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The host nation of the 2015 South American B Championship, Peru completed a 24-10 win over Venezuela to open their campaign. Los Tumis’ fourteen point win was hard-fought and showed tremendous character after Venezuela had been the better team in the opening half and continued to be so until Peru gained control midway through the second half.
Venezuela started strongly, scoring two first half tries and appeared to have the better of Peru. Los Tumis, though, stayed in touch with three opening half penalties making it a 10-9 scoreline at the interval. The missed conversions from Venezuela could cost them in the second half.
In not having a cushion Venezuela lost the lead when Peru kicked a fourth penalty and with it Venezuela started panicking. A standard opportunity to collect three points from in front of the posts was turned down in favor of a quick tap-penalty which proved disastrous as Venezuela fumbled the pass enabling Peru to kick long and pin them back in their own territory.
The error was, ultimately, the turning point in the game as Peru were able to seize control and not relinquish it until the final whistle. The first of two Peruvian tries came in the 65th minute and with it the home side was seven points ahead. It was doubled with a second try, this time converted while all Venezuela could do was ponder on where they let the game slip.
Peru booked themselves a match against Ecuador on Wednesday while Venezuela will take on their western neighbors Colombia. Los Tucanes started well against Los Piqueros earlier on today, winning comfortably.
