RAMIRO MOYANO
16. BRUNO POSTIGLIONI 17. JUAN GOMEZ 18. RODRIGO BRUNO 19. TOMAS DE LA VEGA 20. TOMAS CUBELLI 21. SANTIAGO GONZALEZ IGLESIAS 22. ROMAN MIRALLES
URUGUAY ROSTER 1. RODOLFO DE MULA 2. ARTURO AVALO (C) 3. JUAN ROMBYS 4. MATEO SANGUINETTI 5. MATHIAS PALOMEQUE 6. AGUSTIN ALONSO 7. SEBASTIAN SAGARIO 8. DIEGO MAGNO 9. FRANCISCO VECINO 10. RODRIGO SILVA 11. FEDERICO FAVARO 12. RODRIGO MARTINEZ 13. SANTIAGO GIBERNAU 14. PABLO BUENO 15. JERONIMO ETCHEVERRY
16. ALEJO CORRAL 17. OSCAR DURAN 18. FRANCISCO JIMENEZ 19. FRANCO LAMANNA 20. GUILLERMO LIJTENSTEIN 21. JUAN DE FREITAS 22. GASTON MIERES 23. ALEJO DURAN
MATCH OFFICIALS Referee: Bryan Arciero (Canada) Assistant Referee: Chris Assmus (Canada) Assistant Referee: Karen Lozada (Canada) #4 Match Official: Kai Taylor (Canada) #5 Match Official: George Van (Canada) #6 Match Official/Scorer: John Buxcey (Canada)
